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July 3, 2020
If you’ve decided to renovate your kitchen, you’re probably thinking quite a bit about your cabinets. After all, cabinets can be the showpiece of your new kitchen. They take up a lot of space, and they play a big part in the overall look of the room. There are thousands of different cabinet colours and finishes out there, so it’s understandable if you’re overwhelmed trying to choose the right style.
Many homeowners gravitate towards white cabinets for their simplicity and clean, sharp look. Because white cabinets are a popular design choice, we’ll go over some of the benefits and drawbacks of them here. If you’re considering white cabinets, read on for more information!
Pros of White Cabinets
White cabinets are a timeless design choice for the following reasons:
Design Compatibility
White cabinets fit in with many different kitchen styles, so homeowners can use them to tie together easily. Whether your home is modern, traditional, rustic, or eclectic, there’s a way for white cabinets to play a part.
White cabinets also match any sink or hardware finish, including brass, brushed nickel, stainless steel, bronze, chrome, or matte black. They also go with a wide array of countertop materials, appliances, and other kitchen fixtures. You’ll be hard-pressed to find something that doesn’t match white cabinets, and this can be helpful for homeowners who are looking for a way to highlight their appliances or countertops.
Timeless Look
You don’t have to worry about your white cabinets going out of style. White cabinets have stayed in circulation for decades, and they’ll probably be around for quite a while longer. They’re a fairly flexible design choice for the future-minded homeowner.
In ten or fifteen years, your white cabinets will probably still be up-to-date with design trends. If you’re looking for a change, simply swap out your hardware for a new look.
Easy Renovation
If you like your existing cabinets, you can have them professionally refaced and painted white rather than replacing them completely. Refaces can keep the cost of your renovation down, while still giving you that fresh, brand new look.
White cabinets can also ease a renovation because you’ll know just how they’ll look in your space. If you’ve ever brought something home from the store only to realize that it looks like a completely different colour in your home, then you’ve experienced the challenge of stained cabinets. Wood hues can appear different under various lighting types, which makes it challenging to predict how it’ll look in your home with your lighting, cabinets, and paint. White cabinets are simple and don’t vary much from one type of light to another.
Creates Space
Generally speaking, the colour white reflects light and makes a room look larger and airier. White cabinets create the illusion of extra space in your kitchen. Because cabinets take up so much kitchen space, white cabinets extend your room in many directions.
White cabinets act almost like a reflective surface, especially for kitchens that receive a lot of natural light. They’ll help project light into the dark corners of the room and brighten the space overall. If you struggle to get adequate lighting in your kitchen, consider painting your cabinets white.
A Clean Slate
If you’re in the middle of a home renovation, you might be thinking about the future resale value of your property. Even if you’re planning on staying in your house for a while longer, it’s a good idea to consider how your design choices will affect your home’s eventual sale.
White kitchen cabinets are attractive to buyers because they act as a blank slate. Prospective buyers don’t have to worry about whether they’ll be able to pair their kitchen furniture with the cabinets because white is easy to match or refinish.
White cabinets will never be the reason a potential buyer says no to your home. At worst, they’ll be largely neutral, and the buyer can redo them if necessary.
Cons of White Cabinets
As with most design choices, there are downsides to white cabinets, too. Before you put a deposit down on white cabinets, consider these drawbacks:
Messes and Stains
White cabinets are a bit like your favorite white t-shirt. They’re comfortable, timeless, and they go with everything, but an accidental spill might throw a wrench in the works.
White cabinets are pristine when they’re first installed, but they get dirty easily. You’ll find yourself wiping them down more often than you might with wood or painted cabinets. If you’re okay with the extra maintenance, then don’t worry! Just remember to seal your cabinets well to protect against any permanent stains or damage.
Wear-and-Tear
White cabinets might age well as far as design goes, but the same doesn’t always go for their appearance. They tend to show more general wear-and-tear than wood cabinets. Wood ages particularly well because it’s a natural substance. It’s built to withstand moisture, heat, scratches, and scrapes. White cabinets, on the other hand, will immediately show any damage, dent, or ding. You may have to resurface and repaint every so often to keep them looking nice.
Too Clinical?
Depending on the other design elements in your kitchen, adding white countertops might suck a bit of the warmth out of the room. This could be true if you have white or granite countertops, a white floor, or white walls. Too much white could alter the feeling of your kitchen.
If you’re going for a particularly sleek, modern look, this might be your goal. However, if that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, then it’s important to consider whether other parts of your kitchen are white before you take the plunge with your cabinets.
It’s Up To You!
At the end of the day, only you can decide whether white cabinets fit your home and design goals. If the pros outweigh the cons, then get in touch to get a quote for your project.
