Making Dark Kitchen Cabinets Work

by jessica ackerman

For many designers, dark kitchen cabinets are oppressive and unappealing, so they avoid them during remodeling projects and remove them during the demolition phase of a renovation whenever possible. It is true that it can be hard to balance dark kitchen cabinets, and it takes the right color palette to balance the darkness and add a light, open feeling to the space. The following designs offer the right colors for making dark kitchen cabinets work:

Striking Color Contrasts

As mentioned in other articles on this website and many others, striking color contrasts are a great way to introduce drastic color differences to a room. This is especially true with really vibrant shades, such as red or yellow, and sometimes the only way to tone down vivid colors is to add shades from the opposite end of the color spectrum. When you want to use dark kitchen cabinets, by choice or by necessity, a striking color contrast is a great way to incorporate the best of both worlds.

Subtle Color Shifts

Another color palette that works with dark kitchen cabinets, subtle color shifts create an easy to follow transition from light or neutral to dark. One example of this color palette would be using the lightest shade of the same color on the floor, then the medium shade at the backsplash, and the darkest shade on the cabinets. Follow the flow into the eating space by utilizing the same shift from top to bottom, whether the dining area is joined with the kitchen or a completely separate room.

A subtle approach is one of the more popular options in the kitchen, and this contemporary idea requires only a working knowledge of dark, medium, and light versions of the same color. White, gray, and black is a good example, but shades of brown are also easy to coordinate in this way. You can use other colors as the medium shade, such as adding silver in place of gray, so long as the color coordinates with the rest of your design style.

Blended Transition

Finally, blending the shades in the middle creates an opportunity to add dark and light in the same space without seeing a striking color contrasts as described above. This is usually accomplished in the kitchen on the countertops or backsplash, although some people find other ways of blending the colors for the transition space. Multicolored tiles are the easiest way to create a blended space that utilizes both shades, but be sure that middle shades or neutrals are also included to make the transition attractive and practical or you are still stuck with contrasts.

Countertops are another way to make the transition, such as a marble finish that features several shades of your cabinet color, so long as they coordinate with the flooring too. In modern kitchens, marble, slate, granite, or faux versions are the most desirable amenity, making this addition a valuable asset if you want to add value to your home. It offers a great return on investment for a kitchen renovation and it is usually worth the slightly higher initial investment.

Alyssa Davis, is a design specialist and writer at Metal-Wall-Art.com, and she offers many suggestions and unique ideas for designing with Tuscan metal wall decor and coffee cup wall art.