Can kitchen cabinet doors be a different color than frame?

When it comes to kitchen cabinetry, one of the most common questions homeowners have is whether the cabinet doors can be a different color from the cabinet frames. The short answer is yes – having cabinet doors and frames that are different colors is absolutely an option when designing your kitchen cabinets. This two-tone look can create visual interest, depth, and contrast in your kitchen. In this article, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of mixing and matching kitchen cabinet door and frame colors to help you determine if it’s the right choice for your kitchen remodel or redesign.

The Benefits of Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinets

Here are some of the benefits of selecting kitchen cabinet doors in a different color from the cabinet frames:

Creates contrast – Having cabinet frames and doors in differing colors provides contrast that can make your kitchen style more dramatic and eye-catching.

Adds visual interest – Contrasting colors draw the eye and add depth, dimension and visual interest to your kitchen design.
Highlights details – The door color will stand out from the frame color, highlighting the door’s shape, style and details.
Flexible design – You can match cabinet door colors to appliances or countertops to tie the whole kitchen together.

Customized look – It allows you to mix and match colors and gives your kitchen a more customized, one-of-a-kind look compared to cabinets that are all one color.

The key when working with two cabinet colors is to find hues that coordinate well. You generally want colors that are complementary, either on the color wheel or within the same tone (for example, a soft sage green door color with creamy antique white frames). Contrasting shades can work as well, like deep blue doors against bright white cases. Just be sure the colors enhance each other rather than clashing.

Popular Color Combinations

When trying to decide on the two colors for your kitchen cabinets, consider some of these popular complementary color combinations:

Bright white frames with navy blue doors
Black frames with crisp white doors
Gray cabinets with light blue doors

Espresso brown frames with tan or cream doors
Dark wood frames with cherry red or burgundy doors
White cabinets with sage green doors

Brown cabinets with sunshine yellow doors

You have a lot of flexibility when mixing and matching cabinet door and frame colors. Just be sure to view color swatches in person before making a decision, as the undertones can look different than what you might imagine. And don’t be afraid to get creative – you can always paint or re-stain cabinet doors down the road to switch up your kitchen’s style.

Should All Doors Match?

When designing a kitchen with two-tone cabinets, you’ll also need to decide if you want all the cabinet doors to be the same color, or if you want to use multiple door colors. Here are some tips:

Matching doors can look more uniform and elegant.
Different door colors help define cabinet zones (like using a blue color just on island doors).
Limiting the door colors to 2 or 3 total works best in most kitchens.

Make sure the door colors coordinate well with the frame/case colors.

Many homeowners opt to have matching doors in one color to keep the look cohesive. However, others like to get creative by using different colors on island doors, lower cabinets, or the butler’s pantry. This highlights these specialty cabinet areas. Just be careful not to go overboard with too many competing colors in one small space.

Should Interior Shelves Match Cabinets?

Beyond the door/frame color decision, another consideration is whether to match interior shelves and drawers to your cabinet color or go for contrast there as well. Here are a few guidelines:

Matching the interior color to the frame creates a cohesive, seamless look.
Contrasting interior shelves can help items stand out against the background.
Glass cabinet doors allow you to play with interior colors while maintaining outward cohesion.

Too many competing colors inside cabinets can look busy or distracting.

Many designers recommend matching cabinet interiors to the frame color or default interior stain. This keeps the eye moving outward toward the contrasting doors rather than being distracted by competing colors inside. However, you can experiment with contrasting interiors behind glass doors or in open shelving areas if you want to blend the two-tone look throughout.

Best Cabinet Styles for Two-Tones

Certain cabinet door styles naturally pair well with two-tone kitchen cabinets. Here are some top options to consider:

Shaker Style

The clean, simple lines of Shaker-style cabinet doors look gorgeous dressed up with a contrasting color. White Shaker cabinets with a navy blue door stain are a popular combo.

Slab Cabinet Doors

Slab cabinet door designs highlight the door’s coloring and allow you to vividly contrast the frames. Slab doors with recessed panels also add some extra definition.

Glass Cabinet Doors

Glass cabinet doors maintain an airy, open look while still allowing you to mix colors between the glass frames and cabinet boxes. Frosted or patterned glass diffuses the interior color.

Distressed or Textured Doors

Cabinet doors with a distressed or textured finish camouflage contrasting colors a bit while still adding character. Weathered, crackled paints and wire brushed stains help marry the two colors.

In general, simple, clean lined cabinet styles work best to show off two colors. More ornate door designs can compete with and overcomplicate the two-tone look.

Should You Stain or Paint?

When choosing finishes for your two-tone kitchen cabinets, you’ll need to decide if you want to paint or stain the doors and frames. Here are some of the factors to consider:

Staining allows the natural wood grain to show through and can create a more integrated look, but color options are more limited.
Painting cabinet doors allows limitless bold color options but can look more plastic-like if not done properly.
Due to chemical reactions, you should avoid staining cabinet frames and painting the doors – match stain with stain and paint with paint.

For a more seamless look, opt to stain and seal both doors and frames in complementary colors.
High quality painted finishes involve much preparation but can mimic stained wood quite well.

If aiming for a very natural, integrated style, your best bet is likely staining the doors and frames in contrasting wood tones. Painting cabinet boxes and doors allows more boldness but requires meticulous prep and application for a seamless finish. You can also mix and match – for example, staining cabinet frames and painting the doors in a matching color family.

Should the Island Match?

When designing a kitchen with a separate island, you’ll need to decide if the island cabinets should match the rest of the kitchen cabinets, or go in a different direction with color. Here are some tips on how to handle the island cabinetry:

Matching the island to the other cabinets creates consistency and flow.
Using a third color just on the island can help it stand out as a focal point.

Stick with the same door style but try different colors on the island doors vs. main cabinets.
Island cabinets in all one color can offset two-tone main cabinets.

In many kitchens, the island does coordinate with the cabinetry for a cohesive look. But using the island cabinets to introduce an accent color can help the island become a visual anchor in an open floor plan. Just be wary of going overboard with too many competing cabinet colors in one kitchen.

Tips for Executing a Two-Tone Kitchen

If you’re sold on the two-tone kitchen cabinet look, keep these tips in mind:

Select within the same color family or analogous colors on the color wheel for a coordinated look.
Visit cabinet showrooms to view stain and paint color options in person before deciding.

Order door samples to see small pairings of cabinet colors together.
Only include colors you love, as cabinet colors are expensive to change down the road.
Hire an experienced cabinet painting company for the highest quality painted finish.

For DIY painting, properly clean, sand, and prime doors to prep for painted finish.
Install new cabinet hardware like knobs and pulls to modernize the two-tone style.

Achieving a cohesive yet contrasting two-tone kitchen cabinet look requires coordination of colors, door styles, finishes and more. But the gorgeous results can make this detail work very worthwhile, creating a customized kitchen you’ll love. Just take your time selecting cabinet colors and finishes to enjoy for years to come.

Two-Tone Kitchen Inspiration

Need a little more visual inspiration for two-tone kitchen cabinets? Here are some beautiful examples of contrasting cabinet colors in gorgeous kitchen designs:

White and Navy Blue

The classic pairing of bright white with deep navy blue creates a preppy yet edgy modern kitchen. White Shaker cabinets allow the navy to really pop.

Black and White

For dramatic contrast, black stained cabinets provide the perfect complement to crisp white cabinet doors and drawers in this transitional kitchen.

Espresso and Cream

The deep espresso finish on the base cabinets allows the creamy white uppers to pop in this kitchen, tied together by brass hardware.

Gray and Sage Green

The cool gray cabinets get warmth from the sage green door color in this cottage style kitchen. A third color, brick red, highlights the island.

Two-Tone Cabinet Costs

So what does it cost to get two-tone kitchen cabinets rather than standard one-color cabinetry? Here are the typical costs added:

Additional Two-Tone Costs	Typical Cost Range
Extra staining charges for second cabinet color	$200 – $800
Painted cabinet door finish vs. stained	$100 – $300 per door
Misc. labor costs for two finishes	$200 – $600

So in total, expect to add roughly $500 – $2,000 to your overall kitchen remodeling budget to accommodate two cabinet colors rather than standard one-tone cabinets. The specific costs vary based on factors like:

– Number of doors getting second color stain or paint

– Costs of paints and stains selected
– Amount of specialty finishing labor needed
– Overall kitchen size

This typically isn’t too drastic of a jump for the chance to add personalized style through two-tone cabinetry. Just be sure to get detailed quotes from your cabinet company upfront so you can budget accurately.

Pros and Cons of Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinets

Still debating whether two-tone cabinets are right for your kitchen? Consider these key pros and cons:

Pros

Adds visual interest and color to kitchens

Creates an upscale, customized look
Highlights architectural details and storage features
Pairs well with a mix of materials like wood and painted cabinets

Cons

More limiting if you change color preferences later
Requires more careful color coordination
Can have a busy, mismatching look if colors are poorly executed

Costs moderately more than standard one-color cabinets

Overall, the biggest downside is that two-tone cabinets tend to lock you into that look longer term unless you want to re-stain or repaint doors down the road. However, with careful advance planning and color selection, the pros of added character and interest often make this a worthwhile design investment.

Conclusion

When thoughtfully planned and designed, choosing kitchen cabinet doors in a different color from the frames can take your kitchen from boring to beautiful. Contrasting cabinetry instantly livens up the look of any kitchen. Just be sure to coordinate the door and frame colors strategically. And think through all the details like hardware finishes, countertop tones, and interior cabinet colors to create a holistic, harmonious look. With the right blend of creativity and coordination, you can use two-tone cabinets to craft a kitchen that’s uniquely you.