Two-toned Kitchen Cabinetry

Two-toned cabinetry is a fun way to add visual interest and charming focal points to your kitchen. Practical, aesthetic, and budget-friendly, two-toned kitchen cabinetry offers a timeless look that is here to stay.

While there are no hard and fast rules governing this look, here are some inspirational ideas for Insta-worthy two-toned cabinet designs.

Top to Bottom Color

A reliable approach to mixing two color tones in kitchen cabinetry is to pick different colors for the top (wall) cabinets and bottom (base) cabinets. A lighter hue for the wall cabinets and a darker color choice for the base ones is a safe choice.

A lighter top cabinet makes the room feel brighter and airier, while dark color choices hold greater visual weight and are best applied as an anchoring shade on base cabinets.

However, with a bit of creativity and the guidance of an interior design pro, one need not follow such prescribed patterns.

Interesting Inlays

Mix and match the cabinet box and door colors for a more playful two-toned technique. Try this if you’re looking for a more artistic or bold statement!

Focal Points

Use color in the kitchen to call attention to specific focal points—like an island, pantry door, range hood, or a glass display cabinet wall. Make these unique features pop with a standout color that is different from the surrounding cabinetry.

If you’re eager to include more pops of color in your home while keeping a neutral base, this is the perfect opportunity to have a little fun! Depending on the size of your kitchen, you may even opt for a third color choice. We only recommend this for larger areas with more room to make a statement without cluttering the design. Otherwise, stick with different shades of the same two colors.

Expanding Spaces

Color is more than a hue–it is a helpful design tool that, when used efficiently, can make a room feel more open or intimate. If your kitchen space feels unusually large, you may opt for moody colors and wood tones to make the cabinetry feel closer and make the room feel cozier.

Crowd-Pleasing Color Combos

One of the most-loved color combinations in kitchen cabinetry is wood tones juxtaposed with white. We love using light alder and dark walnut woods in this style for their universal appeal and relatively simple combinations. Black and gray also fit fabulously into the mix.

Alternatively, blues and greens are fun colors to work with. From deep navy to vintage teal to sage green—these beautiful hues give a nice pop of color without distracting from otherwise neutral palettes.

Most important is to have a professional interior designer or kitchen designer involved in your color scheme, as their eye and experience will ensure that you don’t make a costly mistake.

We’d love to chat about how we can design your entire home while adding the perfect colors to your kitchen. Contact us to get started!

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