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If you want your kitchen to look good for years to come, a classic white kitchen is the way to go.
Why are white kitchens a classic choice for any home?
The answer is simple. A white kitchen is a blank slate that you can easily tailor to any design aesthetic. Whether you like a sleek modern look or a more traditional vibe, a white kitchen is an excellent choice. Keep reading to learn how to create a classic white kitchen that will make your home look beautiful for years to come.
Tips for designing a white kitchen
When designing or remodeling your kitchen, there are several key choices that will help you create a cohesive space. These include the cabinet color / wall color, hardware finish, and the material to use for your countertops and flooring.
White paint colors for a kitchen
White can be one of the hardest paint colors to choose because the undertones of the paint will cause it to appear different in different lighting. To determine the appropriate undertone for your paint, you need to consider the primary light source for your kitchen.
Determine from which direction your kitchen receives the most natural light (north, east, south, west). This affects the tone of the light.
North facing kitchens will bring out the cooler undertones in a paint so you may want to avoid white paints with green, blue, or grey undertones.
A south facing kitchen will typically receive warm light throughout the day. This means that a wider variety of white hues will work for your space. Your main concern will be coordinating your shade of white with the rest of your kitchen design choices.
West facing kitchens will look cooler in the morning and warmer in the evening, while east facing spaces will see the opposite effect. Some shades of white will look vastly different throughout the day due to the changing tone of light. A shade of white with a blue / grey undertone may look pale blue in cooler light, but white in warmer light.
If you only have artificial light, you can swap out your light bulb for one that emits either warmer or cooler toned light, depending upon your preference.
White kitchen paint color guide
What type of countertops should you choose for a white kitchen?
The best countertop for your white kitchen will depend on several things. You need to determine whether you want a high contrast or low contrast look. You also must determine your requirements for maintenance and durability.
If you really want to lean into the all white aesthetic, marble is a very popular and timeless choice for kitchen counters. However, marble is a porous stone that stains easily so it needs to be resealed every 1-2 years to maintain stain resistance. Therefore, it is not a practical choice for someone that does not have time for the maintenance required to keep marble countertops looking their best. If you like the look of marble, quartz is a great low-maintenance alternative.
I love a bit of contrast so, personally, I prefer the look of dark stone or butcherblock countertops with a white kitchen. Soapstone, black granite, and black quartz are all excellent options for dark countertops. If you choose granite or quartz, select a variety with a less busy pattern for a timeless look.
For a cohesive look, you will want the colors in the stone to match the undertone of your white paint. For example, a black stone with accents of warm whites, coppers, and golds will pair nicely with a creamy white shade. A white countertop with vivid streaks of dark grey will look beautiful with a cooler white shade of paint.
Kitchen countertop guide
Choosing hardware for your white kitchen
The finish you choose for your kitchen hardware should coordinate with the undertone of your white paint. Brass, bronze, and copper are warmer toned finishes, while nickel, chrome, and black are cooler toned finishes.
It’s fine to mix and match finishes, but it should be done in a cohesive way. For example, your cabinet drawer pulls and knobs should be the same finish, but you could choose a different finish for your lighting and kitchen faucet. You should not have more than 2 different finishes though because your kitchen will no longer look cohesive.
Kitchen hardware finish guide
Flooring for your kitchen
A wood floor is a great option for a kitchen floor because it adds warmth and richness to a space. Additionally, it doesn’t feel cold and on your feet on a winter morning. Since kitchens are a high traffic space, wood floors might show signs of wear sooner. Adding accent rugs to your kitchen can help reduce wear on your hardwood floors.
Tile is another option. For a white kitchen, you can’t go wrong with a classic checkerboard tile floor. If you want to see more checkerboard floor ideas, make sure you check out this post.
Again, to ensure your kitchen aesthetic has enduring appeal, you will want to select a flooring option without busy patterns.
Kitchen flooring guide
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