The kitchen has always been a pacesetter for trendy interior design. That’s because the kitchen is the most multi-functional space in the home that hosts not just meal preparation but also some of the most intimate conversations. With such prominence, it makes sense to invest in its aesthetics.

In the past, that meant going with stark white kitchen cabinets that delivered a clean, plain look. In 2020 though, two toned cabinets are proving to be the trend many homes are clamoring to be a part of. Two toned cabinets aren’t really a new thing. Yet its popularity shows that it can breathe life into your kitchen.

There are no set rules on what colors will work. Still, if you are going to get two toned kitchen cabinets right, you have to pay attention to a few things.

1. Identify a Focal Point

If you are still not sold into this trend, a safe way to get on board is to choose a set of cabinets that will become a focal point. The kitchen island is a popular choice given its central location but this is not something that should limit your imagination. Before you settle on any set of cabinets, consider using a space planning or interior design application to see how adding a splash of color to the cabinets can transform the room.

Once you decide on the focus cabinet, it’s time to consider the color. Remember that the objective of a focal point is to become a standout, attention-grabbing part of the kitchen. Going for a big and bold shade like ultra violet or red is ideal but a wide range of hues can work depending on how well they blend in with the other colors and materials in the room.

2. Tone is Not Synonymous with Paint

A two toned cabinet doesn’t necessarily mean painting your cabinets in two colors. There are other ways you can achieve two tones. One would be to use separate materials. Usually that would be a wood finish versus something else such as laminate, glass or aluminum. That said, there’s nothing that says a glass-aluminum combination won’t be as breathtaking.

What’s important is to have thought through the kitchen’s entire design and considered how the two material cabinet will blend in with the rest of the kitchen. The design is the starting point after which you can explore your options on sites such as bestonlinecabinets.com to see what materials would best help you realize it.

3. Darker Bottoms

Using a darker bolder shade for lower cabinets and lighter hues for the top is one of the most popular ways to implement a two toned kitchen design. It works because the bold dark base grounds the space while making a strong statement. It makes your kitchen appear larger than it is since the lighter shades at the top draw a person’s eyes upward.

Pairing a bold bottom color with white for the upper cabinets creates a tasteful contrast. The key to pulling off the dark-light design is to ensure the lighter color is repeated on other surfaces throughout the room.

4. Coordinate Elements

Irrespective of the tones and materials you choose to implement your two tone design, it’s crucial that you have some type of coordinating element. As a central principle of interior design, whenever you have two distinct colors, themes or materials within the same space, you have to include one or more details that make everything seamlessly blend together.

This can be achieved in several ways. You could for instance ensure the colors chosen broadly fit within the same palette. For example, use shades of the same color as an equalizer. If you have to use distinct colors, consider having the exact same colors throughout the kitchen.

Kitchen trends are constantly evolving so the move toward two toned cabinets isn’t really surprising. Still, the numerous styles, colors and combinations that can be possible through two toned cabinets point to a trend that might be here for a while.