Should countertop be lighter or darker than cabinets?

Dark kitchen cabinets will make the kitchen appear smaller, and it can be difficult to see what's on the countertops. On the other hand, if your kitchen has light-colored cabinets or furniture that stand out compared to darker kitchen colors, darker countertops will work well. Opting for a dark color can mean that your countertop looks better for longer. Countertops in black, dark gray and other dark tones work well in kitchens with other dark surfaces, as long as there is plenty of natural light, embedded in the ceiling, pendants, rails, or otherwise.

Dark surfaces absorb light; lighter white surfaces reflect light. Dark countertops help to complement the painted cabinets that are so fashionable today in shades of blue and green. Dark countertops are a perfect complement to white cabinets to achieve a classic look. Generally speaking, lighter countertops really look clean and crisp.

They also have designs that appear more pronounced, creating an attractive focal point. By comparison, darker countertops are considered more elegant, and darker tones and textures add a fresh ambiance.

Kitchen countertops

are an important element in the room's color palette and should complement the cabinets with the tones chosen for walls, floors and shop windows. When selecting the color of the countertop for a new kitchen, you need to consider how you want the space to look and feel.

Usually, countertops and floors, while not identical, tend to look better when both belong to the same color family; otherwise, the kitchen may seem too busy. The combination of darker cabinets and countertops can also be fantastic, such as this kitchen with cabinets finished in cosmic black granite and dark wood. Dark kitchen countertops also have the advantage of being available in a wide range of materials, explains Alex Main, of The Main Company. Whatever option you're considering for kitchen countertops, here's what experts recommend, and it's a smart choice you can also use when you come up with ideas for laundry countertops.

The first thing on many people's lists of why kitchen countertops should be light-colored is their reflective quality. White countertops work well for homeowners in Denver, Colorado, who want to give their new kitchen a contemporary look. One of the drawbacks of dark kitchen countertops is that they absorb light rather than reflect it, with a shrinking effect on the kitchen. Cream, white, mottled or mottled countertops and other lighter-toned countertops serve to soften a space and work well with traditional and transitional design motifs.

Curt Cuneo
Curt Cuneo

Award-winning beer expert. Passionate zombie lover. Award-winning food ninja. General tv advocate. Friendly pop culture advocate. Bacon guru.