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How to Match Appliances and Kitchen Cabinets Colors and Make Them Look Modern?

April 02, 2021 | Updated on: March 12, 2024

Are you upgrading your kitchen? Are you wondering do kitchen appliances have to match in color? You might be looking into different kitchen cabinets to purchase in order to complete the facelift. Whether you’ve already purchased them or you’re debating on a few, it’s important to keep in mind their color. When it’s time to select the kitchen appliances, it’s best to choose ones that will best complement the color of your cabinets if you’re looking to have a more modern look to your kitchen.     

do kitchen appliances have to match in color

This brings up the question of what color cabinets go with each style of dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, and microwave. Should you choose to have kitchens with white appliances and dark cabinets? What about if your cabinets are white? What color cabinets will go best with stainless appliances? There are numerous factors to consider here and paying attention to these details can help you make your home and kitchen look better than ever. 

Choosing new kitchen appliances is a crucial part of the kitchen remodeling process. You shouldn’t just look for appliances that will help enhance the functionality of your kitchen, but you should also choose them based on their finish and the rest of the kitchen’s details, like the cabinets. Pay attention to the brand of appliances you’re purchasing as different brands can have different shades of one color. Typically, your appliances should match their finish, but you should think about how the finish will look with the rest of the kitchen. This guide can help you determine whether or not brown kitchen cabinets with white appliances are a good idea or whether you should consider something else. 

Kitchen-Form

Color coordination in the kitchen

Coordinating colors in the kitchen involves finding a balance of cohesion vs. contrast in kitchen design to achieve a visually appealing and harmonious design. Here’s a breakdown:

Aspect

Cohesion

Contrast

Color usage

Colors blend seamlessly together.

Colors stand out from one another.

Aesthetic effect

Unified and harmonious look.

Visual interest and drama.

Mood

Soothing and understated.

Dynamic and energetic.

When to use

For a cohesive and calming atmosphere;

In smaller kitchens or open floor plans;

To create a sense of continuity;

To add excitement and personality;

In larger kitchens or focal points;

To highlight specific design elements;

Example

White-on-white kitchen with minimal accents.

Black cabinets with stainless steel appliances and bold accent colors.

Stainless steel appliances offer a neutral and versatile backdrop that pairs well with a variety of cabinet colors. For cohesion, you can choose cabinet colors for stainless steel appliances such as shades of gray, navy blue, or charcoal. For contrast, you can opt for cabinets in warmer tones, such as wood finishes or shades of white, to create a striking visual juxtaposition against the sleekness of stainless steel.

Kitchens featuring white appliances create a sleek, contemporary aesthetic, which can be enhanced with various cabinet colors. Neutral hues such as white or gray cabinets paired with white appliances create a monochromatic or tonal scheme, perfect for sleek minimalist style. You may also experiment with bolder hues like deep blues, greens or even black cabinets as focal points in the kitchen.

For those in search of contrast in their white kitchens, stainless steel appliances can add an elegant and unique element, breaking up the monotony of white cabinets. Or if white appliances suit you better, consider diluting the overall color scheme with contrasting cabinet hardware, like copper knobs or black pulls.

Black appliances with black cabinets create a striking and modern aesthetic, especially in contemporary or luxury modern kitchens. However, to prevent your space from feeling too dark and enclosed it's essential to introduce elements of contrast such as light-colored countertops or backsplashes for additional visual interest and depth in design. Matte black appliances with glossy black cabinets add depth and visual interest for maximum impact.

What Color Cabinets Look Good with White Appliances?

White kitchens are considered to be timeless and they’re one of the latest trends these days. Even though they’re the most modern, people still wonder what’s the best appliance color with white cabinets. Even though white cabinets can match with many different appliance colors, white appliances should primarily be installed with white cabinets. 

best appliance color with white cabinets

If you choose not to have a kitchen with white cabinets and white appliances, you might end up with a look for your kitchen that looks a bit outdated. The white finish on your appliances can make them look a bit old or generic, even if they’re brand new.

Keep in mind that if you want to have white kitchen appliances, it’s best to match the rest of the kitchen color schemes with white appliances. This includes the refrigerator, dishwasher, range, and microwave. While white appliances will match well with only one style of cabinets, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have white cabinets with different color appliances. For instance, you can try mixing white and stainless appliances or even try having a white kitchen with black appliances.

While the style isn’t always the most appealing, people still choose to have white appliances with other color cabinets. However, most interior designers refer to this as an “apartment kitchen” due to how outdated and generic it looks. Just picture a standard apartment. It typically has light brown kitchen cabinets and older white rustic kitchen appliances which just isn’t up to modern standards anymore. 

When choosing white appliances, the cabinet color choice is simple since mainly white cabinets will pair together nicely. White kitchen cabinets with white appliances will work for modern kitchens and even farmhouse kitchens as they fill the room with a fresh and clean look. The white can also be accented by wood flooring. 

White kitchen cabinets with white appliances

There are ways to make your white appliances have a more timeless look and feel to them and that’s by adding white cabinetry and paying attention to the rest of the kitchen’s details in order to get the perfect final look.

What Color Cabinets Go with Black Appliances?

If you’re wondering what the best cabinet color for black appliances is, keep reading. Black appliances have a bit more freedom to them when it comes to the kitchen design since they match well with many darker finishes. They can pair with wood and painted finishes which give homeowners a wide range of options in terms of cabinetry. Given this, it’s still important to avoid choosing medium-toned woods since the contrast can be a bit odd. 

If you’re interested in having a black-and-white kitchen, you can opt for white kitchen cabinets with black appliances. You can also try incorporating the black from the appliances into other aspects of the kitchen. This can include adding black cabinet hardware or choosing black countertops. 

kitchen cabinets with black appliances

In most cases, black appliances are easier to clean and keep them looking good. Plus, they have a more sleek appeal which can improve the look of your kitchen. Darker wood shades will complement the black appliances nicely, but it’s crucial to give your kitchen an ample amount of lighting in order to keep things from looking too dark. You can even opt for a more matte black finish for your appliances in order to give them a more modern look. 

Cabinet color options for black appliances can include some of the darker finishes like chocolate, dark grey, and more. Mixing gray kitchen cabinets with black appliances bring out the versatility of the room. However, be sure that all of your kitchen appliances are black and it’s best to not mix and match the appliances. 

Combining contrasting color options can make your kitchen and the cabinets in particular pop. This can be with black stainless steel appliances and white cabinets or grey cabinets black appliances. 

What Color Cabinets Go with Stainless Steel Appliances?

If you’re having a hard time matching your appliances with your kitchen cabinets, choose stainless steel. This is one of the most popular appliance finishes because it looks good next to practically any cabinet finish. Matching different kitchen cabinet colors with stainless steel appliances doesn’t create too much contrast or make things look too busy. 

Stainless steel appliances with white cabinets will be ideal or you can go with ivory shades, medium-toned woods, and even dark finishes of various kinds. Whatever the finish is, the stainless steel will likely complete the design. Regardless of what color cabinets you choose, there’s a great chance that you can’t go wrong with pairing them with a stainless steel refrigerator, microwave, range, and dishwasher.

You don’t have to worry about what color goes with stainless steel appliances since they’re a versatile option. 

Other Less Popular Appliances and Kitchen Cabinets Color Combinations

A common question that is brought up by homeowners when they’re remodelling their kitchen is do kitchen appliances have to match in color? Even though matching the colors of your appliances can lead to a visually appealing and cohesive look to your kitchen, it might not always be a possibility. When you mix and match your kitchen appliances, you can sometimes stick to your budget and end up saving money in the end.

You can also consider buying appliances in similar colorways and in different brands as a way of mixing and matching. If it’s not an option to purchase similar color appliances, you can always opt for mixing the main colors of appliances, like white, black, and stainless steel, since they’re all versatile and neutral. 

Black Appliances

One of the largest investments for homeowners is choosing kitchen appliances as they can help set the tone for how functional your lifestyle will be in the kitchen. Going through this process can also end up being a rewarding experience as you can start to fulfill the aesthetics and lifestyle of your kitchen. 

Aside from the standard cabinet and appliance matches that you may see, there are also less-popular options that you can pick from. Here are a few: 

Slate Appliances and Grey Cabinets

Slate appliances can help create versatile options when it comes down to pairing with kitchen cabinet colors. Dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves, and ranges in slate offer a compelling look that can go great in both modern and rustic-style kitchens. Similar to stainless steel, these appliances can go with a variety of different cabinet colors. 

However, slate appliances still come with a few limitations. Grey, unlike stainless steel, doesn’t work with all colors. If you’re looking into having grey-based cabinets like a lighter or medium-dark toned grey, slate appliances can be a superb choice. What these appliances don’t work well with is non-neutral tones. For those homeowners who are looking to darken the tone of their kitchen without going as dark as black, slate appliances and grey cabinets can be the perfect mix. 

White Appliances and Grey Cabinets

Grey has become a more and more popular color in home decor and so have two-toned cabinets. If you’re interested in having a trendier look to your kitchen, you can try having two-toned grey and white cabinets. 

White Appliances and Grey Cabinets

This can give a more expansive and dimensional look to your kitchen. Pairing the white appliances with these two-toned cabinets can complete the look. You can also go for gray cabinets with white appliances for a unique and modern style.

Black Appliances and Shades of Blue Cabinets

Black appliances can surprisingly look good with different shades of blue cabinetry, you’ll get a combination that can make the kitchen look more unified. 

Black Appliances and Light Wood Cabinets

While pale-colored appliances can look odd when paired with dark cabinets, the opposite doesn’t always apply. Black appliances can give off a more sleek, sophisticated, and modern look when paired with light wood cabinets. Finishing off the rest of the kitchen with the proper lighting and details can keep the room from looking too dark.

Black Appliances and Dusty green cabinets

Not many people think about combining dusty green cabinets with black appliances. However, these two color combinations can go hand in hand in the kitchen. Having black appliances in your dusty green kitchen can create the cohesiveness that you’re looking for. The appliances can be all black or even have some stainless steel on them, the options are endless. You can also consider adding other finishing touches that can accent the two colors in the kitchen. 

Stainless Steel Appliances and Vibrant Colors

There are numerous kitchen ideas with stainless steel appliances. Choosing to incorporate cheerful and vibrant colors in your kitchen can be simple since they’ll likely go well with stainless steel. Stainless steel appliances can look appealing in a kitchen that has either cool or warm colors. For instance, you might pick cool colors like aqua blue or lime green. If you’re more into warm color combinations, you might choose red, orange, or yellow. 

Stainless Steel Appliances and Vibrant Colors

 

Incorporating grey-toned accessories in the kitchen, like countertop decorations or light grey paint, can improve the overall design and help blend and harmonize the style altogether with the stainless steel appliances. In the end, the kitchen will feel colorful, energetic, and cheerful. You can also have white cabinets and stainless appliances for the ultimate modernized look.

 

Less Versatile-colored Appliances in Kitchens

There are less common appliance colors out there that can be incorporated into your kitchen when planned out properly. These can include blue kitchen appliances. These kitchens will oftentimes have a more old-school style to them and may even incorporate some iconic retro appliance brands.

blue kitchen appliances

Brown kitchen appliances are also ones that are not commonly used anymore, but they can pair nicely with white cabinets or even darker shades of brown. 

While matching your cabinet hardware to your appliances can be visually appealing, there are many color options available. There’s no reason for you to have to limit yourself when it comes to choosing the ideal color. Having uniquely colored hardware, like bronze or copper, can help add a more unmatched look to your kitchen. 

Even though it’s not necessary for you to match the cabinet hardware to your appliances, it will definitely complement the rest of the room and give your home a more cohesive look. The kitchen decor should reflect your style and taste which is why decorating the room can be a fun task for you to work on. It allows your creativity to shine as you plan to create the perfect space. 

Shopping for appliances à la carte can require some more research and time as opposed to purchasing a package with all that you need. However, when you plan ahead properly, the extra effort you put in can result in a kitchen that is versatile, within your budget, and one that is perfectly suited to your visual and functional preferences. These are just some of the personal touches that will make your kitchen more inviting and also make it feel like a room that everyone will enjoy. 

Less Versatile-colored Appliances in Kitchens

When it comes to pairing kitchen cabinet colors with appliances, the options are endless. While there are options that can look good and others that don’t really go well together, in the end, it’s all up to you. Planning can help you find many different paint colors for kitchen cabinets with stainless steel appliances and more. 

Keep in mind that purchasing appliances from the same brand can help keep things cohesive, but if you’re interested in mixing and matching, this is also another area you can explore. 

What color appliances are in style 2024

One of the key elements influencing kitchen aesthetics is the color palette, particularly when it comes to kitchen appliances. So, what are the appliance color trends in 2024? Let's explore some of the trending kitchen appliance colors that you might want to have in your smart kitchen:

Color

Description

Matte Black

 

Matte black appliances have been a one of the most trending appliance colors in recent years, and they're here to stay in 2024. This sleek and sophisticated color adds a touch of modern elegance to your kitchen. Whether it's a matte black refrigerator, oven, or dishwasher, these appliances create a striking contrast against lighter cabinetry and countertops. 

Stainless Steel

 

Stainless steel appliances remain a classic choice that will continue to be popular in 2024. The timeless, silvery finish not only complements various kitchen styles but also offers durability and resistance to smudges and fingerprints. Stainless steel appliances are a versatile choice for both contemporary and traditional kitchen designs

White-on-White

 

For a clean, minimalist look, white-on-white kitchen appliances are making a comeback in 2024. White appliances seamlessly blend into white cabinetry and countertops, creating a bright and airy atmosphere. This monochromatic approach gives your kitchen a timeless and elegant appeal.

Dark and Moody Tones

 

Dark and moody color schemes are gaining traction, especially in contemporary kitchen designs. Deep, rich colors like charcoal gray, navy blue, and emerald green are being used for appliances to create a bold and dramatic effect. These dark tones can be complemented by contrasting light-colored cabinetry and countertops for a stunning visual impact.

Whether you prefer the sleek modernity of matte black, the timeless appeal of stainless steel, or the vibrancy of colorful accents, there's a color palette that can transform your kitchen into a stylish and inviting space. Keep in mind that kitchen appliance color trends come and go. The best choice for your kitchen ultimately depends on your personal preferences and the overall design of your culinary haven.

Be sure to incorporate your kitchen’s color scheme, countertops, floor type, and floor color in order to make the right decision. All of these aspects and more can affect the overall appearance of the kitchen once it’s done. Do you prefer to have matching kitchen cabinets and appliances? Do you like pairing dark brown kitchen cabinets with stainless steel appliances or prefer something else? What combination is your favorite? 

FAQs

Article by:

Valentina Melnikova - Lead Designer at Cut2Size

valentina@cut2size.ca

Office 403.366.7411

Hi there! I’m a millwork designer and an owner of a kitchen cabinet manufacturing company. With a team of professionals, I work on designing and manufacturing high-end millwork. Combining professional designing and manufacturing skills is what allows us to develop and translate our plans into a reality through our uniqueness and exclusive ideas. Our employees are highly skilled and creative thinkers that also utilize their professionalism and experience to take millwork to the next level. I’m very familiar with the industry and I take on each project from the design to the final product. With that said, if you’re looking for design advice or technician help, you’re in the right place.