When designing or remodeling a kitchen, two of the biggest decisions you’ll make are the countertops and floors. Together with the kitchen cabinets, these elements create the focal point of the room and become the backdrop for accessories and accents. With virtually unlimited countertop and floor combinations to choose from, finding the perfect one that reflects your style and creates a uniform look is often more challenging than it may seem.
As kitchen remodeling experts in West Haven, we can help you narrow the selections to find the perfect combination for your kitchen. Check out our tips for choosing colors and materials that work well together, and you’ll have an easier time identifying the combination that works best in your space.
Choose the Countertops First
One common misconception in kitchen design is that it’s best to choose the cabinets first because they are the focal point of the room. However, because there are fewer flooring and cabinet options than countertop choices, it’s better to choose your countertops before the rest of the room elements. For example, if you choose engineered quartz countertops, you have a limitless array of color combinations, all of which can spur multiple Hickory cabinet and countertop pairings.
Once you select a countertop material and color, it’s easier to choose flooring because you have a foundation to work with. Many natural and engineered stone materials contain unique patterns with multiple colors to draw from and inspire the flooring material and color. The pattern within the countertop can also influence the other color and design choices to create a stylish and cohesive look.
Work With a Color Trio
One of the best ways to come up with countertop and floor combinations is to work with a color trio. Working with just one or two main colors throughout the space guides your selections and helps give the room the feeling and style you want.
You have several options for choosing a color trio for the kitchen design scheme:
- Choose one main color with two complementary colors for accents. Complementary colors are shades that are adjacent on a color wheel. For example, if the main color of the kitchen is blue, then you might use green and yellow or green and purple as the color trio.
- Choose two contrasting colors for the basic color scheme, with a complementary color as an accent. A bold black-and-white color scheme with gray accents is a modern take on this approach.
- Choose two complementary colors with a contrasting accent color. For example, a kitchen in shades of green with pops of purple follows this approach.
Experiment with Hues and Undertones
When working with color trios, consider color undertones when exploring countertop and floor combinations. For example, wood may have warm or cool undertones and skew either yellow or gray. Greens can also vary from yellow-green to blue-green, giving every shade a different look when paired with other colors.
When looking at your options to create a uniform look, try different shades and hues of various colors to find the one with the perfect undertones.
Select a Style
The overall kitchen style, such as contemporary, traditional, or transitional, is a huge influence on the color scheme when choosing the right flooring and counter combination. In general, contemporary kitchens tend to have high contrast and use brighter colors. Black cabinets and white flooring, or vice versa, give the space a fresh and modern feeling, especially when paired with bright accent colors like red or yellow.
Traditional spaces, in contrast, tend to have a more monochromatic or neutral color combination. Think of warm colors with minimal contrast and colors located next to each other on a color wheel for a traditional color scheme. One popular traditional color scheme is tan, beige, and gray.
Consider Lighting
When choosing a color combination, the available lighting in the room is a critical consideration. The available light, and its temperature, make a big difference in how different colors look in a space. These differences mean a countertop and floor combination that looks great under the lights of a showroom might not look quite right in your home.
To choose the best options for a pulled-together look, consider the available natural light and the lighting you have or plan to add to the kitchen. Don’t forget to check the colors with the lightbulbs you’ll use as well. Natural and cool light tends to have a blush cast, while warmer light tends to appear more yellow, which can affect the brightness of the kitchen colors and give them a yellowish tint.
Summary
Choosing the perfect color combination for the major elements of your kitchen requires some thought, but once you have a color palette to work with, it becomes easier to narrow down your choices and design a space that is both functional and beautiful.
Get help bringing your dream kitchen to life from Cutting Edge Cabinetry in West Haven, UT, by calling (385) 469-1298. Our interior designers and builders have more than 20 years of experience creating custom kitchens for local homeowners and can answer all your questions about countertop and flooring combinations, a sink replacement without countertop change, and more. Get in touch today to start your project with help from our creative experts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a flooring color?
Once you choose the cabinets and countertop, you have two options for choosing flooring. First, you can go with high-contrast colors, like a dark wood floor with white cabinets. Or, try matching the flooring to the cabinets and countertops as a secondary color.
Should I use the same material throughout?
Using the same material, like oak, for flooring and cabinets can create a uniform look throughout the kitchen. However, using too much of a single material can look bland and repetitive. A good rule of thumb is to use the same material for two pieces and something else for the third so there’s plenty of contrast and visual interest with your countertop and floor combinations.
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