Light vs Dark Kitchen Cabinets
What’s the best option for your kitchen space?
Nothing can quite change the appearance and mood of a household more than a new kitchen. Most people view the kitchen as the center point of their home. Being that the kitchen is made up of several main elements and there are many options for each item, finding a starting point can be difficult and confusing. These decisions get easier when we separate the kitchen into its individual components.
MAIN COMPONENTS OF A KITCHEN
– Cabinets
– Countertop
– Backsplash
– Appliances and hardware
– Floors and walls
Designers usually start with the big items first and work back to the small details. Since the cabinets take up most of the visual area and typically make up the largest portion of the budget; this would be a great place to start. The first question most homeowners ask is; light or dark cabinets?
Whether you are going for a modern or classic design, the style and color should be pleasing to you. When it comes to cabinet color, the size and shape of the kitchen along with available natural light can help to determine which option is best for the space.
HOW COLOR AFFECTS THE DESIGN STYLE
Light cabinets are thought to be best for a modern kitchen and dark cabinets typically create a more classic look. However there is no reason a light color cabinet could not be used to create a rustic or cottage feel as it is the sum of all the elements within a kitchen that ultimately creates the design style you will achieve. If we take two identical kitchens, and only change the backsplash, the whole design takes on a whole new look.
HOW THE ROOM SIZE AND SHAPE DETERMINE THE BEST COLOR
have heard the old rule that light colors will make a room feel larger and dark colors make a room feel smaller. So if you have a small kitchen, light colors would seem to be an obvious choice. However, although the area taken up by the kitchen may be small, it could be part of a larger open concept space. There may be no reason a dark finish could not be used in this type of kitchen space and be combined with lighter colors on the walls, floors, backsplash and countertop to create a well-balanced design.
WHAT TO CHOOSE WHEN SELLING OR FLIPPING A HOUSE
When the goal of a renovation is to upgrade for the purpose of selling or flipping a house you will want to go with a color and style that appeals to the majority of potential buyers. White cabinets, particularly in the Shaker style continues to be the preferred choice in 2020 and showing no signs of losing the top spot any time soon. White can be paired with almost any other color and the simplicity of shaker cabinet style can match up with nearly any design style.
PERSONEL PREFERENCE
At the end of the day it all comes down to your personal preference. Light cabinets may technically be the best choice for a smaller space, as light colors will make a room appear larger. It may also be your least favorite option. Since this is your dream kitchen and you undoubtedly been thinking about it for a long time, you will want to go with a cabinet color that suits your taste and a cabinet style that fits with the design style you want to achieve. After all, you and your family will be the ones who live in and use this space. When you sit in your kitchen and look up, you want to feel good about the space you created.
In summary, there is no simple answer that will work for everyone and every kitchen space. Each and every kitchen is different and what appeals to one person may not appeal to another. Work with a designer who can show you samples to get started and also provides 3D photorealistic images of the design so you do not have to imagine how your color choices will match up.
Sometimes we don’t know what we like until we see it.
