Kitchen cabinets are a major purchase and your kitchen design often depends on the type of cabinetry you choose. Many homeowners default to white or light-colored cabinetry. This makes sense, as those colors can brighten up a room. However, there is an alternative: dark kitchen cabinets. Dark cabinets can be just as bright and uplifting as their lighter counterparts. How to Brighten a Kitchen with Dark Cabinets. Just follow these tips for successful cabinet color placement to make dark kitchen cabinets work for your space!
Why Dark Cabinets are a Good Idea
Dark kitchen cabinets can be a good choice for your kitchen design. Why? It’s all about the contrast! Dark cabinets work well with light-colored countertops and white or lighter flooring, and often look great with white walls. Dark colors can add an extra special touch to your kitchen.
Moreover, dark cabinets are a popular choice for homeowners who have children or pets. White cabinetry tends to show dirt and smears more easily than darker colors, which is not always ideal when you have kids or pets in the house. Kitchen cabinets are a major purchase and as such it’s important to think about how they will age over time. Darker cabinetry won’t show dirt quite as much as lighter colors, keeping them looking like new longer.
When to use Dark Cabinets
If you are looking for a way to brighten up your kitchen and have dark cabinets, there is no need to replace them. There are ways to make the cabinet color work for you. Dark cabinets can be just as bright as light ones, but there are important things to consider before making this design decision. If you want to use dark cabinets, it is best to use them in isolation or with contrasting colors. For example, if you want a black kitchen with red accents, it would look good because of the contrast between the two colors.
But if you wanted a black-and-white kitchen with black cabinets and white appliances, it might not work as well because it would be too much contrast. That is why it is important to consider which colors will work with your cabinetry when deciding whether you should use black or white in your space. Dark cabinets also tend to make a room feel smaller than lighter colored ones do– so make sure that this style of cabinet choice works for your space before investing in them!
How to Properly Design your Kitchen with Dark Cabinets
If you decide to go with dark cabinets, then you should consider the following tips: Dark colors can make spaces feel cozier. For this reason, if you’re trying to create a cozy atmosphere in your kitchen, this is the perfect color scheme for you! Dark colors also make rooms feel bigger because they create contrast with lighter colors. With that said, if your kitchen space is too small or cramped, it might be better to stick with light colors.
Try different cabinet styles before deciding on dark cabinets. Cabinet style can change the overall look of your kitchen and some styles work better with dark colors than others. For example, shaker-style cabinets might not mix well with a darker color palette while traditional style cabinetry might be better suited to it. Begin by painting only one wall in your kitchen black as an accent wall and see how it looks before committing to painting every wall black. This will show you whether or not darker colors are right for your space without going through the hassle of having them all over your walls at once.
If you decide to go back to white after seeing how one wall looks in black paint, then you don’t have much commitment and wasted efforts on the other walls. Also keep in mind that all-white kitchens typically appear larger than ones with black accents so if your space is smaller, it’s probably best not to go this route unless you want a cozy modern farmhouse design style!
Should you Paint or Stain your Cabinets?
How to Brighten a Kitchen with Dark Cabinets. The difference between paint and stain can be confusing. The paint goes on top of the wood while the stain goes under it. When deciding, keep these things in mind:
If you want a lighter color, you should paint your cabinets. If you want a darker color, you should stain them.
Paint will show off imperfections in the wood because it does not cover the wood as a stain does. If your cabinetry is cheaper, the paint may be the better option for a more uniform look. The stain will cover up the imperfections in the wood if all of your cabinetry is high-quality.
The stain may cost more initially because it is done by professionals who are skilled at their craft, but in the long run, it will pay off with a better-looking kitchen!
How to Brighten up your Kitchen with Dark Cabinets
What color should you paint your kitchen? Light or dark?
The answer to this question depends on your personal preference and kitchen design. Dark cabinets can be just as bright and uplifting as their lighter counterparts. There are many advantages to choosing dark cabinets, one of which is the ability to create contrast in your space. Contrast is key when it comes to having a well-lit, enjoyable space. By painting the walls with light colors and the cabinetry with dark colors, you will create a balance of light and dark that makes your space feel more alive.
Dark cabinets also tend to give off a warmer vibe than their counterpart – white or light-colored cabinets. This is largely due to the fact that we associate warm tones with natural materials like wood, stone, and brick. These materials are often found in homes with darker-colored cabinetry. In addition, adding texture to the walls with natural textiles can further give the room warmth without being overwhelming or distracting from other design elements.
This doesn’t mean people don’t want white cabinet kitchens; in fact, most prefer them over dark cabinetry for their bright and clean look. However, those who enjoy adding contrast to their interior design choices or want a warmer feel in their space may find that a dark cabinet makes sense!
Tips for a Successful Design
- Choose a paint color that is lighter than the cabinet color. This will create contrast and make the room feel brighter.
- Make sure your cabinets don’t have too many dark colors. Lighter colors are more inviting and visually appealing.
- Use an accent light in the kitchen to enhance the visual contrast between light and dark colors. This will add a sense of brightness to your space, even when there isn’t a lot of natural light coming from outside.
- Consider using two different contrasting colors for your cabinets–one for the top half and one for the bottom half (or vice versa). This can be as simple as painting one side of your cabinets white while leaving the other side’s original color intact.
- Avoid choosing black cabinets if you want to brighten up a space. Black can make rooms appear smaller. Dark brown can be an excellent alternative!
- Spend time reviewing what type of hardware your cabinets come with: knobs, pulls, handles, etc.–and decide which style would look best in your kitchen with darker cabinetry before you paint them. You may need to buy new hardware if it doesn’t work out or you could re-paint old hardware that currently doesn’t match what you want in your space.
- If you’re using textured walls in your kitchen/dining area, consider using textured wallpaper for your cabinetry instead of flat paper. Textured wallpaper will give some visual
Add Lighting Above the Island or Wall
One way to ensure your dark cabinets are bright and inviting is to add lighting above the island or wall. This is a great way to draw attention to the space and can make it feel like a part of the room.
Pull the room Together with Complementary Colors
One of the best ways to make dark cabinets work is with complementary colors. For example, a red accent wall will provide a nice complement to black cabinetry. Consider your kitchen layout when you are choosing your color scheme. A dark cabinet won’t work well in a space that requires lots of natural light because it will absorb too much of the sunlight and create an oppressive atmosphere. However, if you have a room with less natural light, like a breakfast nook or utility room, it can be very effective for those rooms.
Create an Intentional Design
When you paint your kitchen cabinets, the goal is to create a design. For dark cabinets, this means placing them in a way that contrasts with the lighter colors in the room. Take your light or bright-colored walls as an example. You don’t want to have stark contrast so you might place your dark cabinets near the door or even on the other side of the room.
You can also create symmetry by painting both sides of your cabinets and creating a focal point in the center of the room. This will ensure that your design stands out against any other colors in the room. How to Brighten a Kitchen with Dark Cabinets.
Conclusion
Dark cabinets can be the perfect choice for a kitchen design. They are a great way to create a more intimate space and provide a sophisticated look. Plus, they are a budget-friendly option for furnishing your kitchen with good-quality cabinetry. But that doesn’t mean they’re the best option for everyone.
That’s why it’s important to consider all your options and talk with a designer to find out what will work best for your home’s design and your personal style. And if you want to make your dark cabinets pop, follow the tips in our list above!
