Five Mistakes People Make When Choosing Kitchen Cabinets – And How To Avoid Them

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As with so many elements of your home, the color of the kitchen cabinet offers a number of options. However, since the kitchen is often the space where beauty and utility are best combined – and a space where homeowners make some of their biggest investments – it is important to carefully consider your options and look beyond the trends. “While a white kitchen never goes out of style, there are some other colors that are making their way into the kitchen area in bigger ways,” says Caroline Harmon, Trend Strategy Manager at Lowe’s. “Two-tone cabinets, where the upper and lower cabinets each have their own color, are popular and give the room a slightly larger dimension.” Blues and greens have now become almost neutral in the kitchen area, as we see how people bring them to the feeling of nature inside, “she adds.

What does all this mean for your space? To get the hang of it, we asked a few experts to break down some common mistakes and misunderstandings people make when choosing their cabinets – and instead provide instructions on what to do. Take notes before your next Reno!

Don’t blindly follow trends

We all want to spend time and enjoy kitchen spaces, which means personal style and the specific needs of your space should go beyond the trends you love on Pinterest. “I recommend considering three factors: space, color trends, and personal preferences,” said Eugene Makeev, president of RTA Cabinet Supply LLC. “The color trends of the cabinets are important, but they change every 4 to 6 years, while the kitchens are usually remodeled every 15 years.” In Nick Olsen’s small kitchen, for example, the designer opted for a high-gloss Merlot Choice that is certainly unconventional, but suits the footprint of the kitchen (the reflective quality of the color makes the room look bigger) and the personality of the customer.

Look beyond white for an airy feel

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If you want your kitchen to feel more open and airy, you have more options than the standard white. “Don’t forget to consider lighter blues and grays too if you’re looking to lighten a small footprint,” says Harmon.

Another option? A shared palette: “If you want to minimize the look of closets to give your kitchen area a more open feel, consider white or light colors for your upper cabinets and save your statement and bolder colors for the lower cabinets,” advises Harmon “This also helps with adding color in smaller spaces.”

Connected: Why this designer is over white kitchens

Consider mixing materials

Two-tone doesn’t just have to refer to two paint colors: “Wooden cabinets in combination with one color are a fresh interpretation and are well suited for traditional to contemporary looks,” says Harmon (here you can find out which colors have to be combined with which wood tones).

Photo credit: Haris Kenjar

Don’t try to match an existing color

Sometimes you need to replace or partially modify an old or damaged cabinet. “It is usually not recommended to map an existing color because it is never exact and there is a difference in color between the old and the new,” said Jason Quint, owner of Signature Kitchens, a boutique design studio in Orlando, Florida. “It’s better to do something completely different, so it looks like the difference is intentional. We only recommend doing this if you know the exact manufacturer and are trying to duplicate your own work. “

Related: 10 Incredible Kitchen Color Combinations

Always consider durability

The colors of the kitchen cabinets can change over time. “Different types of wood and stains of different quality react differently to solar radiation and can turn yellow, darken or lighten over time,” says Quint. “After years, it often happens that base cabinets in the shade take on a completely different color than wall cabinets that are constantly exposed to natural sunlight.” When choosing a kitchen cabinet color, consider the amount of sunlight your space will receive and study the durability, materials, and manufacturer to see if the quality will last over the years.

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