Wooden cabinetry adds a classic elegance to your kitchen. Whether you choose natural, stained, black, or white cabinets, you’ll bring the beauty of the outside world into your interior space. There are different ways your cabinets can accent existing décor. The best kitchen cabinets to choose depends on your personal taste; however, there are certain strategies you can use to maintain the feel you want.
Mix Rather Than Match
Many décor experts favor mixing the grains, stains, and textures of your wood cabinets with those of your floor and furniture. You could do this by installing white kitchen cabinets or cabinets of a different color depending on what elements currently exist. A kitchen with mixed wood is more interesting to look at because it has variety and character. Matching all cabinets, floors, and furniture creates a flat aesthetic, while using different finishes brings out the unique qualities in every piece.
Mixing elements gives you creative freedom and more choices. Otherwise, you may find it a struggle to find exact matches in your wood for pieces made by different manufacturers. It is far easier to find something different that complements rather than something that matches pre-existing décor.
How do you complement your cabinets with your décor (or vice versa)? This is where your imagination and creativity come into play, along with some basic guidelines for design.
You may have a few inherited items of great sentimental significance that you simply can’t do without. A fun strategy for coordinating décor is to build around these items. If you own a treasured, painted table, consider oak cabinets. Likewise, you can use white kitchen cabinets to accent natural wood furniture.
It’s worth noting that you can alter the shade and color of your wood cabinets through staining if don’t want to paint them. For example, you can stain oak to give it more of a red, cherry wood feel. This controlled process can produce something a bit lighter than real cherry wood to better suit your preferences.
Tips for Mixing Wood Finishes
Basic principles for décor involving wood cabinets include:
- Matching undertones: Through color theory, we explore the effects of warm and cool colors. Warm colors (reds, oranges, and yellows) are stimulating and connect with our emotions. These are best used in social areas of your house. Oak and pine are examples of wood with warm undertones. Cool colors (blues, violets, and grays) are calming and connect with our intellect. These are best used in your private spaces. Mahogany, walnut, and cherry are examples of wood with cool undertones. While you are encouraged to mix finishes, it is advised that you select all warm or all cool undertones in your wood, paint, and fabrics.
- Matching grains: The grain refers to the texture and lines in the wood. Finer grains (lines that are closer together) give a formal feel, while larger grains (lines that are wider apart) give a casual feel.
- Choosing variations: Limit your choices to two or three wood variants that are repeated in elements throughout the room. Otherwise, the visual impact could be overwhelming.
- Neutralizing chaos: If you want to tone down your look, white cabinets are a go-to foundation. They help knit the different grains and stains together to create a completed feel. Black kitchen cabinets can also be used to achieve a similar outcome. A black or white kitchen uses neutrality to tie everything together.
Have fun with your design. Browse natural, stained, black, or white cabinets to begin your creative journey.