Kitchens are often considered the heart of a home. As such, kitchen design can have a major impact on the overall feel and functionality of your living space. Recently, two tone kitchen cabinets have been growing in popularity as an elegant yet practical way to add visual interest and dimension to your kitchen.
The Allure of Tonal Contrast
Two tone kitchen cabinets offer a striking interplay of darks and lights. By combining cabinets in complementary hues, you create contrast and depth. This chiaroscuro effect draws the eye in while enhancing the architectural details of your kitchen cabinetry. The contrast immediately livens up the space.
The mix of tones also creates ultra-modern flair. While an all-white or all-dark kitchen can feel flat and monotonous, two tone kitchen cabinets embrace duality and introduce stylish contrast. This contemporary aesthetic feels fresh yet timeless.
Smart Color Combinations
When selecting two tones for your kitchen cabinets, choose colors that complement one another. Adjacent hues on the color wheel, such as navy blue and burnt orange, offer bold contrast. Analogous cool and warm shades, like gray and tan, create subtle contrast.
Here are some popular two tone color schemes for kitchen cabinets:
- White uppers, navy lowers
- Light gray uppers, charcoal lowers
- White uppers, espresso lowers
- Beige uppers, chocolate lowers
- Navy uppers, white lowers
Black, white, and natural wood tones provide versatility as either upper or lower cabinets.
Aim for 60/40 distribution between your two cabinet colors. Use the darker shade on lower cabinets to ground the space. Reserve lighter hues for uppers to prevent your kitchen from feeling too heavy.
The Practical Perks
Beyond aesthetics, two tone kitchen cabinets offer practical benefits. The color differentiation helps delineate separate zones and features within your kitchen’s cabinetry. For example, an island can seamlessly blend with perimeter cabinetry when painted the same tone. Using contrasting colors helps the island claim its own visual space.
Two tone cabinets also disguise dusty countertops. Dark lower cabinets conceal everyday messes and smudges better than light cabinetry. Just be sure to use darker finishes on low-traffic zones only.
Finally, the combo of light and dark cabinetry creates the illusion of higher ceilings. Light uppers draw the eyes up, while dark lowers provide grounded balance. This makes small kitchens appear more spacious.
Design Considerations
When planning your two tone kitchen, consider how cabinets, countertops, floors, and backsplashes will interact. Contrast between cabinetry and other materials can look disjointed. Natural wood counters pair better with light cabinets, for example, while neutral stones complement bold navy lowers.
Also, select a durable, wipeable finish like enamel or polyurethane. Kitchen cabinets suffer wear and tear, so finished must withstand regular cleaning and moisture.
Finally, commit fully to the two tone look. Limit upper and lower cabinets to 2 colors only. Additional hues risk looking disjointed.
Conclusion
Two tone kitchen cabinets provide contrast, dimension, and flair. Thoughtfully combining light and dark cabinetry creates a striking, contemporary look loaded with practical benefits. From disguising dust to opening up small spaces, the trend embraces duality in both form and function.