Should The Kitchen Island Be The Same Color As The Cabinets? (Pros & Cons)

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Last updated on March 15th, 2024 at 12:30 pm

Wondering if your kitchen island should be the same color as your other cabinets? Well, look no further because I have your answer!

Kitchen islands can be the same color or a different color from the other cabinets in the room. As long as the cabinet colors complement each other, the kitchen island can be a statement piece by being a different color.

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let’s break into the details further so you can easily choose the best cabinet color scheme for your kitchen.

Let’s dive in!

Quick Navigation: Pros & Cons Of Matching The Kitchen Island Color To The Cabinets

1. Benefits Of The Kitchen Island Color Matching The Cabinets
   • Having The Kitchen Island Match The Cabinets Creates Uniformity
   • Having The Kitchen Island Match The Cabinets Makes Planning & Decorating Easier
   • Having The Kitchen Island Match The Cabinets Makes The Kitchen Appear Less Busy
   • Having The Kitchen Island Match The Cabinets Can Be More Budget-Friendly
2. Benefits Of The Kitchen Island Color Being Different From The Cabinets
   • Having The Kitchen Island Be A Different Color From The Cabinets Creates Contrast
   • Having The Kitchen Island Be A Different Color From The Cabinets Can Be Easier During A Remodel
3. Other FAQs About Choosing Kitchen Island Cabinet Colors
4. Final Thoughts

Benefits Of The Kitchen Island Color Matching The Cabinets

There are several benefits to having the kitchen island cabinets match the rest of the cabinets.

Having The Kitchen Island Match The Cabinets Creates Uniformity

The most common (and most popular) kitchen island cabinet color is to have it match the other cabinets in the room. Most people are going to expect the kitchen island to match the other kitchen cabinets.

This color choice creates uniformity and a clear color theme throughout the kitchen that has been proven to withstand the test of time.

On the other hand, having two different cabinet colors in your kitchen is a current trend that is extremely popular in modern kitchens. Usually, trends have an end date, although if the differing cabinet colors are both neutral colors (such as white and black, beige and gray-toned walnut wood, etc), then the mix-matched color scheme can be seen as timeless as well.

Having The Kitchen Island Match The Cabinets Makes Planning & Decorating Easier

Planning and decorating a kitchen that has all of the cabinets the same color is significantly easier.

You don’t have to pick a second color that fits within your kitchen’s color scheme, and you don’t have to figure out a color countertop or backsplash that works with two different cabinet colors because you only have one cabinet color to work with.

If choosing colors and decorating is not your strength, then keeping the color scheme simple is the best way to make your kitchen appear elegant, clean, and put together.

Having The Kitchen Island Match The Cabinets Makes The Kitchen Appear Less Busy

Having a simplified color scheme helps the room look less “busy”. For most people, when too many colors are introduced into a room, the room starts to look cluttery and our eyes quickly get overwhelmed.

When the kitchen cabinets are the same throughout the entire room including the island cabinets, it creates a simplified, calm, and inviting vibe in one of the most frequently used rooms in your home.

To create a peaceful and inviting kitchen, keep the total colors down to 3 to 5. This will help your eyes feel less overwhelmed.

Having The Kitchen Island Match The Cabinets Can Be More Budget-Friendly

Some cabinet colors are more expensive than others, so if the kitchen island color you want is a “more-expensive” color, then this can be a more expensive design decision.

This is not always the case with all kitchen cabinet colors, but it is worth mentioning.

In addition, if you are painting your cabinets and choose a different paint color for the kitchen island cabinets

• Some cabinet colors are more expensive than others. Or if you are painting the cabinets, then you’ll have to spend more money to get two separate paint colors
• If you are painting them yourself then it will be more time consuming to switch to a different paint color for the island

Benefits Of The Kitchen Island Color Being Different From The Cabinets

Now, there are several benefits to choosing a different color for your kitchen island.

Having The Kitchen Island Be A Different Color From The Cabinets Creates Contrast

If you love the look of a high-contrast kitchen, then one way you can create that contrast is by choosing a different color for the kitchen island cabinets.

For example, having an all-white/light kitchen with a navy blue kitchen island cabinet base can add that little bit of contrast and design flare you might be looking for.

You also can create this high contrast by having contrasting cabinets and countertops.

Having The Kitchen Island Be A Different Color From The Cabinets Can Be Easier During A Remodel

Sometimes it is beneficial to choose a completely different cabinet color for your kitchen island.

If you have existing cabinets and you are adding a kitchen island during a remodel, then it might be difficult to match the island cabinets to the original cabinet color.

Instead, you can make the island a statement piece by purposefully choosing a different color for the kitchen island that still complements the existing cabinet and countertop color(s).

In this scenario, it would be much more budget-friendly to keep the original cabinet color and opt for a different cabinet color for the kitchen island that you are adding (instead of replacing all cabinets just to have them match).

Overall, if you choose neutral cabinet colors (whites, grays, beiges, blacks, gray-toned woods, etc), then you can go whichever way you like best (matching cabinets or not).

For our kitchen, we chose to match the cabinet colors for planning, designing, and decorating simplicity, and we love how it turned out!

Other FAQs About Choosing Kitchen Island Cabinet Colors

Here are some other frequently asked questions about kitchen island cabinet colors to help you choose the color scheme that’s best for your kitchen!

Should The Kitchen Island Be Lighter Or Darker Than The Cabinets?

Kitchen islands can be lighter or darker than the cabinets depending on which style you like better. Oftentimes, the kitchen island is darker than the cabinets so the room feels light and airy while the island becomes a statement piece in the room.

How Do You Match The Kitchen Island To The Cabinets?

Kitchen islands are made from the same base cabinets that are in the rest of the room. Matching the kitchen island to the cabinets is as simple as purchasing the same base cabinets to build the island as the other cabinets or painting all of the cabinets the same.

What Color Countertop Is Timeless?

White countertops are timeless because they match all cabinet colors and make a kitchen look clean and sterile. White countertops allow you to change the color of the base cabinets whenever you want without having to replace the expensive countertops.

Should Countertops Be Darker Than Cabinets?

Countertops can be lighter or darker than cabinets depending on which style you like better. Usually, countertops are lighter/the same color as the cabinets because the most popular color is white. White is timeless and helps a kitchen look clean.

Final Thoughts On Choosing Kitchen Island Cabinet Colors

There you have it!

Really, you can’t go wrong with either matching your kitchen island to your other cabinets or making it a statement piece in the room.

I highly recommend searching the internet for as many kitchen inspiration pictures to help you narrow down which color scheme you love and implement that into your kitchen.

Hopefully, this guide gave you a few items to think about and a few examples to help you decide what colors you want in your kitchen and kitchen island.

Catch you in my next post!

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