Visual continuity is a key element of open-concept layouts. Choosing the right cabinets will help you create an airy aesthetic that’s perfect for entertaining and everyday living.
Structural issues may require you to leave a partial wall standing, so make sure that sightlines are kept clear to connect the kitchen and dining area with the living room. Here, a soft earth-toned color scheme from Michelle Berwick Design helps define the cooking zone while connecting the rooms. Visit San Jose Cabinet Refinishing for more details.
Color
The cabinet color and style you choose will greatly affect how your cabinets look within an open-concept living space. When your cabinets are mismatched or clash with your home’s overall style, it can create visual chaos that takes away from the spaciousness of your home’s layout. Luckily, there are many cabinet options that can be customized to perfectly fit your home’s unique layout and design preferences. Whether you opt for custom sizing or color options, be sure to measure your space carefully and consider other important cabinet features, like storage solutions, before making a final decision.
White cabinets are a popular choice because they work well in almost any design style, and they make spaces feel bigger. However, it’s important to keep in mind that white can show more fingerprints and dirt than other shades, so if you have young children who frequently use the kitchen, it may be wise to choose a darker shade.
Wood cabinets are another great option for open-concept living spaces, as they offer warmth and texture to the area. However, the stain you choose can drastically change how your cabinets look. Darker stains can help ground your space, while light stains can brighten it up.
Alternatively, you can try a bolder color or design for your cabinets to create a more dramatic statement. However, it’s important to think long-term with any big interior paint project—will the dramatic color or design still make sense in a year or two? If you decide to go with a more vibrant color or design for your cabinets, stick to neutrals or simple designs for the rest of your home’s interior.
Finally, you can also give your cabinets a new look by adding decorative accents, such as glass-front doors or metal hardware. This can create a more modern aesthetic in your space, while providing a beautiful way to display dishes and decorative items.
Texture
Cabinets are an important part of a room’s texture story. They’re usually painted or stained, and the choice of finish is a major design element that can add richness to your space. Painted finishes offer a soft, smooth surface that blends with many styles; however, wood grains—whether lightly exposed or carved out—incorporate natural texture that feels warm and welcoming. Other kitchen and bath cabinet finishes can also contribute to a space’s texture story. For example, honed quartz and concrete have a tactile, matte finish that contrasts beautifully with sleek metal hardware.
A simple color change can make your cabinets feel completely different. For instance, a soft earth-toned paint shade can make your kitchen look more inviting and cozy in open concept living spaces. The team at Michelle Berwick Design used a soft coral shade in this kitchen to define the cooking area and add personality.
For an even more dramatic change, consider refacing your cabinets. This option is a great alternative to a complete replacement, and it’s especially useful when you want to create an entirely new style for your kitchen. Refacing involves removing your existing doors and drawer fronts and replacing them with new ones, as well as reworking the cabinet boxes to improve the overall look of the space.
While refacing is a more extensive project than refinishing, it offers an affordable and sustainable alternative to full replacement. The refacing process also saves you time since your cabinet structure remains intact. Additionally, refacing allows you to choose from hundreds of modern finishes and door styles, allowing you to find a cabinet solution that’s the perfect fit for your home.
Whether you go with a Tune-Up, refacing or cabinet painting, it’s best to keep the existing layout of your cabinets in mind. This will ensure your cabinetry is a seamless match for the rest of your open concept living space. If you need more storage, for example, consider adding a pantry, wide cabinet drawers or appliance garages built into your existing cabinets. This way, you can provide storage according to your home’s lifestyle and help control clutter in your open-concept living areas.
Lightness
Light-colored cabinets allow natural and artificial light to bounce throughout open spaces, enhancing visibility and creating visual connections with adjacent rooms. Darker colors, on the other hand, can absorb or block light, resulting in a more closed-in feel and obscuring views.
Whether you choose a traditional white or a bright pop of color, choosing high-quality paint and finish will provide the best results. Many high-performance paints are formulated to offer smooth application, durability and stain resistance. They also often contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that help reduce air pollution during application and drying time.
The brightness of your lighting can dramatically affect the appearance of cabinet colors. Choose bulbs with a lower Kelvin rating to produce a warm, yellowish glow or higher ratings to create a cooler, more blueish light. If you plan to incorporate task or ambient lighting into your kitchen, experiment with different settings and times of day to see how the colors appear in your space.
If you’re not ready to commit to a complete kitchen renovation, consider refinishing your cabinets. This process involves stripping your existing doors and drawer fronts, repairing any damage and then applying a fresh coat of stain or paint. This is a great option if your cabinet boxes are in good shape and you want to update the look of your kitchen without spending a fortune.
Light or dark, a new paint job will make your cabinets look cleaner and fresher – but remember that stains will show up on light cabinets more than on darker ones. To maintain their beauty, it’s essential to wipe them down frequently and use a mild cleaner to avoid harsh chemicals that can damage the surface.
Refacing is a more extensive update than refinishing, but it can achieve an entirely new look and feel for your kitchen. This method replaces the cabinet faces, door hinges and handles while leaving the cabinet box intact. Refacing can also be a better choice if you’re planning to sell your home in the near future because it will improve your kitchen’s curb appeal.
Storage
Cabinets make a strong visual impact in open spaces. Refinishing cabinets with a fresh color can enhance the movement of light between rooms, while allowing for better blending of kitchen and living areas. Changing out the style of your cabinets can also allow for improved storage. Adding wide pantry drawers or appliance garages to cabinets can keep surfaces clear, and refinishing cabinets with glass-fronted shelves allows you to display decorative accents that complement adjacent room decor. Other easy cabinet refresh ideas include adding contact paper or removable wallpaper to shelves to protect them from spills and wear. Using waterproof drawer and cabinet liners is another simple way to update storage without adding extra cost or maintenance.
Adding area rugs under seating, sofas and nooks can help define the separate areas of an open concept living space while creating a sense of unity.