White Kitchen Cabinet Ideas

White Kitchen Cabinet Ideas: Kitchen cabinets come in a wide variety of colors, with white being one of the most popular choices. One of the main benefits of white kitchens is that they never go out of style, they coordinate with everything and create natural light reflection.

White kitchen cabinets are timeless and the perfect choice for those who want to create a blank canvas and plant to add interest with flooring, window treatments, artwork, and area rugs. White cabinets can instantly brighten a kitchen and provide the illusion of more space. To avoid creating a kitchen that feels cold, consider adding a splash of color or texture, and mixing white cabinets with contrasting countertops or backsplashes.

If you are presently researching different kitchen cabinet options, I have created posts on blue, green, cream, two-tone cabinets and black kitchen cabinets as well as kitchen blacksplash and farmhouse kitchen cabinet ideas.

How to Create a Beautiful Kitchen with White Cabinets

Pair White Cabinets with Light Hardwood Flooring

White cabinets pair beautifully with light wood flooring and wood kitchen islands. The two-tone cabinetry trend remains popular this year and pairing a primarily white kitchen with a contrasting color or wood tone on the kitchen island adds a strong design statement.

Bright, Airy & Modern Kitchen with White Cabinets
Image courtesy of KBG Design

A bright and airy modern farmhouse kitchen with white shaker cabinets and gray and white marble backsplash. Two Darlana Lanterns are directly above a brushed oak kitchen island with pristine white quartz countertop. The combination of open shelves and glass shelving provides the perfect place to display décor.

An Additional View of the Kitchen by KBG Design
Image courtesy of KBG Design

Bring in the Greenery for a Splash of Color

A few well-placed plants bring the outdoor in while adding a hint of color to the space. Not only do indoor plants enhance the overall appearance of the kitchen, but studies show they also boost mood and reduce stress.

Custom Crafted Elegant Modern Farmhouse Kitchen
Image Courtesy of Sarah Lynn Brennan Design

A classic farmhouse kitchen with warm wood flooring, white cabinets and beige low back wood frame rattan chairs.

Jean Stoffer’s Country Cottage Kitchen
Images courtesy of Jean Stoffer Design

After raising 4 kids in a Victorian style home in Chicago, Jean knew exactly what she wanted to go for next. She and her husband got a smaller place in Grand Rapids Michigan to remodel into a modern English cottage home. The home is incredibly elegant, modern, and sophisticated while still having that old timey English cottage feel. Gold light fixtures and natural wooden beams hang over a mostly white kitchen with deep grey accents.

Introduce Black to Ground the Space

A bit of black goes a long way in grounding the space and adds contrast and personality to an all-white kitchen design. Adding black accents into any room in the home is a popular choice with many interior designers as it ties a scheme together perfectly and adds drama.

Scandinavian Style Modern Farmhouse Kitchen
Image courtesy of Katie Hodges

A beautifully designed minimalist Scandinavian style modern farmhouse kitchen designed by Katie Hodges.  This gorgeous kitchen mixes white walls with natural wood accents. The kitchen comes to life with black metal hardware, woven textures and plenty of natural light. Two conical drum pendants in black and white make a strong statement giving the room a breezy look. Great on its own or in multiples, this light also has a refined linen shade to provide optimal, even lighting with a polished glow.

Eclectic Modern Rustic Kitchen with a Ton of Character
Image courtesy of Whittney Parkison Design

Traditional architectural details are blended with the contemporary to create a cohesive home for the modern family. WPD blended a neutral foundation with pops of color to enhance the home’s finishes and create depth. Beautiful fabrics mix well with slick metals and warm woods in this eclectic residence. This kitchen is one of my favorites with its use of cozy textiles, black and white cabinetry and warm wood floors.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen with White Cabinets & Black Range
Image courtesy of Sea Pointe Design & Remodel

This modern farmhouse kitchen has white cabinets, wood flooring and a black range for dramatic contrast. I love the size of the kitchen island is this striking kitchen! Large kitchen islands with stools make the perfect place for eating a quick meal. Or, they can be a useful space for doing homework, paying bills, or reading the newspaper while meal prep is happening or you’re waiting for the oven to finish.

Bring in Natural & Organic Elements

Organic and natural elements add warmth, color, and texture to any space. From woven kitchen island chairs to wicker baskets and area rugs – these elements add interest to a kitchen with white cabinets.

Traditional Kitchen Design With Custom Cabinetry
Image courtesy of Mindy Gayer Design

This full-scale remodel in Orange County, California spanned the course of 3 years from demolition to install. Mindy Gayer’s clients, a young family of five, were looking for a forever home that could fit their personal lifestyle and aesthetic. The resulting home skews towards a more traditional style, with beautiful millwork and custom cabinetry details in every space. Mindy’s favorite part of this home is the personal details and family heirlooms throughout make the project feel truly unique and tailored from head to toe.

Alternate Views of a Kitchen Designed by Mindy Gayer
Images courtesy of Mindy Gayer Design

Sophisticated & Elegant Kitchen by Dawn Reeves Design
Image courtesy of Dawn Reeves Design

This sophisticated modern rustic kitchen has a combination of black and white cabinets, light wood floors, and a marble backsplash. When paired with brass accents, the simple black-and-white color scheme in the kitchen looks luxurious and modern.

Organic & Textural Kitchen with White & Wood Tone Cabinets
Image courtesy of Ryan McDonald

An organic kitchen with two-tone wood and white kitchen cabinets, warm wood flooring, wood beams and textured chairs.

Add a Touch of Old World Charm

If you are looking for a kitchen design with an air of elegance and charm, a well-situated chandelier or pendant can transform the space.

Elegant & Refined Kitchen with Marble Countertops and Backsplash
Image courtesy of O’Brien Harris Fine Fitted Furniture

An elegant and refined modern kitchen with old world charm.  This kitchen boasts marble countertops, marble slab backsplash and antique brass beaded chandeliers.  Dark brown swivel barstools bring in a touch of warmth with caramel leather cushions with nailhead trim.  Two sinks adorn the kitchen – a white porcelain farmhouse sink and a small round prep sink both with polished nickel vintage faucets.

Kitchen Remodeling Project by Martha O’Hara 
Image courtesy of Marth O’Hara Interiors
Photography by Spacecrafting

Marnie Lyndsay had been following Martha O’Hara Interiors on Instagram, and when it came to remodeling her own kitchen, she chose Martha to improve capacity for entertaining. Martha created a space that became the heart of the home – an epicenter of planning, preparing and executing parties of all sizes and flavors. “The renovation was a collaborative effort,” Lindsay says. “We worked closely with our designer, our builder and our cabinet maker. They listened well and worked hard to create the design we wanted.” They decided to go with gold hardware to match the hint of gold in the range.  They liked the warmth of adding a gold finish to the hardware.

A Hint of Blue Adds a Calming Influence

Try pairing white kitchen cabinets with blue accents to add a calming influence to the kitchen. From deep navy to softer hues, blue can have a powerful impact on a kitchen design.

A Stunning Large Modern Farmhouse Kitchen in Contrasting White & Blue
Image courtesy of O’Brien Harris Fine Fitted Furniture

This magnificent modern farmhouse kitchen has a large expanse of window providing for natural sunlight.  The contrasting white cabinets complement the shades of blue found in the countertops, range hood, and kitchen stools. It’s elegant, sophisticated and packs plenty of country charm.

White Kitchen Designs with Subtle Blue Accents
Images courtesy of Bria Hammel Design

White kitchens with moodier pops of color are in.  More and more designers are moving to this approach. Here are two examples of kitchens designed by Bria Hammel that demonstrate how this can successfully be achieved.

Left: Bria Hammel’s clients were looking for a traditional kitchen design with a cool color palette with warmth and contrast seamlessly woven in.  The owners, a family with three boys had moved into this beautiful new construction house, contracting the designer to give it a refresh. The result is a fresh kitchen with a hint of blue for character.

Right:  Another kitchen that encapsulates the design aesthetics of Bria Hammel. She worked with her client on their new construction home to marry their traditional style and love of color, and this beautiful kitchen is the result of that. The moody blue subway backsplash are Annie Selke Artisanal Smokey Blue Ceramic Wall Tiles.

Bright, Light and Airy Kitchen with White Cabinets
Image courtesy of JK Interior Living

Two blue velvet head chairs compliment the pale gray dining chairs surrounding a reclaimed wood dining chair that is illuminated by a Darlana Linear Lantern. Mismatched dining chairs are a go-to for interior designers as it is the perfect way to showcase a love of design while adding personality and visual interest to the space.

Open Shelving Provides Opportunity to Display

Open shelving provides the opportunity to display artwork, pottery, plants, baskets, and personalized home décor. It’s the perfect way to show your creativity and add a finished look to the space. If you’d like to learn more on the art of shelf styling – check out my recent blog post on Shelf Styling Ideas.

Three Sets of Shelving in an Open Concept Living Room & Kitchen
Image courtesy of KBG Design

An open kitchen and living room design with plenty of cabinet space to showcase artwork, plants and home décor. KBG Design incorporated three sets of open shelves for the home owners to display cherished items to add interest and texture.  Designing open shelving can be a daunting task when you first begin as it is similar to what one experiences when facing a blank canvas. It is also a lot like piecing together a creative puzzle where everything falls into place when you simply just start. Although styling shelving can seem straightforward, there are design tips you can implement that will help you to be able to confidently add visual appeal to any shelf – no matter your style.

Shiplap Walls for Farmhouse Flair

If your design aesthetic leans towards farmhouse, a bit of shiplap can go a long way in creating a kitchen full of country charm.

Shiplap Walls in a Black & White Kitchen
Image courtesy of aaNovo Design

The shiplap walls in this black & white kitchen with a cream colored kitchen island gives the space a farmhouse feel.  The open wood shelving and flooring provide warmth and balance.

Shiplap Wall Over Range Adds Character to this Modern Farmhouse Kitchen
Image courtesy of ReDesign Home
Photography by Ryan McDonald

A home with plenty of character and style designed by Alessia Loffredo and Sarah Coscarelli of ReDesign Home. The goal of this kitchen renovation: To design a gathering space made for entertaining. The original disproportionate scale of appliances and cabinetry, inadequate seating, lack of character, and clumsy floor plan were overcome with thoughtful reconfigurations. A large island, exquisite millwork, a beautiful built-in hood, and a separate butler’s pantry checked the boxes of balance, function, and character, resulting in a space ready for the creation of many wonderful memories.

“Surprisingly, the kitchen was the one room in the home that lacked interest due to a challenging layout between kitchen, butler pantry, and pantry,” the designer shared, “the cabinetry was not proportionate to the space’s large footprint and height. None of the house’s architectural features were introduced into kitchen aside from the wooden beams crossing the room throughout the main floor including the family room.” She moved the pantry door closer to the prepping and cooking area while converting the former butler pantry a bar. Alessia designed an oversized hood around the stove to counterbalance the impressive stone fireplace located at the opposite side of the living space.

“She then wanted to include functionality, using Trim Tech‘s cabinets, featuring a pair with retractable doors, for easy access, flanking both sides of the range. The client had asked for an island that would be larger than the original in their space – Alessia made the smart decision that if it was to increase in size it shouldn’t increase in visual weight and designed it with legs, raised above the floor. Made out of steel, by Wayward Machine Co., along with a marble-replicating porcelain countertop, it was designed with durability in mind to withstand anything that her client’s four children would throw at it. Finally, she added finishing touches to the space in the form of brass hardware from Katonah Chicago,  with similar toned wall lighting and faucet.” – Rue Magazine

Bring in Natural Textures for Interest

Texture can determine how a room looks and feels and without it, a space will fall flat. It’s important to bring a design together by adding mixed materials for vibrancy and warmth.

Kitchen Design with White Cabinets, Light Wood Flooring & Plenty of Texture
Image courtesy of Mindy Gayer Design

Mindy Gayer Design worked with Brandon Architects to build this family of six a comfortable and inviting family home. With a focus on classic finishes and contemporary details, this home will stand the test of time. This lovely kitchen has light wood flooring, a blue/grey kitchen island, white cabinets and textural elements throughout.

Spacious Country Kitchen with White Cabinets & Wicker Stools
Image Courtesy of Pure Salt Interiors 

A spacious country kitchen featuring white cabinets with black pulls, vintage barn pendants, white marble topped island with wicker stools for texture. The lighting fixtures are: Circa Lighting Henry Industrial Hanging Lights

Add Gold & Brass Accents for a Touch of Sparkle

Metallics in the kitchen add a touch of sparkle and interest. White cabinets pair beautifully with everything from silver to gold and brass.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen with White Cabinets & Brass Details
Image courtesy of KBG Design

This beautifully designed modern farmhouse kitchen has white shaker cabinets with brass hardware, gray marble subway tiled backsplash, two glass front cabinets and white hood fixed between two glass front cabinets. The kitchen island is brushed oak with a marbled gray and white countertop. Darlana lanterns add the finishing touch.

Elegant White Kitchen with Brass Details
Image courtesy of Ryan McDonald Photography

An elegant and sophisticated kitchen with light wood flooring, bright white cabinets, Circa Lighting Henry Industrial Hanging Pendants and woven stools.

Add Area Rugs for Color, Texture & Pattern

An area rug in the kitchen adds warmth, color, texture, and pattern while helping with noise control. For the kitchen, it’s best to opt for a hardy flat-weave rug with natural fibers for easy clean-up.

Farmhouse Kitchens with Area Rugs for Warmth & Texture
Image courtesy of Bria Hammel

In these two farmhouse kitchens with white cabinets designer Bria Hammel incorporated woven area rugs to add color, warmth, texture and charm.

Be Sure to Include a Farmhouse Kitchen Sink

A farmhouse sink is not only highly functional, but it’s also a highly coveted kitchen feature due to its beautiful, spacious, and timeless design.

Farmhouse Kitchen Sink with Nickel Deck-Mounted Faucet
Image courtesy of Jean Stoffer

A dual farmhouse kitchen sink and nickel deck-mounted gooseneck faucet is situated over black framed windows illuminated by Visual Comfort Thomas O’Brien Antique Wall Lights.

Add a Backsplash to add a Personalized Touch

Kitchen backsplashes are an important design element in any kitchen and contribute to the over-overall appearance. A backsplash can take a kitchen to an extraordinary level by enhancing the design aesthetic and increasing the value of your kitchen. Backsplashes add visual appeal while also protecting the drywall, preventing down-wall drips and they are easy to keep clean. Read more on Kitchen Backsplash Design Ideas.

Unique Wall Tiles Creates Drama & Interest
Image courtesy of Pure Salt Interiors

Pure Salt Interiors incorporated unique tiles in the two kitchens above to add visual pattern, texture and drama.  The result is an all white kitchen with personality and charm.

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