Are you looking for a trendy way to create visual interest in your kitchen? Two-toned cabinets may be just the thing for you. This kitchen design choice is excellent if you’re looking for a pop in your kitchen, and your choices on how to carry it out are abundant.

Cabinetry that is two-toned utilizes two different colors in a kitchen’s cabinet scheme. This can mean that different blocks of cabinets are different colors or that the same cabinets sport two tones or materials. The kitchen island, for example, may be a different color than the rest of the cabinetry, or the bottom cabinets may be different than hanging cabinets. These combinations are more common than single-cabinet pairings like dark-stained drawers in white frames. 

Benefits of Two-Toned Cabinets

Two-toned cabinets are an excellent way to highlight parts of your kitchen. A pop around an appliance or on the kitchen island will draw the eyes. You can also give your kitchen a sense of elegance or brightness depending on the scheme you choose. The style is a relatively new but abidingly hot trend. This means that two-toned cabinets are good for adding resale value if you are planning to sell your home in the near future.

Choosing Your Scheme

Your kitchen is as unique as you are, so it’s important to remember that what works in one person’s kitchen may not be as effective in another. Choose your design with your specific kitchen in mind. In your design, consider both placement and the color scheme.

Where Oh Where

Where do you want the focal point of your kitchen to be? That’s the place for your bolder color: the kitchen island, next to the fridge or the range, or a bank of cabinets along one wall. If you want to create the illusion of more space, put your darker shades on the lower cabinets. Brighter cabinets above and darker below will draw the eyes up, making a kitchen space feel larger. Lighter top cabinets will also reflect any light coming in.

The Right Tones for Your Two-Toned Cabinets

When choosing your color scheme, select colors and materials that are complementary, though how subtle or dramatic the contrast between them is up to you. 

• White and wood. Pairing white and wood creates a sense of modest sophistication and adds a natural touch. You have your choice of warmer or cooler woods. Paler woods will feel airy, and darker will feel more bold.
• Black and white. This is a classic choice, and it leaves room for other color choices in the room. For further interest, add a dash of wood or use marble countertops.
• Black and gold. Especially if you like an elegant farmhouse look, choose cabinets in black and gold. This can be achieved with paint or with wood in rich tones.
• Soft blue tones and white. For a subtle charm, combine breezy white upper cabinets with gentle blues, robin’s egg or powder blue. Consider a muted seafoam with gold hardware.
• White and stainless steel. For a contemporary feel, match some of your cabinets to any stainless appliances. Corresponding white cabinets won’t compete with the steel, but another color like a deep teal can be striking.
• Gray and wood. For a new twist on a classic farmhouse look, replace white cabinets with a subtle gray and use a complimentary wood as an accent. Silver hardware won’t distract from this scheme, and a bold blue is a nice touch.

A Word to the Wise

There are no set rules for choosing how you use two-toned cabinets in your kitchen, but we do have a few patterns that we’ve seen work.

• If you want to have darker cabinets on the bottom, this can be done with a darker shade that pairs well with the color on the top, a darker shade of the same color, or a darker stain.
• For a sense of cohesion, use the hardware of your cabinets to unify the cabinetry in the room.
• Remember to consider the flooring in your kitchen as well as the appliances. If you are building or doing an extensive remodel and do not have flooring or appliances yet, you’ll have more flexibility. 
• If you opt for a subtler combination with your cabinetry, consider a bold countertop.
• Play with textures. Consider using a glossy finish on your cabinets and a stone countertop or backsplash. You may even choose glass doors for your upper cabinets.

Looking to update your kitchen with two-toned cabinets? Lloyd’s Remodeling & Cabinetry can help. For tailored design suggestions or installation services, give us a call today.

Michael Lloyd

Mike has been in the cabinetry business since 2003 where he started as a CNC Machine operator in his father’s commercial production cabinetry factory. He has experience in all aspects of manufacturing cabinets from machining, assembly, and finishing. Mike Joined Lloyd’s Remodeling & Cabinetry as a co-owner in 2013 where he specializes in hands-on retail showroom sales. Mike’s expertise is in designing and developing all of our interior remodel projects. Mike is masterful at designing and executing full scale kitchen and bath remodels and has been very successful in meeting the needs of even the most meticulous customers. Mike doesn’t believe in “Selling a Job”, rather he builds a relationship with each customer who chooses to engage in the process with Lloyd’s Remodeling because he understands that “people buy from people”.