How to Incorporate Painted Cabinets & Oak Cabinets in the Kitchen
There are no decorating rules that say kitchen cabinets must all have the same finish. If you are thinking of mixing finishes, such as combining painted cabinets with oak cabinets in your kitchen, read on for some design tips on creating a cohesive, unique look. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
How to Combine Painted Kitchen Cabinets with Oak Cabinets
-
1
If your oak cabinets are pre-existing and you simply want to paint some of the cabinets to create a new look, then you need to decide which ones to paint. Ideally, you should paint either the lower half or upper half of your kitchen cabinets. Painting every other cabinet, or mixing paint and wood throughout will result in a busy and incomplete look.
-
2
If your oak cabinets are dark, then consider painting the upper cabinets a light, creamy color to brighten the space and make it appear more open. If your oak cabinets are light, then you might consider painting the bottom half a darker color to balance the space.
-
-
3
Once you decide which half to paint, it's time to choose a color. If you have a natural stone countertop, consider drawing a color from it. You could also complement your existing wall color or simply paint the cabinets your trim color. You must decide whether you want the painted cabinets to blend with your kitchen colors (using a trim or neutral color, for example) or stand out with a complementary color. Use your paint wheel for ideas.
-
4
Once you've chosen a few paint contenders, buy samples. Paint a piece of drywall the various shades and prop it up in your kitchen to give you a better idea what the color will look like in a large quantity. Paint swatches can be misleading and you might find the color overwhelming once in the space.
-
5
Choose the best paint color from your samples or, if none work, try again until you have the perfect cabinet color to complement your oak cabinets.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Don't rule out a rich brown to complement lighter oak cabinets. Although this is a dark color, it emulates a darker wood and could be used on the bottom half of your cabinets effectively. It would give your kitchen would get a warm, rich look. You could also consider painting a lighter or darker shade of your existing wall color so you can avoid overwhelming your kitchen with a new color.
