Kitchen cabinetry is one of the most visible features in any kitchen. The arrangement, style, and color of the cabinets play a major role in determining the overall aesthetic of the space. Many homeowners wonder if it’s necessary or preferable for their upper and lower kitchen cabinets to match. There are pros and cons to both matching and contrasting upper and lower cabinets to consider.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Cabinetry
There are a few key factors to take into account when deciding whether your upper and lower kitchen cabinets should match or not:
Personal Style and Preferences
Consider your own personal style and aesthetic preferences for your kitchen. Do you tend to gravitate towards spaces with a cohesive, coordinated look? Or are you more eclectic in your tastes, enjoying combining different styles and finishes in one space? Your instincts about which approach appeals to you can help guide your cabinetry decision.
Kitchen Size and Layout
The size and layout of your kitchen can make a difference in whether contrasting upper and lower cabinets work well. Smaller kitchens often benefit from a streamlined, uniform cabinetry look to make the space feel larger. Larger kitchens can more easily accommodate contrasting styles without feeling disjointed.
Cabinet Finish and Color Scheme
Factor in the finishes and color scheme you have in mind for your kitchen cabinets. Contrasting cabinets tend to work best when the two styles share a common color or material so they don’t clash. For example, wood upper cabinets with painted lower cabinets in the same base color.
Budget Considerations
Matching cabinetry is often more budget-friendly than selecting two different styles. Opting for contrasting upper and lower cabinets usually means paying for two different door styles. However, if you opt for stock cabinets, mixing and matching can sometimes cost less than a custom uniform look.
Ease of Implementation
Installing matching upper and lower cabinets is typically a more straightforward process as they are designed to complement each other aesthetically. Contrasting cabinets usually requires a bit more planning and coordination for a cohesive finished look.
Pros of Matching Upper and Lower Cabinets
Achieves a Streamlined, Seamless Aesthetic
Having matching upper and lower kitchen cabinets creates a harmonious, seamless look from top to bottom. This unified aesthetic can make small kitchens appear larger and more expansive. Matching cabinetry also gives a space a calm, orderly feel.
Easier Planning and Installation Process
Choosing matching upper and lower cabinets simplifies the design process. You don’t have to coordinate two separate styles. Installation is also easier when the cabinets are designed to go together. The project can usually be completed faster as well.
Often More Budget-Friendly
Specifying matching upper and lower cabinetry is usually the more wallet-friendly option. You only pay for one cabinet door style rather than two. If custom building, you also minimize design fees selecting a unified look.
Provides a Classic, Timeless Look
Opting for matching kitchen cabinets gives a space a classic, timeless aesthetic. The uniform look has appealed to homeowners for decades and fits in with many design styles from traditional to contemporary. Matching cabinets are unlikely to feel dated any time soon.
Easier to Keep Looking Coordinated
If you plan to live in your home long-term and remodel your kitchen down the road, it’s often easier to update matching cabinetry. You can replace or refinish them without having to try to match two distinct existing styles.
Cons of Matching Upper and Lower Cabinets
Can Feel Monotonous or Boring
While a streamlined look has its benefits, matching upper and lower cabinets can also feel monotonous or boring to some. Having the same cabinets from floor to ceiling lacks visual interest. It can also make a kitchen seem flat and one-dimensional.
Provides Less of an Opportunity to showcase Personality
Kitchens with contrasting cabinetry have more opportunities to showcase unique personal style, with different finishes and hardware choices above and below. Matching cabinets offer fewer options to express individual taste.
Not Ideal for Open Floor Plans
In open concept homes where the kitchen flows into other living spaces, matching cabinets can appear too uniform. Contrasting uppers and lowers better delineate the kitchen within a larger open area.
Less Room for Creativity in the Design Process
For homeowners who enjoy an involved, creative design process, matching cabinetry can feel limiting. There are fewer decisions to make and less room to include custom or standout elements.
Can Show Wear and Tear More
Over years of use, minor differences in wear and tear between upper and lower cabinets may become more visible with matching cabinetry. For example, lower cabinets may get more nicks and scrapes. Contrasting styles help camouflage this.
Pros of Contrasting Upper and Lower Cabinets
Adds Visual Interest to the Kitchen
Contrasting uppers and lowers is an easy way to add style and visual intrigue to your kitchen. Mixing finishes, colors, or styles on top and bottom makes the kitchen cabinetry a focal point.
Allows You to Highlight Different Materials
Pairing different upper and lower cabinets lets you highlight the best features of two different materials. For example, stained wood uppers for warmth with crisp, white painted lowers.
Better Differentiates Separate Spaces in Open Floor Plans
In open concept kitchens, contrasting upper and lower cabinets can help delineate the kitchen area from surrounding living spaces for a better flow.
Provides Opportunity to Showcase Personality
With contrasting cabinets, you can have fun selecting different finishes and hardware that show off your personal taste. Mixing styles shows more personality than cabinets all matching.
Can Optically Enlarge a Small Kitchen
Adding contrast through different uppers and lowers creates more visual breaks in the cabinetry. This can make a small kitchen appear larger than it is.
Offers a Cost-Effective Facelift Option
If you are happy with your existing lower cabinets, choosing new contrasting uppers provides a budget-friendly kitchen update. You refresh the look without replacing everything.
Cons of Contrasting Upper and Lower Cabinets
Achieving a Cohesive Look Can Be Tricky
Mixing and matching upper and lower cabinets risks looking disjointed or haphazard if not done thoughtfully. Careful coordination of the two styles is crucial for a cohesive aesthetic.
Typically Requires Professional Design Expertise
To successfully pull off contrasting uppers and lowers, you generally need professional kitchen designer input. They can ensure the styles work together through color, finish, proportions, etc.
Installation Process is Usually More Involved
Installing two different cabinet styles involves more labor and challenges than a matching set. The installation process typically takes longer and may require more caulking and touch ups.
Potential for Visible Wear and Tear Over Time
With contrasting cabinets, any differences in wear and tear over the years may be accentuated if the styles clash. Frequently handled lower doors may show more signs of use.
Matching Future Replacements May Be Trickier
If you ever need to replace cabinets down the road, matching future new cabinets to two existing finishes could be difficult, especially if custom.
Not Ideal for Small Kitchen Spaces
In general, contrasting uppers and lowers work best in larger kitchens. The look can make a small space feel choppy and disjointed. Matching cabinetry is better for continuity.
Examples of Successfully Styled Contrasting Kitchen Cabinets
Because contrasting upper and lower cabinets comes with more design considerations, it’s helpful to look at examples of the look done well.
Light and Dark Contrast
Using a lighter stained or painted wood color on upper cabinets and a darker color on lowers grounds the space while adding depth. Shades of white, gray, and brown contrast nicely.
Textured Wood Up, Smoother Down
Wood cabinets with visible grains and knots paired with smoother painted lowers adds visual intrigue. Otherwise both styles should coordinate through color and hardware.
Matte Up, Glossy Down
A popular approach is to use flat matte finish painted upper cabinets with glossier, shinier lower cabinets in a similar hue. The sheen contrast adds dimension.
Modern Up, Traditional Down
For an eclectic blend, try sleek flat-front uppers with more traditional decorative lower cabinets. Unify them with common materials like wood or metal.
Neutral Tones with Pops of Color
Use subdued whites, grays, or tans on upper cabinets with boldly colored lowers (blue, green, red). The color grounds the space with neutral uppers keeping it airy.
Key Tips for Contrasting Cabinets
If you opt to mix and match your upper and lower cabinets, keep these tips in mind:
- Use color, finish, and hardware to create harmony between the two styles.
- Browse designer kitchens with successful contrasting cabinets for inspiration.
- Sketch designs to visualize proportions and spacing.
- Limit upper/lower contrasts to one or two for a cohesive look.
- Add other repetitive elements like countertops, backsplash, and lighting fixtures.
- Make any transitions between upper and lower cabinets clean and sleek.
- Use glass cabinet doors to blend styles together seamlessly.
- Consider open shelving to “break up” expanses of contrasting cabinets.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, whether to choose matching or contrasting upper and lower kitchen cabinets comes down to personal preference and priorities. There are good reasons to choose either approach. Matching cabinets provide a classic, seamless look that’s timeless and relatively easy to implement. Contrasting upper and lower cabinets offer more design flexibility to add visual interest and personality.
Whichever direction you decide, think through all the considerations and plan thoroughly. Pay attention to details like color, finish, hardware, proportions and spacing. With smart planning and design, you can get the best of both worlds – contrasting uppers and lowers that still look cohesive. Work with kitchen designers and installers experienced in properly executing contrasting cabinetry. With their help, you can gain all the aesthetic benefits of mixing cabinet styles while still ending up with a polished, harmonious look.
Frequently Asked Questions About Upper and Lower Kitchen Cabinets
Do upper and lower kitchen cabinets have to match?
No, it is not an absolute necessity for upper and lower kitchen cabinets to match. Contrasting upper and lower cabinets is a popular design choice that can add visual interest to a kitchen when done thoughtfully. However, matching cabinetry provides a more seamless, classic look that’s easier to implement.
What are the benefits of upper and lower cabinets matching?
Matching upper and lower cabinets creates a streamlined, uniform look that makes kitchens appear orderly and spacious. It’s also easier to install,coordinates well with countertops, provides a classic and timeless aesthetic, and allows for easy future updates.
What are the benefits of contrasting upper and lower cabinets?
Contrasting upper and lower cabinets adds stylistic interest, allows you to mix materials and finishes, differentiates kitchen zones in open floor plans, showcases personality, and can make small kitchens seem larger.
Should I choose light or dark cabinets?
Lighter cabinets tend to make a kitchen seem more open and spacious, while darker cabinets provide contrast and ground the space. The best approach often depends on the size and existing elements like floors and countertops of your kitchen.
What cabinets styles look best together?
Some pairings that work well include wood uppers with painted lowers, modern uppers with traditional lowers, glossy uppers with matte lowers, color uppers with neutral lowers, and distressed uppers with smooth lowers.
How do I transition between contrasting upper and lower cabinets?
Use color, finish, or glass doors to create a visual bridge between different upper and lower cabinets. Clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and consistent hardware also helps them blend seamlessly.
Can I mix cabinet door styles?
Yes, mixing cabinet door styles between upper and lower cabinets or within cabinet sections can add character. Consider combinations like shaker uppers with inset lowers or glass uppers with flat panel lowers.
In summary, both matching and contrasting upper and lower kitchen cabinets have their merits. As long as you thoughtfully consider the overall aesthetic you want along with practical factors, either approach can result in a cohesive, eye-catching kitchen design that reflects your personal taste. Pay attention to colors, finishes, proportions and hardware to create a polished finished look.