How to Pair Dark Colored Cabinets With Granite

Choose the type of wood that you'd like to use for the cabinets. Different species of woods come in different colors, but only some species of woods are dark. Common examples of dark wood include ebony, cherry, mahogany and walnut. Some of these woods -- cherry and mahogany, in particular -- have a distinctly red or orange tone. Ebony can be nearly black while walnut tends toward dark gray-brown. The type of wood you choose for your cabinets should be matched to the granite. Granite comes in many colors. The color of the cabinets and granite should have a relationship whether they are complementary or matching. For example, a dark granite with shades of dark gold and brown, such as Ubatuba Gold, would match with a dark, rich brown like ebony. Alternatively, a green colored granite can be paired with red-cast cabinets for a complementary color pair.

Decide how much contrast you'll want to see between the value of the granite and the value of the cabinets. The word "value" in color theory refers to the amount of light or dark that a hue exhibits. In this case, especially if you have not yet chosen a countertop, you will need to decide if your counters will be very light to contrast the cabinets or dark to match the cabinets. This will make a big difference in your kitchen. A dark countertop and dark cabinet pair will make a small kitchen seem even smaller. This same combination might make a very large kitchen seem more intimate. Alternatively, a high contrast pair like light countertops and dark cabinets will create a dramatic split in your kitchen, making the space seem more visually complex.

Take samples of the different types of granite that you're considering for the counters and compare these samples to the different types of wood for the cabinet. Look at the samples at various times of day.

Hold the samples up to the color of the walls to decide what colors will look best in your kitchen. If you find the right combination of countertops and cabinets but don't feel it matches your walls, you can always repaint.