If so, you might be wondering, Should wood floors be lighter or darker than cabinets? Luckily, there is no right or wrong answer here. Light-color hardwoods look excellent with dark wood cabinets, and vice versa. On the other hand, matching the colors isn't out of the question, either.
It is not necessary for your kitchen floor to be darker than the base cabinets or wall cabinets. The color of your kitchen floor can actually be a little lighter or darker than the cabinets. This creates a proper balance in the room.
Both dark and light floors work very well, and only you can choose which is best for you and your home. Dark floors tend to be more stylish and hide imperfections while light floors tend to show dirt less and last longer.
Consider porcelain or ceramic tile with unique veining patterns to go with your white countertops or cabinetry. You'll want to have a pop of color in the room so it doesn't look too dull. Even if you want to have the same colors in your color scheme, try to find several shades of that color and use them in your design.
A great method in cabinet color matching with hardwood floors is simply letting opposites attract. A lighter cabinet color, such as blonde or white, paired with a dark hardwood flooring, lets each wood have its own character. If both wood types have similar sheens and textures, they will tie together nicely.
You have to consider both the floor's color and the material. It is generally best to use flooring that can withstand the kitchen's environment. Kitchens are prone to sharp tools, moisture buildup, and heat. This can negatively affect some flooring materials more than others, despite any added protection.
When it comes to floors and cabinetry in a kitchen, you might think you have to find materials that are an exact match. However, as interior design experts recommend, the idea is to mix complementing materials, not match them.
Dark brown hardwood floors in particular never seem to go out of fashion, they are always trendy and still in style. There's something about the contrast between dark wood floors and bright, light walls, white kitchen cabinets, furnishing etc. that epitomize a sophisticated and upmarket style.
As we have shown, there is no right or wrong combination when it comes to countertops and floors. For a modern high-contrast look, darker floors paired with lighter countertops are a good combination. Lighter floors with darker countertops will give you a more modern contemporary look, according to some sources.
Gray Granite Goes Great with Dark Cabinets
Combining dark cabinets with gray floors with white veining can create a sophisticated, modern traditional look with dark cabinetry and stone-colored counters and backsplash.
Both light colors and wider planks have been the hardwood styles of choice with designers and architects for years, however 2020 forecasters predict that this will be THE hot look in flooring for consumers.
A light-colored flooring such as light oak or a light-colored carpet will make the room appear brighter and more open. The same applies to the ceiling—use a light color or white to "open up" the space above. Increase the appearance of the size of the room by adding wall mirrors.
Generally speaking, your kitchen flooring and countertops should complement one another. This often means that they'll be two different colors that contrast with each other. The level of contrast depends on the design style you're going for: What is this?
Consider the size of the room: If you're putting a new floor in a large or wide room, going with a darker color will make a sprawling space feel somewhat smaller and cozier. In contrast, a lighter color such as beige or cream can help “open up” cramped living areas and make them seem bigger.
Choose a floor color based on your countertops to balance your kitchen. You can also match your flooring to your countertops instead of the cabinets. This way, the surfaces will be similar and create balance in your kitchen. Take a note of the shade of your countertops, and select a flooring option in a similar color.
If you make the classic choice of wood for its durability, warmth, comfort on your feet and easy repairability, a light colored option such as pine or ash, or an even lighter peach-hued maple, will do a great job of hiding dust.
If you're replacing both your flooring and countertops, we advise you to choose your countertop first. The countertop is often the largest, overall expense in a kitchen design - so it deserves to be a feature item. Once you select the countertop, you can work backwards to select flooring from there.
Light floors: Light hardwood is the best color floor for a white kitchen if you want to maintain an airy feel. Pine or golden oak options — as long as they aren't too yellow — will add just enough color contrast to let your kitchen stand out without overwhelming the room.
A choice of timeless hardwood floor colors
Brown Maple floors have hues of rich gold, amber and brown. Cherry floors feature a burnished auburn color that will darken over time. Hickory offers hues from lighter blonde sapwood to cocoa brown and beige heartwood. Red Oak comes in deep, salmon tones.
“You can expect to see engineered hardwood floors still going strong in 2021 and beyond,” says designer Linda Hayslett of L.H. Designs. “The options have grown for not only quality but also for types of finishes, colors, and materials; it's here to stay.”
You may be surprised to learn that dark wood flooring can help to make your room look bigger too. Darker flooring offers an inviting feel and opens up a space. Whether you choose rich colours or softer dark colours, they both have their advantages when it comes to expanding the appearance of a room.
Dark floors will provide some contrast to the room over all and really show off those light cabinets. A lighter floor colour will blend in, and the difference won't be as clear.
Match the Baseboard and Trim
Even if you use the same exact stain on all your woodwork, the wood itself is made from different quality material and has been milled and sanded differently.