Kitchen design does not have to be about following a particular design or pattern. Rather, it can be customized to fit your style and add a personal touch and feel to the space. The best way you can achieve this is by mixing cabinet and door styles and finishes. However, this has to be done carefully to avoid creating an unpleasant mix-and-match situation in your kitchen. Here are some useful recommendations and tips that will help you mix various styles and finishes to give your kitchen cabinets a distinct and appealing look.

Proper placement is the key

The way in which you place your mixed cabinet styles and finishes will determine the overall look of your kitchen. Using contrasting cabinet finishes and patterns in the wrong way can overwhelm your kitchen and make it look busy and small. The most popular combination involves contrasting the styles for the upper and lower cabinets.

When using paint with contrasting colors, the lighter color should always be used on the upper cabinets and the darker and bolder one on the lower ones. This gives the kitchen a dramatic but appealing look without overwhelming it. However, if you use the darker color for the upper cabinets, they won't look balanced with the lower ones, and this could throw off the overall appearance of the kitchen.

Choose finishes wisely

When it comes to finishing wood cabinets, you can either go for solid paint colors or wood stains. Both options can transform the look of your kitchen when used individually or together.  Proper choice of shade is essential when mixing paint and stain finishes. One of the most popular trends is pairing white painted cabinets with dark stained ones. This look is particularly suitable for the wall and island cabinets, that is, white wall cabinets and stained island cabinets. This look creates a modern classy style that is almost timeless. You can also explore other paint shades and mix them with stain finishes.

Contrast cabinet door styles

Besides mixing styles and finishes for your cabinets, you can also consider different door styles. The key to pulling this style off is using complementary door styles. For instance, if you have a modern look going in your kitchen, go for a door with a modern style. You can design some doors with more detail than others to create contrast. The same applies if your cabinets have a traditional or rustic look. Avoid using different colors or stains for the doors, as this can be too overwhelming for the cabinets.

Thinking about mixing up your cabinet styles and finishes for your next remodeling project? Have these recommendations in mind so that you can have functional and aesthetically appealing kitchen cabinets.