26 Stunning Ways To Upgrade White Kitchen Cabinets
Shocking but true, there are actually this many takes on plain white cabinets.
The most popular color by miles, white kitchen cabinets are ultra versatile. White kitchen cabinetry fits into practically every interior design style, from modern farmhouse to midcentury modern. The adaptable shade is beloved by minimalists for its clean lines and soothing energy, while maximalists adore how easily it pairs with a world of other colors and patterns. White cabinets have a classic appeal that spans generations and somehow never looks dated. That's why everyone from Nancy Meyers and Joanna Gaines to Kim Kardashian have them in their kitchen.
White kitchen cabinets also lay an easy neutral foundation for other finishes. You don't have to worry about which countertop material will look best with them. White marble, black granite, and patinated gray soapstone all work beautifully, as do more colorful surfaces. You can choose brass cabinet knobs and pulls now, knowing that you can easily change them to any metal in the future. And you could add a kitchen island painted any other accent color if you want some contrast.
The drawbacks of white kitchen cabinets are few and far between. While scuffs and stains can happen, that's true of any light color. Cleaning white cabinets is as easy as using an all-purpose cleaner or even a Magic Eraser. White cabinets are also easy to find at big-box retailers like Ikea and The Home Depot, which could potentially save you money compared with buying custom cabinetry. Read on for 26 white kitchen cabinet ideas in every style, from opulent elegance to streamlined Scandinavian.
Create Contrast
To make your white kitchen cabinets pop, use black as your primary accent color. Cate Dunning paired a high-gloss subway tile backsplash with a penny tile floor in a graphic pattern.
Draw an Outline
In this 295-square-foot city apartment, white cabinets are dressed up with a bright outline along the inside edge. It not only accentuates the detail but also coordinates perfectly with the gingham backsplash.
Keep It Sleek
Embrace the all-white look by taking a light-reflecting hue all the way up to the ceiling. The dark hardwood floor grounds the room.
Add Natural Textures
White cabinetry can feel stark. Warm it up with natural elements, like the wooden island in this kitchen by The Brooklyn Home Company. Bright yellow accents add a cheerful feeling.
Use Complementary Colors
Use the color wheel to your advantage when choosing your accent colors. In this kitchen, canary yellow complements the turquoise tiled backsplash and art. White cabinetry sets a fresh tone.
Focus on the Floor
In this kitchen designed by Victoria Hagan, white cabinetry and paint put all the focus on the stunning checkered floor.
Mix and Match Finishes
Combine a high-gloss paint finish and equally shiny tile to bounce an abundance of natural light around a small kitchen.
Let the Stone Speak
Deploy white cabinetry to make your home's architecture shine. In this kitchen, stark walls, countertops, and cabinetry allow the surrounding natural stone and wood beams to pop.
Coordinate Your Dinnerware
Pull together an eclectic design style by sticking to a neutral palette. When you fill open shelves with dinnerware edited down to a single color, it looks calmer and more collected.
Go for Gold
Make an all-white kitchen a little more interesting with mixed metallics. Though this kitchen's range and cabinets are both white, one has brass hardware, while the other has silver.
See more at Amber Interiors.
Add Retro Elements
Sleek gold handles and white lacquer cabinets make this kitchen feel totally fresh and modern, but the blue fridge gives it a subtle retro nod. We see you over there, SMEG.
See more at Sugar & Cloth.
Cross Over to the Dark Side
I know, I know — white cabinets should mean a white and bright kitchen, but hear us out. White and black look super sleek and sexy together. Feels too formal? Wood accents and exposed brick can change all that.
See more at Lark & Linen.
Go to Great Heights
No matter how high your ceilings actually are, you can fake height with tall, narrow cabinets. They'll draw the eye up, making the room feel higher.
See more at Lark & Linen.
Add Glam Touches
These beveled, curved, leaded-glass inserts took a year to finish, but the results were worth the wait. It makes a farmhouse-style kitchen look a bit more elegant.
Outline It in Black
The painted hinges blend in, but black pulls stand out in an informal Florida kitchen. Pale oak floors and butcher block counters reinforce the laid-back vibe.
Organize the Clutter
A block of solid cabinets? Bo-ring. These wire-mesh fronts feel far more interesting. The hazy inserts — overlaid with a metal diamond pattern — obscure what's inside, giving a little more organizational leeway.
Build in a Surprise
Even if you definitely want white fronts, don't forgo the opportunity for color inside. A cottage kitchen took advantage of glass-front cabinets by adding an unexpected turquoise hue.
Embrace Gloss
To get truly sparkling whites in this New York kitchen, high-gloss white was combined with crystallized glass counters. It's light, bright, airy, and totally polished.
Upcycle Materials
Old fencing was repurposed as cabinetry in this weekend house. The fridge handle—made of galvanized pipe—is the product of upcycling too.
Get Glazed
For the cabinets in this new Tennessee farmhouse, a glaze was hand-painted on top. The effect is the patina of a home that has grown over generations.
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