After years of all-white schemes being the norm, we’re seeing colour return to new kitchen designs. As part of this, two-tone cabinets have become a particularly popular feature, breathing new life into more traditional designs. But planning this look takes a detailed touch, and there are a few tricks to getting it just right.
Why choose two-tone?
As the name suggests, this look uses cabinets or materials of two different colours. These can be highly contrasting colours (like navy and white) or similar complementary shades (like warm white and taupe). When done well, this creates a timeless look that is rich and elegant while still seeming clean and crisp.
There are many reasons to choose a two-tone kitchen, including:
- It creates unique interest: Even the plainest kitchen space can be livened up with two-tone cabinets. Whether you choose contrasting or complementary colours, it will add depth and enhance the look of the space.
- It can make the space look larger: The difference in colours will help define the kitchen and trick the eye into thinking the space is larger than it is. You can also plan your colours to help draw the eye up, further reinforcing the sense of space.
- It can make the space seem lighter: Using a lighter coloured upper cabinet will help bounce light around the space, making it appear brighter and airier. This will be particularly noticeable if you highlight the light upper cabinets with contrasting darker lower cabinets.
- It could increase your home’s value: A two-tone kitchen adds a little elegance and luxury to a home’s design. It’s also a popular style statement and should be a hit with potential buyers. As such, it could make your home more saleable and potentially even increase the price buyers are willing to pay.
Tips for nailing the two-tone look
When planning a two-tone kitchen, there are a few simple things you can do to get the look just right. Specifically, when developing your design, you should:
- Pick a focal point: A two-tone kitchen generally looks better when one colour is used to create a clear focal point. An island bench is the obvious choice for this, but almost any part of the kitchen would be suitable. For example, you could select a specific run of cabinets to highlight with an accent colour.
- Reference the colour wheel: The main options for two-tone looks are contrasting and complementary. The colour wheel can help you plan these pairs – opposite colours provide good contrast, adjoining colours are usually complementary. If in doubt, you can always use a shade of white and your preferred accent colour.
- Go darker on the bottom: As noted above, using the darker colour for your lower cabinets can help make the space look lighter and larger. It will also help define the space, which can be particularly useful in an open plan home. By contrast, using darker upper cabinets will enclose the space and can make it seem smaller (so it should generally be avoided).
- Use the smaller details to tie the design together: While a good colour combination should make for a unified design, the smaller design touches will also bring everything together. For example, it is best to choose handles that work with both cabinet colours. Similarly, having the same door design (e.g. shaker or handleless) for both colours will make the design feel more resolved.
Need help planning your two-tone kitchen?
At Zesta Kitchens, we love the depth and richness two-tone kitchens create. We have also helped many clients master this look, including this recent kitchen renovation in Croydon. As such, we know how to put this look together and tailor it to suit any style of property.
So, if you’re looking to get the two-tone look in your kitchen, give Zesta Kitchens a call!