All-white cabinets and countertops have a tendency to turn yellow over time when exposed to high amounts of direct sunlight. If not properly protected, the jaundice-like effect can cause major regret after only a few years.
Keeping your white cabinets white
Keep white cabinets out of direct sunlight to prevent them from turning yellow. To make a kitchen feel warm and inviting and useful you need plenty of sunlight and a functional space to cook.
"Yellow" cupboards are often caused by defective, aging finishes or airborne grease that settles over everything (even the ceiling!) over time, causing sickly yellow and tacky surfaces. An all-natural homemade cleaning solution can work wonders.
Because white does not hide any stain or smudges, white is easy to look dirty and requires more maintenance or upkeep to keep the white cabinets in pristine condition. You can't hide anything in an all-white cabinet's surface because it is not as forgiving as other darker colors.
To keep your white cupboards looking bright and fresh, create a cleaning solution with one cup of vinegar, one tablespoon of baking soda, and two cups of warm water. Dip a rag in this solution, wring out the access liquid, then wipe down your cupboards.
White kitchens get dirty.
Unlike darker cabinets that can hide everyday grime—like fingerprints and smudges—light colored cabinets will only make them more noticeable. Dust and dirt that you might not have even thought about in other rooms will show in a kitchen that's predominately white.
White kitchen cabinets are actually no harder to keep clean than any other. Sure, they aren't as forgiving as darker colors, but that doesn't mean they have to be any less durable or easy to clean and maintain.
White cabinets can open up a small kitchen and give the illusion of more square footage. It can transform a small kitchen to look much bigger. When kitchens lack natural light or windows, white cabinets can make space feel brighter and more natural.
When looking for kitchen color ideas, you may be tempted to opt for a classic all-white palette – but according to designers, this desired tone may have fallen out of favor. The hue has endured for decades, however, changing paint trends suggest that this neutral shade is no longer in vogue.
The other challenge is that a large kitchen can easily look too clinical and unfriendly if you go all-white. Steve Tough, commercial sales director at Masterclass Kitchens, told FEMAIL: 'From a practical perspective, white shows up dirt and blemishes, making a white kitchen a high maintenance choice,' warns Steve.
All-white cabinets and countertops have a tendency to turn yellow over time when exposed to high amounts of direct sunlight. If not properly protected, the jaundice-like effect can cause major regret after only a few years.
With proper care of professionally painted kitchen cabinets, you can expect your newly painted cabinets to last 8-10 years. However, there are a few things that can drastically shorten this timeframe, leaving you needing them repainted 3-4 years later.
To clean white laminate cabinets, create a mixture of 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1 gallon of warm water. Allow the baking soda to dissolve in the water. Then, use a soft cloth to rub the mixture on to the cabinets to scour away grime and stains.
Related Articles. White painted cabinets give your kitchen a clean, airy look, but they can turn yellow with time. Oil-based paints, also known as alkyd paints, sometimes take on a yellowish cast because of the way they cure, especially if your kitchen doesn't get much sun.
The tendency to yellow is a quality prevalent in many white paints and clear varnishes, but particularly in those that are alkyd- or oil-based. It is the curing mechanisms in these paints that turns yellow over time, and this effect is often most noticeable in areas that are not exposed to much sunlight.
However, if the veneer is made from a synthetic composite material such as melamine resin, the white tends to take on a yellowish hue over time, greatly diminishing the initial appeal. Understanding the cause of the tarnished tint provides insight into both prevention and maintenance of white veneer.
Natural materials, like wood and stone, are always in style. Have your contractor install maple, birch, or cherry cabinets. Look for stone options such as granite, limestone, or slate. Your kitchen will be stylish and trendy both now and in the future.
In terms of hygiene, white cabinets make stains and dirt easy to identify and clean. Stains on darker surfaces are often overlooked and can cause your kitchen to become dirty without you knowing. With white cabinets, you won't have that problem, and you'll be able to keep on top of cleaning and sanitation.
White Kitchens Can Feel Cold
Keeping it stark and bright is a way to give an illusion of space and luminosity. A large all-white kitchen is too much of a good thing. Creating a vast expanse of color-free cabinets, counters and fixtures can easily make the heart of your home look more like an exam room.
Gray. Gray is one of the most popular cabinet choices and it offers lots of possibilities. This classic and dependable color looks strong with wood floors and marble or granite countertops. Gray goes well with many style and hardware choices, allowing for a creative license in other areas of the kitchen.
-Like almost any product in this color scheme, white cabinets may easily show dirt, smudges, scratches or food particles from cooking. -They show signs of aging, such as cracks or discoloration, far more easily than cabinets in other colors.
White is the one color or finish of cabinetry that will be forever timeless. White is used in a wide range of kitchen styles. It can be modern and sterile or warm and soft. It can even be casual or formal.
How Long Should A New Kitchen Last? Most manufacturers say that a whole new kitchen remodel – which includes countertops, cabinets, tiles, flooring, and more – should last for at least 20-25 years before it needs replacing.