Decorating your kitchen with stainless steel appliances can give it a modern, sleek look. However, choosing the right cabinet color to complement the stainless steel can be tricky. Here are some tips on selecting a cabinet color that will look great with stainless steel appliances.
Go With A Neutral Cabinet Color
Neutrals like white, gray, beige, and light browns are safe bets for cabinet colors with stainless steel appliances. They act as a subtle backdrop that lets the stainless steel be the focal point. Consider the following neutral cabinet color options:
White Cabinets
Bright white cabinets pair beautifully with stainless steel for a clean, crisp look. White has a light reflectiveness that accentuates the gleam of stainless steel. White cabinets also make small kitchens appear larger.
To keep the look from becoming too sterile, add warmth with natural wood accents, granite counters, and plants. For extra dimension, try white cabinets with a subtle gray undertone rather than stark white.
Light Gray Cabinets
Soft, light gray cabinets offer flexibility in kitchen design. Depending on the undertone, gray can read as cool or warm. Cool grays emphasize the sleek metallic look of stainless steel while warm grays add coziness.
If your stainless steel has a brushed finish, cool grays nicely complement the industrial vibe. For a refined look, pair light gray cabinets with polished stainless steel and marble counters.
Beige Cabinets
For a subtle yet warm accent to stainless steel, consider pale beige cabinets. The muted tone doesn’t compete with shiny appliances but offers more color than white. Keep the look light and airy by avoiding orangey beige hues.
Beige with a gray, taupe, or greige (gray/beige) undertone fits stainless steel best. Add white and pale natural wood accents for balance.
Light Brown Cabinets
Light tan, almond, or maple cabinets offer a natural, organic look with stainless steel. Stay with lighter versions of these brown hues. Darker brown cabinets might look too heavy and rustic with sleek stainless steel.
A glazed light brown finish that reveals some woodgrain texture also pairs attractively with stainless steel. Consider pairing with butcher block counters.
Choose A Bold, Contrasting Color
While neutral cabinet colors blend seamlessly with stainless steel, you can make your kitchen design more dynamic by using a bold, contrasting color. Here are some options:
Black Cabinets
For a dramatic, modern look, pair stainless steel appliances with glossy black cabinets. The bold contrast emphasizes the industrial aesthetic. Consider contemporary styling like flat slab cabinet fronts and metal hardware.
To keep an all-black-and-stainless kitchen from appearing too harsh, incorporate lighter counters like white quartz along with pops of color from kitchenware and fresh flowers.
Navy Blue Cabinets
Navy blue kitchen cabinets make a big style statement with stainless steel. The rich blue hue contrasts beautifully with polished metal surfaces. For a beachy vibe, use a lighter sky blue. Or go for an inky midnight blue for a more moody, sophisticated look.
Since navy can overpower in large doses, use it on lower cabinets only. Pair with white or light wood uppers and countertops. Stainless steel stools, pendant lights and hardware tie the look together.
Red Cabinets
A bright cherry red or deep burgundy instantly energizes a stainless steel kitchen. For a modern spin, opt for matte lacquered reds versus traditional glazed finishes. Crisp white quartz countertops keep the passionate red and stainless steel combo feeling fresh versus heavy.
Consider red only for island or lowers cabinets. Use it sparingly, along with metallic accents like a stainless steel backsplash.
Choose Contrasting Hardware
Along with picking the right cabinet color, think about the hardware finishes. Matching the hardware to the stainless steel can create a cohesive, monochromatic look. Using contrasting metals and finishes makes the hardware and appliances stand out more as accents. Consider:
- Brushed nickel or chrome handles with stainless – matches well
- Matte black hardware – bold contrast
- Aged bronze handles – complements light wood cabinets
- Polished brass – bright accent against neutral cabinets
Factor In Countertops
The countertop material also impacts how stainless steel cabinets look. A few pairings to consider:
- White quartz countertops – matches light cabinets for an airy look
- Butcher block – warm, organic look with light wood cabinets
- Black quartz – grounds bold black cabinets
- Marble – elegant with light gray cabinets
- Concrete – industrial edge with dark cabinets
Use Accents Strategically
Painting all cabinets a matching color can look flat and one-dimensional. Bring in visual interest with selective use of accent colors. Some ideas:
- Light gray cabinets with a navy blue island
- White perimeter cabinets with red open shelving
- Black lowers with light wood uppers and island
Also use accents like glass cabinet inserts, floating shelves, and stainless steel backsplashes to add depth.
Key Takeaways
- Neutral white, gray, beige and light brown cabinets complement stainless steel appliances.
- Contrasting navy blue, black or red cabinets make stainless steel stand out.
- Match metals in hardware for a cohesive look or mix metals as accents.
- Countertop material impacts the cabinet color and stainless steel dynamic.
- Strategically using two cabinet colors prevents a flat, one-note look.
With some thoughtful color choices and accents, you can beautifully combine stainless steel appliances and cabinets for a kitchen that has style and function. Keeping finishes cohesive yet adding contrast through color, texture and sheen creates a polished, integrated look.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cabinet Colors for Stainless Steel Appliances
Should cabinet colors match stainless steel appliances?
It’s not necessary to exactly match cabinet colors to stainless steel appliances. Complementary neutrals or contrasting bold colors often work better than trying to find a perfect color match.
What color cabinets make stainless steel appliances look cheap?
Very light, very bright white cabinets can sometimes give stainless steel appliances a cheap, clashy look. Soft white, warm white, or gray-undertone white pairs better. Avoid super dark cabinets like black and espresso brown as well which can feel heavy and uneven with stainless.
Do light or dark cabinets look best with stainless appliances?
Both light and dark cabinet colors work beautifully with stainless steel appliances. Light cabinets like white, beige and light gray recede to let the stainless steel shine. Darker cabinets like navy, black and slate gray make the stainless appliances pop as contrasts.
Should you avoid medium wood tones with stainless steel?
Medium reddish-browns like cherry, mahogany and oak cabinets don’t tend to complement stainless steel as seamlessly as light or dark cabinet colors. If using medium wood cabinets, stick to cooler-toned woods with gray undertones rather than warm red or orangey browns.
What kitchen colors will make stainless steel look good?
The best kitchen colors for making stainless steel look good are crisp white, light or dark gray, beige, light blue, navy, black and red. Use accent colors like these selectively on islands, lowers or open shelving while keeping uppers/perimeters neutral.
What kind of stain color goes well with stainless steel appliances?
For stained wood cabinets, opt for light, cool-toned stains like platinum gray and weathered oak rather than warm honey oak. Dark espresso and ebony stains also pair beautifully with stainless for contrast. Avoid orangey medium stain colors.
What granite color looks best with stainless steel appliances?
For granite countertops, pair stainless appliances with neutral grays, creamy whites and lighter beiges or tans. Stay away from bold speckled granites in dark browns, reds or greens, which can clash with stainless steel’s cool tones.
Conclusion
Stainless steel appliances offer a modern, sleek look in any kitchen. Choosing cabinet colors to enhance rather than compete with the stainless steel finish takes careful consideration. Neutral whites, grays, beiges and light woods offer safe stainless steel pairings. For more contrast, go bold with navy, black or red cabinets. Accent with hardware finishes and countertops that tie into the cabinet color palette. With smart coordinating, you can highlight the contemporary style of your stainless steel appliances.