Choosing between a light or dark kitchen scheme?
The kitchen is such an important part of any home. It’s a place where you gather with family and create special memories. This is why it’s so important to achieve a design that is well considered and that reflects your personality.
One question you might ask yourself when planning your kitchen is “do we want a light or dark kitchen?”. Well this is a good question and one that needs some thought. Planning is key in any space but especially the kitchen so we have listed a few points below to keep in mind when making your decision.
Light, Bright Kitchen
You might already know that a light area appears larger to the eye than an identically-sized dark area, well this also applies to kitchen cabinetry. Creating the appearance of a larger more expansive space, a light kitchen can appear clean, fresh, calm and timeless.
If you have already started to plan the rest of your home then consider the tone of the overall design to ensure your colour pallet and style choices flow throughout the project space. One way to do this is to gather samples of all the finishes you are considering and lay them out in the space to make sure they work together.
A light kitchen will work really nicely with a range of design aesthetics from Australian Coastal, Contemporary, Mid Century, Farmhouse through to Boho and Palm Springs . It also gives you more flexibility and is more versatile if you think you are someone who likes to change up their style frequently or are considering re-sale value for the future as light cabinetry quite often appeals to a broader range of buyers.
One thing to consider is cleanliness. A white countertop, depending on the finish, could be easily marked if not treated properly or looked after. A polished stone finish will be easier to clean and care for than a matte finish, however, the key with a light bench top is to wipe spills up immediately to avoid permanent stains or shadowing.
You might like to consider a countertop with a fleck or slight 2 tone effect to reduce obvious marks over time. Also, ensure when selecting cabinetry finishes that they are hardwearing and won’t mark with a simple touch of the hand. Some of the matt finishes although beautiful will show up each and every fingerprint.
Light and bright
Pale grey shaker style cabinetry, brass pulls and veined marble bench top and splash back
Image source: Pinterest
Light and bright
Travertine island, bench top and splash back, contemporary lighting and contrasting stools
Image source: Noa Santos / Hudson Advisory
Lay your samples out in your kitchen space and look at them at different times of the day to see how the change of natural and artificial light effects the colour of the samples.
Dark Kitchen
Oozing mood and personality, dark kitchens can instantly create depth and a sense of drama. This is a great colour pallet to consider if you are thinking about creating a Modern Industrial, British Colonial, Modern or Contemporary kitchen. Dark cabinetry will act as a focal point in the room and can look sleek and sophisticated if executed correctly.
If you have made the decision to use dark cabinetry considering your lighting plan to ensure the space will be well lit. If not lit correctly the space could appear small, dark and gloomy or feel closed in. The use of strip lighting in shelving or under cabinetry, down lights, pendants, and even skylights will all help to lightening the space.
Unlikely to show up the dirt as much, dark kitchens may need less maintenance to always look their best. Once again check the finish of any matt surfaces as some, although beautiful, can show every fingermark.
When going down the path of a dark kitchen there are a few other things to consider. If you are selecting an ‘on trend’ colour keep in mind the life span of the space. It would be awful to put so much hard work into a beautiful kitchen only feel sick of the colour in a few years time. Also, you might light to consider pairing darker cabinetry with a light bench top, and splash back to allow the cabinetry to be the statement on its own.
Dark kitchen
Floor to ceiling moody black wood panel cabinetry, marble bench top and splash back.
Image source: Greg Natale
Dark kitchen
Deep green cabinetry with complimentary grey stone, warm wooden island bench and black minimalist stools.
Image source: Victoro Hlsson, Asplund
Get samples of your chosen bench top and test them with different foods and drinks to see how the finish reacts and resists stains. Also test hot pots on the surface to see if any marks are left.
Alternatives
There are some alternatives to an all light or all dark kitchen. One alternative is to consider placing darker cabinetry down low, grounding the space, and pairing it with lighter upper cabinetry to create a two tone look.
Another option which we touched on earlier is to lighten dark cabinetry with light bench tops. This will create contrast within the design, add can help to make the space feel balanced.
Alternative
Extending a light splash back higher than normal can assist in lightening the space when paired with darker cabinetry.
Image source: NDM Design Inc.
In Short…
Most importantly have fun when selecting your kitchen hard finishes.
Our number one tip is to make sure you consider the style of the rest of your house before you start your kitchen design. A common design mistake made when planning a new kitchen is approaching the space on its own. Think about linking colours, tones, finishes, fixtures and flooring in with the surrounding areas which will in turn create a seamless link with the home.
For assistance with your kitchen finishes contact us here.