Hold Everything — Your White Kitchen Cabinets Just Got Better
These design moves will add even more to white kitchen cabinets’ appeal
White kitchen cabinets are chic and seemingly timeless. They work in kitchens of all sizes and with vintage, traditional or modern design aesthetics, which may be one reason they come up as the most popular kitchen cabinet color in Houzz survey after survey.
White cabinets can serve the same purpose as white walls, amplifying natural light and offering a canvas on which to create your kitchen. They don’t need much to look great just by themselves, but here are some things you can do to make your white cabinets look even better.
White cabinets can serve the same purpose as white walls, amplifying natural light and offering a canvas on which to create your kitchen. They don’t need much to look great just by themselves, but here are some things you can do to make your white cabinets look even better.
Energize with art. If you have a contemporary kitchen or you have a small number of white cabinets — just base cabinets, let’s say — then knobs or pulls may be unnecessary. Instead, add a personal touch to your kitchen with a vivacious piece of art. This will bring color and energy to an otherwise streamlined space.
Paint pick: For a similar look, try Ultra Pure White from Behr.
Paint pick: For a similar look, try Ultra Pure White from Behr.
Mix styles. White cabinets look best when they play off opposing elements. In this kitchen, the simple white cabinets look more interesting when juxtaposed with a sparkling glass backsplash. It’s truly a case of yin and yang. Both features share a common hue, but their styles couldn’t be more different. Still, the traditional cabinets are in harmony with the glitzy, contemporary tile.
Paint pick: For a similar cabinet color, try Ultra White by Valspar.
Paint pick: For a similar cabinet color, try Ultra White by Valspar.
Cool out. For a contemporary kitchen, paint your cabinets in a frosty-white paint color (a white with grayish undertones) and use an abundance of silver and cool grays around the space. You can install chrome light fixtures or add nickel cabinet pulls and stainless steel appliances. And don’t forget the countertops. A marble surface with gray veins will do the trick.
Paint pick: For a similar look, try Snowbound from Sherwin-Williams.
How to Clean Marble Countertops and Tile
Paint pick: For a similar look, try Snowbound from Sherwin-Williams.
How to Clean Marble Countertops and Tile
Try a tan. Though many homeowners love white cabinets, you might feel they look sterile or cold. If so, consider an earthy, pale tan. You’ll get a light and airy look, but the space will also feel warm and comfortable.
Paint pick: For a similar color, try Pale Palomino from Behr (Home Decorators Collection).
Paint pick: For a similar color, try Pale Palomino from Behr (Home Decorators Collection).
Combine white and gray. What better way to create a kitchen that’s beautifully on-trend than to pair white cabinets with gray, today’s hottest neutral? For an inviting space, select a warm off-white for some of the cabinets and a deep, smoky gray for the others. The look will be dramatic but very welcoming.
Paint pick: For a similar look, try Arcade White and Web Gray from Sherwin-Williams.
More suggestions for using gray in the kitchen
Paint pick: For a similar look, try Arcade White and Web Gray from Sherwin-Williams.
More suggestions for using gray in the kitchen
Get happy with white and yellow. This is not your grandparents’ kitchen. Back in the day, yellow kitchens were a thing. Today’s “it” kitchens are largely white, but that doesn’t mean yellow can’t have a prominent place.
To give a vintage, country-style kitchen a modern-day twist, start with white cabinets, shelves and appliances, then give the island a coat of golden yellow paint. The space will feel warm and happy. And the grandparents would be pleased.
Paint pick: For a similar look, try White Dove and Marblehead Gold from Benjamin Moore.
More ways to use yellow in the kitchen
To give a vintage, country-style kitchen a modern-day twist, start with white cabinets, shelves and appliances, then give the island a coat of golden yellow paint. The space will feel warm and happy. And the grandparents would be pleased.
Paint pick: For a similar look, try White Dove and Marblehead Gold from Benjamin Moore.
More ways to use yellow in the kitchen
Consider glass doors. Glass cabinet doors allow you to showcase your dishes, collectibles and other special items. And white or cream frames won’t clash with your colorful treasures.
Paint pick: Try Nilla Vanilla from McCormick Paints.
How did you customize your white kitchen cabinets? Share a photo and tell us about it in the Comments.
More
How to Reface Your Old Kitchen Cabinets
99 Ingenious Ideas to Steal for Your Small Kitchen
Houzz Guides to getting the kitchen cabinets you need
Paint pick: Try Nilla Vanilla from McCormick Paints.
How did you customize your white kitchen cabinets? Share a photo and tell us about it in the Comments.
More
How to Reface Your Old Kitchen Cabinets
99 Ingenious Ideas to Steal for Your Small Kitchen
Houzz Guides to getting the kitchen cabinets you need
Paint pick: If you like this look, a similar color to try for your cabinets is Chantilly Lace from Benjamin Moore.
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