Top Cabinet Color Pairings For Gorgeous Dark Flooring

Dark wood floors never seem to go out of style. Their rich, warm hues create such an inviting backdrop in any home. But choosing the right cabinet colors to pair with those stunning floors can be tricky business.

Get it wrong, and your beautiful kitchen can end up feeling small, gloomy and awkwardly mismatched. Nail the cabinet colors though, and you'll have a space that's both gorgeous and highly functional for years to come.

Choosing a Style That Complements Dark Floors

In recent years we've seen dark wood floors become hugely popular in modern farmhouse style kitchens. The high contrast between crisp white cabinets and inky floors makes for an incredibly striking look.

But just because the modern farmhouse vibe works so nicely with dark floors, that doesn't mean it's the only style that can pull it off. Rustic, traditional and Scandinavian style kitchens often incorporate dark wood floors too. Danish and Swedish culinary spaces are especially known for their beautiful pairings of blond wood cabinets and graphite floors.

What if your personal taste veers more toward sleek contemporary or bright, punchy mid-century modern? The good news is you can still make dark floors work! Simply choose cabinet colors that align with your preferred aesthetic.

Barcelona-based designer Clotilde Pineiro offers this advice: "Look for inspiration images in magazines and design blogs showcasing dark floors. Take note of how the cabinet colors work with a variety of decor styles. Soon you'll get a feel for shades and combinations that appeal most to your vision."

Quick Tip

Unsure where to find quality inspiration images online? Pinterest, Dwell Magazine's website, and thekitchenjournal.com all feature gorgeous kitchen photos searchable by color scheme. Spend some time browsing to gather ideas for your own space.

Setting the Right Mood with Cabinet Colors

One of the main appeals of dark wood flooring is its cozy, welcoming vibe. The cocoa and coffee-colored hues seem to radiate warmth and intimacy.

Pairing rich floor staining with equally dark cabinetry enhances this enveloping atmosphere even further. Especially in naturally well-lit kitchens, deep charcoal painted cabinets can help amplify the sexy, enveloping mood.

But what if all that dim drama has you craving something lighter and brighter? This is where pale cabinet colors come in. Shades of ivory, cream and buttery yellow can offset the heaviness of a dark floor. Adding plenty of pendant lighting ensures the space still feels nice and airy.

Expert Insight

"It's amazing how cabinet colors can entirely shift the mood of a space," explains New York-based interior designer Celine Chu. "Dark floors and darker cabinets create intimacy. Lighter cabinets feel more spirited and uplifting. I tell clients to close their eyes and envision the emotions they want to experience in their finished kitchen. Then choose colors that elicit those feelings."

Evaluating the Amount of Natural Light in Your Kitchen

Here in the Pacific Northwest where I live, gray gloomy days far outnumber sunny ones. So when a client recently asked for advice on installing dark hickory floors in her enclosed, internal kitchen, I knew we'd have to get creative.

Dark wood flooring can make rooms appear shrunken and cavelike if they lack adequate natural light. Strategically placed recessed and pendant lighting definitely helps combat the shadows.

But lighter cabinet colors make an even bigger visible difference. Shades of soft dove gray, light teal, and creamy off-white reflect back available light rather than absorbing it. Even in a windowless kitchen, rooms feel airier and more spacious with the bright bounce of pale cabinetry.

Try This

Unsure how dark floors and cabinet colors will interact in your specific space? Many paint brands like Benjamin Moore now offer augmented reality apps that let you visualize different color combos. Simply scan your existing kitchen and get painting digitally before committing to real paint.

Considering Practicality Factors with Dark Floors

Beyond just looks, interior designer Alexis Winters points out the importance of considering functionality when pairing cabinet colors with inky floors. "Compared to their paler counterparts, dark wood floors show absolutely everything in terms of scratches, dirt and general wear and tear."

This means lighter cabinet colors that help conceal grime rather than highlight it are generally the more practical choice for busy family kitchens. Soft grays, greens and taupes hide stains far better than matching espresso or ebony cabinets ever could.

There's also the matter of reflected light opening up smaller spaces. Children and pets underfoot while you're cooking and cleaning makes even the largest kitchen feel cramped sometimes," Alexis relates. "Lighter cabinet colors help keep things airy and spacious-seeming."

A Touch of Contrast

While pale cabinetry generally complements dark flooring best functionally, Alexis says super-contrasty black lower cabinets paired with creamy uppers lends a gorgeous, striking dimension.

Tying It All Together with a Cohesive Color Scheme

With so many factors to juggle in choosing flattering, functional cabinet colors for dark floors, it helps simplify things by viewing cabinets as part of the kitchen's overall color palette.

Interior designer Mei Lin takes this unified approach with her clients. "I start by having them identify if they want cabinets to contrast dramatically with the floors and draw the eye...

• Vivid teal or crimson cabinets truly pop against dark espresso flooring
• Pale oak cabinets seamlessly coordinate with weathered driftwood plank flooring

...Or if a more cohesive scheme is preferred where cabinetry serves more as a subdued supporting player.

Beginning with the end goal in mind streamlines the design process. It provides focus for playing with striking accent shades versus complementary hues that meld nicely into a holistic experience."

Hopefully these tips give you confidence in pairing gorgeous cabinet colors with stunning dark wood floors. While rich ebony and Brazilian cherry underfoot exude undeniable magnetism, keep functionality and the kitchen's purpose in mind when selecting cabinet tones.

Make sure to thoroughly evaluate your space's size, natural light and decor style too. Only with proper forethought can your color combination truly take your breath away each time you walk through the door.

Now that you know the secrets to selecting the perfect cabinet colors for your dark floors, the only thing left is to start finalizing schemes and get painting! Be sure to share photos of your newly transformed kitchen with us once everything comes together.