Kitchen cabinets play a crucial role in setting the aesthetic tone of your kitchen. From classic white Shaker-style cabinets to bold, colorful statement pieces, your cabinetry can make or break the look and feel of the heart of your home. If you’re looking to renovate your kitchen or simply give your existing cabinetry a facelift, exploring creative cabinetry styles and finishes is a great place to start.
In this article, we’ll showcase 9 creative and unique looks for kitchen cabinets that are sure to inspire you. Whether you prefer a traditional or contemporary style, we’ve got creative cabinet ideas for every taste and budget. Read on for gorgeous photos, design tips, and ideas to refresh your kitchen in style!
Rustic Farmhouse Cabinets
Farmhouse style is beloved for its emphasis on craftsmanship and natural materials. To achieve a cozy, rustic farmhouse kitchen, focus on cabinets with a visible wood grain. Unfinished woods like pine and reclaimed barnwood work beautifully to evoke a weathered, antique feel.
Accent with bin pulls, cup hooks, and open shelving in galvanized metal for an authentic farmhouse vibe. Butcher block countertops and apron-front sinks complete the pastoral kitchen look. With an aged patina and artisanal details, farmhouse cabinets inject cozy warmth into kitchens both big and small.
Design Tips for Rustic Farmhouse Cabinets:
- Opt for visible, unstained woods like pine or oak to highlight the natural grain
- Consider salvaged barnwood or reclaimed wood for eco-friendly, antique appeal
- Contrast warm wood tones with matte black bin pulls and hardware
- Add glass-front doors only to select upper cabinets to maintain the cozy style
- Use beaded inset cabinetry or simple shaker doors for a classic farmhouse look
- Attach open shelving and picture rails to create a cottage feel
Vibrant Colored Cabinets
Want your kitchen cabinets to pack a punch? Bold colored cabinetry makes a vibrant, lively statement. Painting your existing cabinets or opting for new colorful units is an easy DIY upgrade. Primary colors like red, yellow and blue or vivid jewel tones give your kitchen an energetic, saturated look.
For traditional sensibilities, stick to richer hues like navy, emerald or magenta. Or embrace contemporary flair with bright orange, chartreuse or candy pink cabinets. Complement with crisp white countertops and backsplashes to prevent sensory overload. No matter your color palette, vibrant cabinets infuse your culinary space with playfulness and panache.
Tips for Pulling off Vibrant Colored Cabinets:
- For smaller kitchens, use accent colors just on the island to avoid overwhelming
- Pair bold hues with light, neutral walls and backsplashes
- Use high-gloss finishes to let the colors pop even more
- Paint the interior of glass-front cabinets a contrasting color for a striking look
- Stick to solid cabinet colors rather than busy patterns or prints
- Consider multi-toned cabinets, like light and dark blue, for dynamic contrast
- Anchor the look with unifying elements like brass hardware, wood accents and tiles
Modern Metallic Cabinets
For a sleek, contemporary edge, chrome and metallic finishes give kitchen cabinets a futuristic feel. Stainless steel, high-shine nickel and even brass cabinetry lend mid-century elegance with a hint of edge. Mix metal cabinetry with pops of glossy color for a dynamic look.
Streamlined drawer pulls and handles alongside metallic tile or stone backsplashes double down on the modern metallic aesthetic. For something totally unique, get creative with mixed metals. Combine silver, rose gold and oil-rubbed bronze finishes throughout the kitchen – on cabinetry, fixtures, lighting and beyond. The blend of cool and warm metallics results in a one-of-a-kind contemporary space.
Achieving a Sleek Metallic Kitchen:
- Lean into curved edges, retro hardware and tambour doors for mid-century flair
- Contrast metal cabinetry with dark wood or concrete floors and countertops
- Incorporate metal tile, stone or mosaics in backsplashes and accent walls
- Use a variety metals like zinc, copper, brass and nickel throughout the space
- Opt for stainless steel appliances and modern metal pendant lights
- Add pops of color with chartreuse or azure bar stools and kitchenware
Glass-Front Cabinet Displays
Glass-front cabinets provide both form and function in the kitchen, allowing you to stylishly display dishware, glassware and collectibles. The transparency creates an open, airy look and the contents become part of the design aesthetic. Try open shelving up top and closed storage on lower cabinets to prevent dust buildup.
For a cohesive look, decorate glass cabinet interiors with colorful linens, dramatic lighting or wallpaper. Opt for antique glass, seeded glass or colored glass panes to take the look one step further. Keep base cabinets solid and grounded to balance the weightlessness of glass-fronts up top. The combination of solids and transparencies achieves a striking blend of textures and visual interest.
Designing with Glass-Front Cabinets:
- Use glass fronts sparingly on select upper cabinets rather than everywhere
- Look for beveled glass, textured glass or colored glass for added dimension
- Try open shelving above sinks or prep areas to display decorative dishware
- Under-cabinet lighting highlights contents and adds drama
- For lower cabinets, limit glass fronts to corner cabinets or bookshelves
- backsplash tiles in a complementary color or finish to the cabinet interiors
- Display collections like china, ceramics or books behind the glass
Two-Toned Kitchen Cabinets
Why choose one kitchen cabinet color when you can have two? Mixing and matching painted upper and lower cabinets is an of-the-moment look. Complementary colors like navy and white, sage and cream or brick red and charcoal grey work well together. Tone-on-tone pairings offer subtle contrast, like pale blue on top, deeper blue on bottom.
For a more dynamic look, go with vivid peach uppers and slate blue lowers. Offset the two-toned cabinets with neutral countertops and backsplash. Black, brass or aged bronze hardware ties the mismatched cabinets together seamlessly. The split color scheme keeps the kitchen feeling cohesive yet custom. Add an accent wall or floor tiles in one of the two cabinet colors to really make it pop.
Tips for Designing Two-Tone Cabinets:
- Use lights and darks of the same hue or complementing colors for harmony
- Paint the top cabinets a lighter color to give the illusion of height
- Finish lower cabinets in a deeper shade for a grounded look
- Choose satin, glossy or matte finishes in the same sheen for cohesion
- Pair soft muted hues like gray and blue for a tranquil vibe
- Go for high contrast like navy and white for drama
- Incorporate hardware and metals in a finish that complements both colors
Antique White Shabby Chic Cabinets
For the perfect blend of cottage charm and elegance, antique white painted cabinets have enduring appeal. The versatile off-white shade provides a light, airy backdrop in any kitchen. To take the look from classic to shabby chic chic, opt for lightly distressed cabinets with details like rub-throughs and chips that reveal the natural wood underneath.
Soft robin’s egg blue, pale yellow and timeless Tiffany blue make for dreamy accent colors. Work in distressed wood elements like an antique white apron sink, rolling pins and cutting boards. Accentuate with brass bin pulls, slender iron handles and vintage style lighting for a romantic French country vibe. Ruffled curtains, fresh florals and ceramic knobs offer darling finishing feminine touches.
Emulating Shabby Chic Style with Antique White Cabinets:
- Opt for a soft antiqued white paint with a subtle patina
- Add character by lightly sanding cabinets post-paint for intentional distressing
- Incorporate visible wood grains and “rub throughs” on corners and edges
- Use matte finishes rather than high-gloss for and authentically weathered look
- Pair painted cabinets with natural wood elements for contrast
- Accent the white backdrop with powder blue subway tiles
- Display collections of vintage cake stands, cookbooks or glassware
Black and White Kitchen Cabinets
For a classic, timeless color combination that packs a graphic punch, black and white cabinets can be mixed and matched for a stunning modern kitchen. Try glossy black lower cabinets grounded by crisp white uppers, or vice versa. Blocky streamlined shapes and recessed hardware emphasize the eye-catching colorblocking.
For contemporary appeal, opt for handle-less cabinets in a mix of flat panel and Shaker styles. Add checkerboard floor tiles and bold black and white patterns on walls or caesarstone countertops. Crisp white open shelving provides balance alongside the striking high-contrast cabinetry. Finish the dramatic look with cascading black pendants and gallery walls filled with monochromatic art.
Tips for a Cohesive Black and White Palette:
- Use both colors equally to avoid one dominating
- Introduce wood, marble or metallics to temper the strong contrast
- Incorporate black and white patterns for visual texture and interest
- Choose sleek flat-panel cabinets rather than ornate door styles
- Opt for matching finishes and sheens, like matte black and matte white
- Consider a gray island for an eclectic twist on the classic color combo
- Anchor with neutral countertops and backsplash like quartz or marble
Wood Top Kitchen Island
When it comes to kitchen islands, think beyond just extra prep space and storage. The island is prime real estate for making a style statement. Swapping out an expected solid cabinet island for one with a natural wood countertop instantly warms up the room. The organic texture and wood grain provide cozy contrast to sleek cabinetry and stone surfaces.
Hardwoods like oak, walnut and maple make durable and handsome countertops that age beautifully. Complement with iron bases, legs or sides for an industrial edge. For a rustic feel, try a reclaimed wood island top paired with foraged log legs. The wooden island becomes a natural focal point and versatile gathering spot.
Styling a Wood Top Kitchen Island:
- Opt for oak, maple or walnut wood to withstand daily use
- Seal the countertop regularly with waterproof finish
- Add wheels or casters on one side for flexible prep space
- Contrast the wood top with black metal or iron legs and accents
- Complement with pendant lighting and barstools with metal detailing
- Carve out open shelving or cubbies for extra storage
- Accent with live edge details, metal strips or handmade ceramic knobs
Open Shelving Kitchen Cabinets
Open shelving imparts an airy, casual vibe to kitchens. Removing some upper cabinet doors helps break up wall-to-wall cabinetry for a lighter, more modern look. The trick is striking the right balance – too many open shelves can potentially result in clutter without enough closed storage.
Focus open shelving near cooking zones, around windows and near the island to display cookbooks and decorative dishware. Stagger with closed cabinets to keep items like small appliances and pantry goods concealed but easily accessible. Try mixing unfinished wood shelves with white cabinets for contrast. No matter your approach, open shelving introduces breezy, eclectic style.
Maximizing Form and Function with Open Shelving:
- Use open shelving sparingly in select areas rather than removing all doors
- Place open shelves away from heat zones near stoves to prevent drying out
- Try glass or metal shelves for an industrial edge
- Incorporate cabinets with integrated lighting to illuminate shelf contents
- Style shelves with greenery, colored glassware and ceramic objects
- Opt for deeper shelves (12+ inches) to allow for ample object display
- Add rails or brackets to shelves for extra stability
- Rotate items seasonally to keep displays fresh and decluttered
Wrapping Up
Ready to give your kitchen a complete style transformation? The innovative cabinetry looks and finishes above are just a sampling of the many directions you can take. From showstopping colors to vintage farmhouse charm, your cabinet choices tell a story and set the tone for the entire kitchen.
Whether you’re embarking on a full kitchen remodel or just freshening things up with new hardware and a coat of paint, take time to consider the look you want to achieve. Examine your existing kitchen layout and cabinetry footprints and think critically about how you cook, entertain and move throughout the space. Mix and match elements from different styles to create a look that’s uniquely you.
With some thoughtful planning and design daring, your dream kitchen is well within reach. Outfit your cabinets in a creative style that blends form, function and flair. Before you know it, you’ll have aconvivial kitchen space with plenty of character. Don’t be afraid to take risks – you can always repaint down the road. Celebrate your personal taste by using your kitchen cabinets to make a compelling aesthetic statement. Happy designing!
