Home / Should My Countertops Match My Floor or Cabinets?
Updating or designing a kitchen is always exciting, but it can definitely be stressful too. There’s a lot to consider in terms of layout, materials, and appliances. However, the place where many people get really stuck is the color scheme, especially in regards to whether their countertops should match their floor or cabinets.
So, which one is it?
According to our Standard Kitchen experts, your countertop should complement your floor and cabinets but shouldn’t directly match either of them. Read on for more details and kitchen inspiration.
3 Steps to Designing Your Ideal Kitchen
When designing your kitchen, you’ll want to pick a color scheme and keep it in mind throughout the entire design process. This color scheme should include two colors (maybe a third for accents). Most importantly, it should reflect you and your family’s unique style.
1. Choose Your Kitchen Countertops
Your first task should be choosing countertops. First of all, they’re the focal point of the kitchen, so they’re what guests will see when they first walk in. Second, they’re often multi-colored, so starting off there can set the tone for any flooring and cabinets yet to come.
Choose from a variety of materials, from natural stone to laminate to butcher block. Regardless, whichever colors are within your countertop, you’ll probably end up using one of them in your flooring.
2. Choose Your Kitchen Flooring
As mentioned previously, your flooring choice should complement your countertops. By choosing one of the colors within your countertop, your flooring will compliment it well without directly matching it. For example, if you pick a dark, black and beige marble countertop, you could choose a beige color for your flooring.
Kitchen flooring comes in a variety of materials, from hardwood to tile to laminate. While natural materials like hardwood and tile come in mostly natural colors, laminate options have a much wider color selection.
3. Choose Your Kitchen Cabinets
While your countertops and flooring should be used together to take up the first color slot, your cabinets should take up the second. The best way of thinking about this is in terms of light and dark colors.
For example, if you chose light countertops and flooring, you should choose dark cabinets. If you chose dark countertops and flooring, you should choose light cabinets.
The only exception to this is if you’d like an all-white kitchen, which is currently a very popular option. In that case, white or light-colored cabinets work with other white kitchen elements.
Kitchen Countertop, Flooring, and Cabinetry Inspiration
If you’re in need of some kitchen design inspiration, here are a few popular styles that might spark an idea.
Traditional Kitchen
Traditional kitchens have a casual, simple, and clean feel.
- Countertops – White, beige, or light gray. Choose from granite, quartz, light laminate, or butcher block.
- Flooring – Light gray or beige. Choose from tile or hardwood.
- Cabinets – Medium to dark brown wood.
Modern Kitchen
Modern kitchens are minimalist with artistic, yet sparse details. They often use a third accent color to make the small details pop.
- Countertops – White or light gray. Choose from granite, quartz, or stainless steel.
- Flooring – Light gray. Choose from tile or laminate.
- Cabinets – Dark gray or black painted wood. A vibrant pop of color could be used here too.
Craftsman Kitchen
Craftsman kitchens include natural, handcrafted materials.
- Countertops – Black or dark brown. Choose from granite or marble.
- Flooring – Dark brown. Choose from hardwood or tile.
- Cabinets – White or beige wood.
Still stuck on kitchen design? Our Standard Kitchen pros can help! Our kitchen team works with homeowners and contractors alike on a daily basis to develop the perfect, professionally designed space you’re looking for. For more information, give us a call or contact us online today for more information.
FAQs
According to our Standard Kitchen experts, your countertop should complement your floor and cabinets but shouldn't directly match either of them.
Should countertops match floor or cabinets? ›
Do Floors Have to Match Countertops? The short answer is no, kitchen floors don't have to match countertops. With the exception of certain stone and tile options, floors and counters are made of different materials. Therefore, even if you select the same color, they probably won't be an exact match.
How to coordinate flooring, cabinets, and countertops? ›
Try not to make your cabinets, countertops and flooring all the same material because it could look redundant. Instead, create some variations by selecting two out of three of them in the same material so the third piece can serve as a contrast.
Should countertops be lighter or darker than the floor? ›
' Light or dark, patterned or plain, your kitchen flooring and countertops can work in partnership, or else be beautifully different in their design. The best option will depend on the size of your room, the look of your cabinets, and the amount of light in the space.
What should countertops match? ›
While your countertops and flooring should be used together to take up the first color slot, your cabinets should take up the second. The best way of thinking about this is in terms of light and dark colors. For example, if you chose light countertops and flooring, you should choose dark cabinets.
Should countertops match throughout the house? ›
The similarities in the materials allow you to maintain a consistent flow from one room to the other, providing a design synergy that wouldn't work otherwise. However, if the layout of your home has the bathroom and kitchen on different floors of your home, you don't necessarily have to use the same materials.
How do you pair flooring with countertops? ›
Make the floor color a contrasting color. For example, a kitchen with white cabinets, black countertops and dark flooring looks classic, clean, and elegant. Black and white are the two dominant colors in this design, while the dark wood flooring acts as a contrasting element.
How to pair countertops with cabinets? ›
One popular combination is a dark gray or charcoal cabinet partnered with white quartz. However, you can also go in reverse: many homeowners pair a darker, smoky quartz or granite countertop with white or off-white cabinets.
How to pick a countertop color? ›
Determine the level of contrast you desire
If you prefer a more subtle contrast, choose a color that is similar to your cabinets and flooring. Consider the style of your cabinets as well. If you have dark-colored cabinets, a light-colored granite countertop can create a beautiful contrast.
What is the timeless color for countertops? ›
You can choose a light silvery gray to lighten a room or a rich pewter tone to add depth. Both options are timeless. Warm Beige and Gold Granite. Beige and gold granite countertops bring warmth and richness to a space.
Use a White Color Scheme
Not only does this color reflect light well and brighten your space, but it can also make the ceiling height look taller. Whether you use it for wall cabinets, countertops, or everything, this tip alone is sure to give you the appearance of a larger kitchen.
What color countertop is best for resale? ›
The vast majority of home buyers prefer neutral or earth tone granite colors in their granite countertops, and since you know this won't be your home very much longer, it's better to invest in the countertops the buyer wants than the countertops you personally like best.
What are the rules for kitchen countertops? ›
Allow at least 12 inches of countertop on one side of a cooking surface and 15 inches on the other. For kitchen layouts with island appliances, you should also extend the countertop at least 9 inches beyond the burners. For a separate oven, include a 15-inch span of countertop on either side.
What is the trend for countertops? ›
Sintered stone slabs are on the rise as kitchen countertop trends 2024. This extremely hardwearing countertop material is a type of manufactured stone that is highly practical due to its heat-resistant and stain-resistant properties. Moreover, it comes in a range of natural stone-look designs.
Should backsplash match countertop or cabinets? ›
Typically, countertops dictate the color of the backsplash but everything must flow in the kitchen to look fantastic so you should never underestimate the importance of also matching the kitchen cabinets.
Should kitchen cabinets and floor be the same color? ›
Mix, Don't Match!
For example, if you're selecting hardwood flooring and want unpainted wood cabinets as well, they don't have to be the same color. Dark and light woods pair well together, as do painted cabinets and natural stone floors.
Should kitchen cabinets match the kitchen floor? ›
Pairing Kitchen Flooring & Cabinet Materials
Just like you want to avoid matching flooring and cabinet color directly, material contrast helps produce the ultimate balanced kitchen design. Wooden cabinetry is a common fixture in many homes and thankfully, wood flooring visuals pair exceptionally well!
Do kitchen cabinets go on the floor or subfloor? ›
Yes and no. It really depends on your preference, the type of cabinet, and more importantly, on the type of kitchen flooring you have and how it is installed. It isn't necessary to have your kitchen cabinets sit on the subfloor, and it certainly isn't the desired option among contractors.
