Kitchen Cabinet Color Trends: They Were, Are, and Will Be

As kitchens strengthen their position as the new heart of homes, the area’s building blocks become more visible and subject to the home improvement spotlight. A major player when it comes to giving an area the required appeal and efficiency, selecting the right set of kitchen cabinets has become one of the most crucial tasks when remodeling. Gone are the days when style was sacrificed for efficiency, as fashion can now go hand in hand with functionality. This article takes a look at kitchen cabinet color trends and their evolution from the elegant yesteryear, to the fab today, and the shades gearing up for the coming year.

Were

When we try to look to the past, most of the kitchens have an old American and European style. But whatever style they tend to be, we can say that the color trends for kitchen cabinets at that time are more homey. Antique kitchen cabinets, especially in luxury homes, showcase the rich colors of natural hardwood and are mostly custom made. Favorites range from the classic cocktail shaker to the old-fashioned ornate looks that have been ‘it’ back then. Some that are made of cherry or other wood that manages to patina over time turns into a sumptuous darker shade that is favored in Spanish kitchens.

Are

Today, kitchen cabinet color trends are more in the custom fashion. Today’s kitchens have become an extension of homeowners’ stylistic preferences with bolder color schemes and become fabulously popular. Some of the favorites include:

1. Elegant and bold

More and more people prefer modern designs that fit seamlessly into their on-the-go lifestyles. For elegant kitchens, stainless steel is becoming the norm. For those who don’t like the industrial look too much and soften the feel of the area, metal cabinets can be mixed and matched with wood and paired with glass. Cabinets can be painted in bolder colors like red, black, blue, or brighter colors like yellows and oranges.

2. A comeback

Traditional colors and designs are making a comeback in kitchen cabinet color trends and are now considered the new contemporary. Neutral tones, such as those showcased by cream maple cabinets or raw natural hardwood finishes such as neutral cherry, maple, and oak series, are currently all the rage on the market. Some homeowners also choose a weathered look on the building block façade of their kitchens to instill a charming old world charm that still blends well with modern advances in design and technology.

Be

For the coming year, interior designers and stylists are already busy cooking up the ‘will’ kitchen cabinet color trends. Many professionals and companies have already published their predictions and one of the persistent fads is the traditional choice of hardwood and neutral colors. As inexpensive wood kitchen cabinets continue to rise in popularity, wood finishes are a classic choice that will stay in style for years to come. Other close colors are those related to Italian luxury with rich nuances and textures for the luxurious; bright minimalist charmer for those looking for a homey style; bewildering colors of natural landscapes for the exotic; and ethnic chic which is primarily greys, yellows, purples, oranges, vibrant blues and blacks.