The Right Color Combinations for Kitchen Cabinets and Flooring
Choosing the perfect cabinet and floor color combinations can elevate your kitchen from drab to fab. Whether you want to create a seamless unified look or make a bold color statement, the right palette can transform the heart of your home.
You'll discover creative ways to use contrast to add visual interest. We'll also cover the importance of considering texture, patterns, and kitchen style.
Guidelines for Choosing Complementary Cabinet and Floor Colors
Complementary Color Theory
Complementary colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel, like blue and orange or red and green. When paired together in a kitchen, they create a vibrant, harmonious effect.
Popular complementary cabinet and floor color combinations include navy blue cabinets with terra cotta floor tiles or sage green cabinets with cherry wood floors. Matching undertones is key, like pairing cool-toned grays with warm wood tones.
Considering Color Undertones
Cabinet and floor colors may complement each other better if they share similar undertones. For example, both navy and plum cabinets have blue undertones, so pairing them with a floor with blue or purple undertones can look cohesive.
On the other hand, contrasting undertones can make colors pop. Warm wood flooring may complement cool toned gray cabinets nicely.
The 60-30-10 Rule of Thumb
Apply the 60-30-10 rule to distribute your main cabinet color, secondary floor color, and accent shades. Your primary cabinet color should take up about 60% of the kitchen. The flooring should be around 30%, and accent colors like an island or backsplash about 10%. This creates balanced harmony.
Lighting Effects on Color
The lighting in your kitchen affects how colors are perceived. Soft, warm lighting flatters warm paint colors with yellow/orange undertones. Cool-toned grays and blues may look harsh under cool LED lights. Factor lighting into color choices to avoid unflattering shades.
Creative Ways to Use Contrasting Cabinet & Floor Colors
Vibrant Color Combinations
Contrasting cabinet and floor colors make a vibrant statement. Try emerald green cabinets with brick red ceramic tile floors or navy cabinetry with mustard yellow vinyl plank floors. This high-contrast look works best in modern, eclectic, or industrial kitchens.
Dark Cabinets + Light Floors
Pairing rich espresso-stained cabinets with light natural wood or gray washed wood flooring adds depth and dimension to a kitchen. The light floors keep the space feeling open.
Matte white or light gray floors also complement dark cabinetry beautifully. Reflective finishes like glossy tile can also brighten up a moody kitchen.
Light Cabinets + Dark Floors
For an elegant, trendy look, try coupling bright white or antique gray cabinets with bold black wood or slate-look tile flooring. The contrast makes both elements pop.
Medium wood-toned floors like oak also offset crisp white cabinets nicely. Just make sure there's adequate lighting so the space doesn't feel too dark.
Sticking to a Cool vs Warm Palette
Mixing warm and cool paint colors in one kitchen can feel disjointed or clashing. Instead, stick with a cool or warm color scheme for cabinets and flooring.
A cool palette could include frosty gray cabinets, icy blue backsplash tile, and weathered wood laminate flooring. A warm cohesive kitchen could feature terracotta floors, cream cabinets, and a
The Importance of Texture, Pattern & Style
Texture and Visual Weight
Pay attention to the textures of your cabinetry and flooring. Contrasting matte and glossy finishes creates visual interest. Uniform textures like glossy cabinetry and polished stone floors make spaces feel sleek and upscale.
Thick wood cabinetry paired with delicate tile can feel imbalanced. Similarly, rough concrete floors work best with smooth, simple cabinet fronts.
Patterns and Distinct Features
If your cabinetry has an intricate repeated design, pair it with solid flooring to avoid clashing patterns. Conversely, plain cabinet fronts and doors allow you to get creative with bold floor tile designs.
Special flooring like terrazzo or Moroccan tile also looks best with simple shaker-style cabinets to maintain balance.
Cabinet Door Styles
Your cabinet door style should match the kitchen's overall aesthetic. Contemporary cabinets with clean lines and recessed handles complement modern floors like concrete and tile. Ornate raised-panel doors pair well with classic hardwood floors.
Make sure your floor doesn't compete with your cabinetry design for visual attention. The styles should harmonize.
Choosing kitchen cabinet and floor colors with complementary undertones, balancing contrast, and coordinating textures creates a stylish cohesive look. Consider the lighting and overall aesthetic as well. With the right color combinations, you can design a kitchen that's both functional and visually stunning.