When designing your dream kitchen, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is choosing your cabinetry. With seemingly endless options for styles, colors, and configurations, it can be overwhelming trying to pull it all together into a cohesive look. So a common question many homeowners have is: do upper and lower cabinets have to match?
The short answer is no – upper and lower cabinets definitely do not need to match. Mixing and matching cabinetry can allow you to add visual interest, contrast, and personality to your kitchen design. However, while mismatched cabinets offer more flexibility, some coordination is still advised to keep your kitchen looking polished.
Below, we’ll explore when you should (or shouldn’t) match upper and lower cabinets, things to consider when mixing styles, creative ways to mismatch your cabinets, and plenty of inspiration from gorgeous mismatched kitchens. Read on for the complete guide to help you determine if your upper and lower cabinets should match or not!
When Should Upper and Lower Cabinets Match?
While mixing cabinetry offers tons of possibilities, there are certain scenarios where you may want to keep your upper and lower cabinets looking cohesive and uniform:
Small Kitchens
If your kitchen is on the smaller side, sticking with matching upper and lower cabinets can make the space appear larger and more continuous. Too much contrast in a small area can feel disjointed and busy. Focusing on a unified cabinetry look enhances flow.
Limited Budget
Matching cabinetry is typically the more affordable option if you’re on a tight budget. Mixing and matching tends to increase costs since you’ll need two different cabinet “packages” – one for uppers, one for lowers. Keeping it uniform requires less customization.
Contemporary Kitchens
In contemporary, modern kitchens, a seamless and sleek look is key. Matching crisp, clean-lined cabinetry in the same finish and color palette helps reinforce that uniformity for a more sophisticated look.
Traditional Style
Traditional kitchens also tend to rely on symmetrical elements and a simple, coordinated aesthetic. Keeping the cabinets looking continuous with matched uppers and lowers aligns with that classic appeal.
Resale Value
If you may sell your home eventually, matching cabinetry can be a safer bet for resale value. Not everyone will like the look of mismatched kitchen cabinets. Going with a more neutral, coordinated look has broader appeal.
So in summary, if your kitchen is small, you’re budget-conscious, or you gravitate toward a uniform contemporary or traditional look, sticking with matched upper and lower cabinets is advisable. But for many other kitchen styles and budgets, mismatching offers creative possibilities!
When Can Upper and Lower Cabinets be Mismatched?
While matching cabinetry does fit better with certain kitchens, there are plenty of situations where you can mix things up with mismatched uppers and lowers:
Open Floor Plans
For open concept kitchens that flow into other living spaces, mismatched upper and lower cabinets can help define the kitchen area while still blending in with the home’s overall aesthetic. The contrast adds interest without looking out of place.
Eclectic Design
If your general interior design style is eclectic or maximalist, then mismatching your kitchen cabinets fits right in with that charming and quirky look. Mixing it up enhances the uniqueness.
Rustic Kitchens
Rustic kitchens tend to involve a mix of materials like natural wood, stone, and metals. Taking a similar approach with your cabinets and mismatching wood, color, and style results in the same welcoming, down-to-earth look.
Bold Colors
If you want to incorporate bold or colorful cabinetry in your kitchen, limiting it to just the uppers or lowers helps prevent the space from feeling overwhelming. Splashing color on one section of cabinets balances the look.
Highlight Architectural Details
Mixing up your cabinetry is a great way to complement other architectural elements like an arched doorway or unique tile backsplash. The contrast showcases those special details.
DIY Kitchen
If you’re giving your kitchen a budget-friendly DIY makeover, purchasing secondhand cabinets or using what you already have may mean mismatching. Embrace the salvaged charm!
Personalized Look
Maybe you just want to reflect your personal style. Mismatched cabinetry allows you to have more fun with different colors, finishes, and decor details. Go bold or subtle based on your preference.
Large Kitchens
Unlike small kitchens, very large kitchens can more easily handle the visual interest from contrasting upper and lower cabinets. The space allows you to define distinct zones.
Those are some of the top scenarios when mismatching your kitchen cabinets can work wonderfully to enhance your overall design. Read on for more tips on successfully pulling off this look!
Design Tips for Mixing and Matching Cabinets
If you opt to mismatch your upper and lower cabinets, there are a few design tricks that can help everything flow together beautifully:
Repeat Finishes
Pick one main finish that’s used on all of your cabinets, like white paint or walnut wood. This unifies the look. Then vary the door styles and colors between uppers and lowers.
Echo Colors
You don’t have to limit yourself to just one cabinet color. But make sure the hues complement each other. For example, pair navy blue lowers with sky blue uppers. Keeping the same color family ties the look together.
Alternate Sections
Rather than a random mix, try mismatching your cabinets in clear sections, like an entire wall of blue shaker cabinets on the bottom and white traditional cabinets on the top. The organized pattern looks more intentional.
Mind the Transitions
Pay attention to the transitions between mismatched sections and incorporate architectural details to make the divide feel purposeful, like a carved pillar or thicker trim molding.
Limit Combos
Pick no more than 2 or 3 color/style combinations for variation. Too many competing cabinet designs can make the kitchen feel haphazard and busy.
Echo Hardware
Use cabinet hardware like knobs and pulls to tie everything together. A common metal finish or shape can make the difference between a cohesive versus disjointed look.
Creative Ways to Mix and Match Your Cabinets
If you want to mismatch your kitchen cabinets, but aren’t sure where to start, here are some creative ideas to inspire you:
1. Vary Door Styles
Keep the cabinet boxes and finishes consistent, but mix up the door styles between upper and lower cabinets for subtle contrast. For example, combine flat recessed panel doors on bottom with glass-front doors on top.
2. Alternate Open and Closed Storage
Maximize storage and visual interest by using closed cabinets on bottom and open shelving up top or vice versa. Showcase your favorite dish collections in the open sections.
3. Light and Dark Contrast
Go bold with dark lower cabinets like a navy blue or charcoal paired with bright white uppers for dramatic contrast. The lighter cabinets will open up the top of the space.
4. Natural Wood Meets Color
Use rich wood cabinetry like oak or cherry for timeless warmth on the bottom and then liven things up with glossy painted cabinets in a fun color like sunny yellow or deep green on top.
5. Mix Metal Finishes
For an edgy vibe, get creative mixing metal cabinet finishes. Try matte black lowers with brass uppers or combine silver and antique bronze.
6. Go Eclectic
Take eclectic style to the max by pairing totally unique cabinets together like vibrant retro uppers with earthy reclaimed wood lowers. Anything goes for maximum personality!
7. Rustic Charm
For a cozy rustic kitchen, use natural wood cabinets stained in a deep espresso tone for the lower cabinets and combine with painted cream cabinets on top for cute contrast.
Those ideas reveal the many possibilities for combining two distinct cabinetry looks! For even more inspiration, let’s look at some real kitchens that flawlessly pull off mismatched style.
Mismatched Kitchen Cabinet Inspiration
Need some visual inspiration before committing to mix and match your own kitchen cabinets? Below are some stunning examples of successful mismatched cabinetry from different designer kitchens:
Transitional Kitchen
This transitional kitchen uses a soothing mix of blue and gray cabinetry. Crisp white uppers contrast nicely with the lower navy cabinet bank topped with marble. Brass hardware ties the look together.
Modern Farmhouse
For a modern farmhouse vibe, this kitchen pairs traditional white beadboard cabinetry on bottom with sleek gray cabinet towers on top for the best of both worlds.
Contemporary Kitchen
In this airy contemporary kitchen, glossy lacquered lower cabinets in shades of gray offset the linear walnut wood cabinetry above for texture. Stainless appliances coordinate with both.
Rustic Kitchen
Rustic farmhouse charm comes from mixing classic white shaker cabinetry up top with reclaimed wood cabinets stained a deep espresso below. Open shelving provides display space.
Eclectic Kitchen
For truly bold contrast, this eclectic kitchen combines glossy mint green cabinets on the bottom with vibrant orange uppers. Gold hardware pops against both colors.
Traditional Kitchen
Formal and elegant, this traditional kitchen uses glossy white cabinets accented with glass-front designs for the lower cabinets, while the upper cabinetry introduces wood finish cabinets for warmth.
Modern Kitchen
Sleek and contemporary, this modern kitchen sticks to a subdued neutral palette of cream, gray and wood. But depth is created by varying cabinet materials and flat versus recessed panel door styles.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re still unsure about whether to match or mix up your kitchen cabinets, here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Do kitchen upper and lower cabinets have to be the same color?
No, your kitchen upper and lower cabinets do not need to be the same color. Feel free to mix it up with cabinet colors to add personality. Just be sure the shades you choose complement each other.
Should you match kitchen island cabinets to the rest?
The island can certainly be used as an opportunity to differentiate your cabinetry even further. But some coordination in finish or style between the island and surrounding cabinets generally looks most cohesive.
Is it bad to mix wood and painted cabinets?
Not at all! Combining the warmth of wood cabinets with the brightness of painted cabinets is a popular combo. Just be sure to balance it out, like wood lowers with painted uppers or vice versa. Don’t mix them randomly.
What if my old and new cabinets don’t match?
If your kitchen remodel involves some new cabinets alongside existing ones that no longer match, try refinishing or repainting them all in the same color scheme to create a more uniform look.
Should I match the countertops to my cabinets?
Countertops don’t necessarily have to match your cabinetry, but some degree of coordination looks best. For example, pair cool-toned countertops like quartz with silvery hardware and light cabinetry for harmony.
Conclusion
While matched kitchen cabinets make sense for some spaces, there are endless possibilities for adding personality by mismatching upper and lower cabinetry. Contrasting colors, styles, or finishes can make your kitchen uniquely yours.
Follow the design tips above like repeating finishes or colors to keep your mismatched cabinets looking coordinated. Take inspiration from the gorgeous kitchens showcasing creative mix and match style. With your favorite cabinet combinations, you can craft a kitchen that showcases your personal flair!