Should Kitchen Countertops Match The Cabinets?

Choosing the right countertops to go with the cabinets in your kitchen doesn’t seem like a huge decision, but many times it can throw a wrench into design plans. With the amount of time you spend in your kitchen on a daily basis, it needs to be a space you love. Once you’ve decided all the not so fun stuff (like budget, use, maintenance) the good part begins and you get to decide the design for your kitchen. We’ve done some digging for you and found how best to coordinate cabinets and countertops!

When choosing countertops and cabinets, it’s actually not a rule of thumb that you have to match them. You can choose a same-color look to streamline your kitchen design or opt for contrast to add a dramatic feel. The choice is truly up to you and your personal tastes.

But how do you know what you want? When the options are limitless, it can be overwhelming and almost impossible to decide. We know it can be too much, so we found several examples of kitchen styles to help you out! 

Same-color cabinets and countertops

For a more timeless look, go for countertops and cabinets that match in color.

In this kitchen, you can see the matching white countertops and cabinets. While in theory, this sounds bland and boring, it has a couple of awesome results. One color throughout makes a small space feel bigger and allows the homeowners to play with design and add color in other areas.

The blue of the stand mixer, the utensil holder, and the dish towel, as well as the plants, add in a layer of color.  The geometric backsplash contributes an interesting pattern. And as an extra bonus, when the homeowners decide they’d like a different look it's not only easy to switch them out but much cheaper than having to pull out or repaint the main structure in the kitchen.

There is a pitfall of making your kitchen too closely matched, however. Be careful to make sure and add other colors and design elements, playing with textures and patterns rather than all uniform. Otherwise, you run the risk of creating the bland, boring kitchen you originally imagined.

Contrasting colors for cabinets and countertops

If you want a look that’s a bit more dramatic, choose countertops and cabinets that have high contrast. This is a favorite tool of big-name designers right now.

As you can see, this kitchen still allows for the homeowner to customize the space to their current tastes fairly easily, but the black and white color scheme brings in a more modern feel as well as adds some interest to the space without too much effort through added touches. There’s still room to add a few layers of textures and patterns as well as colors, but if you chose to keep it simple with only one or two added elements this kitchen could stand on its own.

You can also use contrast to warm up a space with cool colors, like the kitchen shown above. The warm color of the wood isn’t as directly contrasting with the white of the cabinets as the black and white before, but it adds interest while also giving the kitchen a warm and cozy feeling.

Complementing Colors for countertops and cabinets

If you don’t quite want the stark contrast like the last example, yet you aren’t really thrilled with the idea of a single color, finding colors that complement each other may be a perfect choice.

The countertops in this kitchen walk the line by not being the same color as the dark brown cabinets, yet at the same time not contrasting in color since they are a lighter version of brown. Another example can be seen below, where the countertops borrow from the grey cabinets to keep a streamlined look, but still stands out in their own right with the abundance of white mixed in.

Mix and Match Countertops and cabinets

You can also add in more than one type of countertop. The kitchen below uses a light countertop that blends well with the white cabinets. Use a dark butcherblock countertop on the island to create a focal point as well as adding some contrast to the mainly monochromatic color scheme.

Another option is to flip-flop the cabinets and counters, like the kitchen shown below. This example has a light colored countertop with a dark wood island section that stands out from the light cabinets and dark counters against the wall.

 

Should kitchen countertops match the floor?

There’s not a set rule for this, however, taking into account the color scheme you’ve already decided on with your cabinets and countertops is a good idea. Sandwiching the cabinets between like-colored countertops and flooring is a classic design move, like in this kitchen where the light countertop and floor make the dark cabinets really stand out.

If you want a more uniform monochromatic look, consider going for a patterned floor that adds an element of interest to the kitchen, like the example shown here.

You could also use the floor to warm up or cool down your kitchen colors, like this. The heavy brown colors create a cozy room, and the floor adds a lighter element to it.

Find YOUR Style

In summary, you can mix and match your countertops and cabinets however you like. There are no rules on whether they should match exactly, but there are some guidelines for making contrasting looks work. Ultimately it’s dependent on your personal style and tastes, as well as the overall feel you want to accomplish in your kitchen design.