Need help choosing the right color counter top - please help.?

Question

I need some real advice on what color of laminate kitchen counter top to install that would look nice with our medium wood stained oak cabinets. If the cabinets are considered to be of a darker color do you want to go with a lighter counter top or a dark counter top or does it matter? BTW The walls in the kitchen are white and the flooring has neutral earthones if that helps any.

Answer 1

Hi Laurie!

I'm a general contractor, most of my work is high end residential remodel, so I work with many talented interior designers.

When a home owner really can't decide what countertops they like, a couple of rules of thumbs seem to always work.

To help open up and give depth to a kitchen or bath, contrast is a valuable tool. An example is white cabinetry, and a darker floor with closely matching dark countertops. The resulting layers of dark/light/dark/light from floor to top cabinets delineate space and layer the room, adding depth. The resulting contrast also emphasizes line and form, bringing out complexity in scrollwork, while also presenting a clean , clear lines for more minimalistic designs.

Without seeing the stain, you may be happier with a lighter color top, matching the lighter tones in the floor to tie the room together.A taupe or light beige color paint for the walls with cabinetry may also be a great choice to blend the surfaces, while warming up the room without 'darkening' it. Contrasting walls are also a heavy design trend in most high end homes today.

In any case, your taste is ultimately your own , and as long as YOU like your choice, there's nothing better you can go with!

Good luck in your project, and thanks for the question.
, you're welcome to write me here if I can offer any hints or help.

Answer 2

I had the same issue with my kitchen. I couldn't bring all the samples home from the store so I ended up taking one of my smaller kitchen drawers in to the store so I could do color matching. Just as an aside, you might want to consider painting the white walls to a more neutral color to pick up of the earthtones of the floor. White can be a little stark against all the warm oak colors. Godd luck!

Answer 3

There are many neutral colors to choose from. Remember what is in style now, will not be later. It is easier to change wall colors than countertops.

Still you can pick a wide range of neutrals in creams and off whites. There are even some greys and browns that will work with different finishes of wood grain, granite, patterns, and solids.

Find something that works with what you have, but the ability to coordinate with future ideas, when you are ready to change.

Answer 4

if you go to home depot or lowes they have tile samples that you can bring home and match to things. I did this and ended up with a really pretty medium green. Gorgeous. And when we ended up selling our house I got lots of compliments on it. We had a fake wood floor and the walls were a sort of mint green. The cabinets were a medium wood color. Really came out nice. The tiles helped tremendously. I would have never gone with the green. But when I saw them all together it looked great.

Answer 5

i would go with a lighter color countertop due to the fact that to many dark things in the room with make it look closed in. go with a light color marble it will look good you can get the marble lines in the counter top a color close to the wood grain or the floor it would make it look like if fits but at the same time giving it its own uniqueness. hope this helps

Answer 6

I would use a laminate counter top that is colored to look like some type of stone, with multiple colors in it. (marble? granite?) Stay neutral so that your other decorating options are open. And PLEASE!!!! PAINT THOSE WALLS!!!!!! You can still stay neutral, but white is just so stark. Plus, the walls in kitchens never seem to stay "white" very long due to spills, splatters, and smoke!!!!

Answer 7

I think with white walls and neutral flooring, you can easily get away with medium or darker tones counter tops. They have some amazing granite look formica now that will knock your socks off. Looks really rich.

Answer 8

i dont know why but RED is the new color for kitchens. Me and my room-mate just put dark gray-black counter-tops in and painted the walls gray and red. It turned out GREAT!!! good luck...

Answer 9

I think a lighter color would look good. You can go with the earthtones in the countertop or some light greens.

Answer 10

You can't go wrong with something that looks like black granite. It will go with everything. It looks very rich with dark colors and contrasts nicely with lighter colors.