Unlike some cabinet styles that feature ornate details like crown moldings, raised panels and chicken wire doors, modern designs eliminate these embellishments for a sleek appearance. These door options are also typically semi-opaque or leaded to minimize visual clutter.
Calming colors make a wonderful complement to cutting-edge contemporary lines and forms in cabinetry. Cool greens and blues provide focus while warm oranges, yellows and reds energize.
Two-Toned Cabinets
Two-toned cabinets offer a bold and eye-catching design option for your kitchen. The colors used can vary from simple to dramatic, and they can work with many different kitchen styles. Pairing daring contrasting shades like black and white or darker blues with lighter shades works well, too. You can even use neutrals to add depth to your space.
Choosing the colors for your two-toned cabinets can be tricky, but there are plenty of resources available to help you find the perfect color palette. The best way to determine what color combinations will work is by studying the color wheel and assessing whether or not the colors are adjacent or complementary.
You can also highlight your flooring and backsplash with a dark shade while keeping your upper cabinets light to create an optical illusion of space in a small room. This design feature is especially effective if you have high ceilings that make it difficult to decorate with wall art and other decorative elements.
Floating Shelves
Floating shelves are a popular choice for modern kitchen cabinet design. They provide a minimalist effect, allowing homeowners to display eye-catching kitchen objects without the clutter or visual distraction of closed cabinet doors. Floating shelves also offer versatile storage space, and they can be used to store a variety of items — from dishes and bowls to kitchen supplies and decorative accessories.
One of the best things about floating shelves is that they allow natural light to flow freely throughout a kitchen, creating an open and airy ambiance. However, it’s important to keep in mind that floating shelves can quickly become cluttered and dusty if not properly maintained.
To keep a curated look, consider installing the shelves in a centralized location and filling them with only a few of your favorite pieces. You can even mix up the materials to create an eclectic look. For example, this kitchen by Every Davis Moments pairs natural cane wall shelves with painted cabinets to achieve a more balanced look.
Fluted Cabinets
Cabinets that are flush with the ceiling create a modern look but may not be practical or aesthetically pleasing in all spaces. If you’re looking for a modern kitchen cabinet design that combines both style and functionality, consider recessed or inset cabinets.
Inset cabinets are framed with doors that are set inside the face frame, creating a clean and finished look. They’re also known for their durability and longevity compared to other cabinet styles.
Traditional cabinets have the door and drawer faces exposed, which can result in nicked or rounded corners. To prevent this, many people choose to use pull handles or knobs with a small spacer to keep the edges away from walls and other furniture pieces.
To explore the different types of cabinet door overlays and finishes, check out our gallery of real CliqStudios projects. Browse photos organized by style and color to find inspiration for your new kitchen cabinet design. If you’re unsure which door style is best for your home, reach out to a CliqStudios kitchen designer for expert advice.
Black and White Cabinets
Black adds depth and grounds a room, making it ideal for accent cabinets that define functional areas or provide visual interest. This kitchen from Stephanie of Casa Watkins Living uses two different colors—white upper cabinets and natural wood lower cabinetry—to keep the look modern. Dark cabinet doors and wicker chair upholstery balance the color palette, while a green chevron tile floor warms up the space.
Modern cabinet hardware is sleek and minimalist, allowing the lines of the doors to take center stage. Full-length pull bars accentuate the height of base cabinets and create a clean look. If you’re not ready to commit to an all-black color scheme, use dark hardware for the bottom cabinets and white for the tops to keep the look balanced.
Although neutrals are the go-to hues in modern design, bold color options can also work well in a contemporary kitchen. Blues, deep reds, and even fluorescent yellows can be used to create a dramatic effect. Just be sure to keep accessories and other furnishings in neutral tones to avoid overstimulation.
