There's no rule that states cabinets need to be lighter or darker than walls or that they have to match it but depends more so on what kind of effect or mood you're going for. Light colors can make a space feel bright, clean, and timeless while darker colors can make a strong statement that instantly grabs attention.
Kitchen walls and cabinets don't need to be the same color, but that certainly doesn't mean they can't. In fact, it can create an alluring, uniform look! Kitchen cabinets naturally draw the eye with the amount of space they cover.
Dark cabinets can be great for warming up your space — especially in contrast with lighter walls and flooring. They show food and scratches less easily. If you have an active lifestyle with kids or pets, darker cabinets may be a good choice as they tend to stand up better to wear and tear than lighter cabinets.
Keep the Focus on the Lower Cabinets
Therefore, you'll want to keep your darker colors down low, and brighter colors up top. Dark base cabinets keep the kitchen looking grounded, while light upper cabinetry helps reflect more light into a small space.
Wall Colors for Painted Cabinets
Choose paint with the same undertone as your cabinets but a couple of shades darker. Your cabinets will draw the eye, and the room will appear more spacious. If you'd rather make your cabinets blend into the background, you can choose an attention-grabbing wall color.
Does Paint Dry Darker or Lighter? Paints typically dry darker, particularly oil, acrylic, and latex paints. However, that doesn't mean it will look different than what's on the paint swatch. If you mix the paint properly, it should look the same as the color you picked out once it dries.
They are timeless and do not go out of style. It refers to any kitchen space with two varying tints, and the combination takes on many forms. It could be a kitchen island with a different color from the custom cabinets. You could paint the cabinets on top with a contrasting shade from the ones at the bottom.
Two-tone kitchen cabinets are a hot design trend right now — and with good reason. Two-tone cabinets can create visual interest, make a small kitchen seem more spacious and help you stay within your budget.
Your kitchen island does not have to match. Although matching an island to surrounding cabinets and countertops creates symmetry within a kitchen, using different cabinet colors or different countertops can turn an island into a beautiful focal point that complements the rest of your kitchen.
A question we receive frequently is whether antique brown kitchen cabinets are going out of style. The answer is certainly not! Although modern brown cabinets have moved to the forefront of kitchen design, antique cabinets are still close behind.
There's no rule that states cabinets need to be lighter or darker than walls or that they have to match it but depends more so on what kind of effect or mood you're going for. Light colors can make a space feel bright, clean, and timeless while darker colors can make a strong statement that instantly grabs attention.
White cabinets evoke a clean and sanitary look, while creating a light and airy feel to your kitchen. White or light colored cabinets show dirt and grime more quickly than dark cabinets and require constant cleanup. This is something to consider, especially if you have a large family or small children.
Go with Light Colors
Light colors are more reflective than dark colors and they will make your kitchen appear bigger as well as more open and airy. Light blues, greens, or pale yellows are other great colors to make your space look larger than life.
Regardless of what you read below, if you decide to mix and match whites, your BEST chance will be to use a TRUE WHITE on trim/cabinets and a white with a lower LRV on the walls – don't do it the other way around unless you're a hardcore pro, and even then…don't do it.
As a simple rule, kitchen cabinets should always match trim as much as they can. Any contrast that you intentionally create should not necessarily be a striking contrast. It's important to try to create a sense of unity among the different elements being tied together to avoid making the contrast appear accidental.
Yes, two toned kitchens are in style! They have definitely increased in popularity over the last year but that's not to say they aren't a timeless look.
We are leaving bright and white kitchen cabinets back in 2020 and replacing them with dark and moody cabinets for 2021. This trend was destined to happen at some point, and here it is in 2021. Finally, dark and moody kitchens are now a must-have, and we can see why.
If you've got a modern or transitional kitchen style, chances are that cabinets with glaze are going to look really out of place.
Dark and navy blues have infiltrated the pages of interior design magazines over that past few years and top designers are utilizing this timeless hue in beautifully appointed luxury kitchens. We have seen a rise in dark blue cabinetry throughout the last couple years and predict it will grow in popularity in 2020.
White Cabinets are Still Classic
The general rule still holds that white cabinets aren't going anywhere anytime soon. They are still classic if done correctly, but I am noticing some push back on the whole “white on white on white” look that I see very often.
Does the paint dry a tone lighter or darker than the chip? The simple answer is neither.
A painted surface can be cured a long time quicker when it is made of oil or latex. A latex paint cures in about 30 days, but in oil-based paints it cures seven days.
Applying a second coat of paint will not make the paint darker, but the paint may appear more vibrant if your first coat of paint was thin. For both acrylics and watercolors, a second coat of paint can help you achieve the bright and vibrant version of the paint color you're using.