Does a Kitchen Look Smaller With Dark Cabinets?

Options for Upper Walls

• Envision upper walls with light cabinets or no cabinets. To get the idea of how to make any kitchen look larger, keep in mind that upper walls affect light to a large degree. Picture, for example, a kitchen with all white upper cabinets and black lower cabinets. The lower cabinets will not largely affect how big the space appears. White upper cabinets will reflect more light than if they were black.

Dark Colors Add Contrast

• It's important to use some dark cabinets in many kitchens. Mixing dark and light adds a lot of visual appeal. For example, a dark cherry base cabinet or floor-to-ceiling walnut cabinet adds an upscale look. Envision using two maple cabinets alternated with one dark cherry cabinet around the upper walls of a good-size kitchen. The darker cabinets interspersed will not make the space look small. By adding plenty of light, the visual space will look very pleasing.

Mix In Light Materials

• Too many dark cabinets with dark counter tops will darken space. It doesn't matter if the kitchen is tiny or huge, too many dark colors overall will make the kitchen gloomy-looking. By using light-colored counter tops, window treatments, walls and flooring, you can keep the kitchen from looking too dark. Draw a kitchen design with colored pencils in detail to perceive how it will look when completed.

Use Windows and Tilework

• Install larger windows or reflective tiles to enlarge the space visually. You can use black or dark brown cabinets in a small kitchen; however, you will need to find ways to reflect light. Installing a large exterior window will help, and gluing up shiny glass tiles or mirror tiles in the backsplash area can work, too. Don't overlook installing a large skylight in a small kitchen, especially if you really like the look of darker cabinets.

Add Wood to White Cabinet Decor

• Using oak with all white cabinets can work well. While oak flooring and some oak cabinets look pleasing in light-oak stain, you can use darker oak flooring, cabinets or furniture with all white cabinets. While light cabinets can be very visually appealing, adding some wood tones to the decor gives the room a richer feeling. All-white or all-cream cabinets might expand space but they can look very boring. If you don't want to mix dark cabinets, you can add extremely dark wood flooring for great contrast.