Shaker cabinetry is the gold standard for kitchen cabinets, thanks to its utilitarian appeal and versatile design options. It is essential for storage but can also be the crown jewel of your kitchen, providing style and design to space with its clean lines and construction.
Shaker Kitchen Cabinets Popular Styles and Colors
If you’re designing or renovating your kitchen, there are many unique ways to style your shaker kitchen cabinets. Check out 10 of the most popular styles and colors for any shaker kitchen cabinets.
1. Use Unique Colors
Playing with the color of your cabinets is one of the easiest ways to liven up your kitchen and give the room personality. Dark blue is a popular choice that can create a comfortable atmosphere in a large kitchen or add a touch of elegance to a traditional kitchen.
Manufacturers offer plenty of bold shades now, like black, navy, or emerald green, but if you can’t find the perfect hue, you can always paint them yourself! Customizing the color of your cabinets to fit the style of your kitchen perfectly is a great way to make sure your shaker kitchen cabinets really pop.
2. Add Open Shelving with Shaker Style Kitchen Cabinets
Open shelving is becoming a popular trend for kitchens of any style, whether rustic farmhouse or clean and modern. Keeping your lower shaker cabinets and adding open shelving to the tops can create space in a smaller kitchen and show off knickknacks or special dinnerware for an extra design touch.
You can keep your color scheme flowing through the items you choose to display: for example, dark green cabinets on the bottom can be complemented by a green vase on the open shelves, or an all-white kitchen can make colorful red and orange plates really stand out.
3. Natural Woods
Natural wood cabinets were the choice for homeowners for decades before painted or lacquered cabinets began to rise in popularity. Still, after a nice break, natural woods are returning. Oakwood cabinets are a great choice for their neutral color and versatility—you can find natural oak cabinets in French cottages, Scandinavian style, or rustic kitchens.
4. Go for a Clean and Modern Look
One of the most popular ways to style your shaker kitchen cabinets is to keep the design as clean and modern as possible. Modern shaker-style cabinets offer a contemporary and versatile appearance, making them a perfect fit for sleek, minimalist kitchens.
Shaker cabinets are renowned for their simple, unfussy design, which makes them a natural choice for modern kitchens! Choose sleek hardware and keep your countertops uncluttered for a minimalist look.
This looks particularly striking in white kitchens: you can pair your white cabinets with silver or chrome bar pulls and a white marble countertop for a clean look that isn’t too clinical or boring.
5. Mix and Match Finishes
Who says you have to stick to just one style? With so many finishes and colors available, you can mix and match for a completely unique look. Try doing upper cabinets in white and lower cabinets in a dark color like black or navy blue to create a dramatic contrast, or use a different color on your kitchen island cabinetry.
Since the island is separate from the other cabinets, you can try something bold, like black or chocolate brown, to make it stand out from your lighter cabinets.
Also, consider using brushed nickel hardware to add a transitional vibe to dark color cabinets. The more neutral you keep the walls, floors, and countertops, the more fun you can have with bold color combinations on your
6. Make a Big Impact
One emerging trend in kitchen design is to create unique pieces with your cabinetry, like adding floor-to-ceiling cabinets or transforming a pantry into a specialized storage space. Incorporating decorative edge detailing, such as end panels and moldings, can transform your shaker cabinets into standout pieces.
Just because cabinets are functional doesn’t mean they should be boring! A pantry cabinet can get new life with painted shaker doors, decorated feet, and lighting, turning it into a dramatic piece that mimics a hutch or an armoire.
7. White is Always in
While colorful shaker cabinets are popping up in more and more kitchens, white is still in style! White shaker cabinets often feature a recessed center panel, adding to their classic and timeless appeal. In fact, experts predict white kitchens aren’t going out of style anytime soon.
The white kitchen is popular since it’s flexible and can work in bright, modern spaces, rustic country looks, and even chic, high-end kitchens. White is also a great color choice for smaller kitchens or ones without much natural light, as it brightens the room and creates the illusion of space.
8. Go Gray
If you want the lightness and neutrality of white but with a bit more dimension, gray is the color for you. Gray shaker-style cabinets can be cool or warm-toned, making them versatile for any kitchen design.
Gray is perfect for kitchens: It can be cool or warm-toned, light or dark, and pull in undertones like blue or beige. A lacquered blue-grey shaker kitchen cabinet is chic for Scandinavian kitchens. Dark gray kitchen cabinets can look modern and trendy, and a gray wash over natural wood is perfect for traditional or transitional kitchens. It’s a shade that has plenty of room to play with!
9. High Gloss Finishes
One look that’s becoming increasingly popular in kitchens is high-gloss cabinets. High gloss finishes can elevate the look of shaker-style cabinets, giving them a sleek and modern appearance.
This design is best for minimalist, modern, and industrial kitchens, in particular, since high-gloss cabinets are very sleek and modern-looking.
Pair your glossy cabinets with modern hardware like a nickel handle, and don’t be afraid to play with color! While white and black both look stunning with a glossy finish, unique colors like red or light blue can also create a statement.
10. Transitional Never Goes Out of Style
Transitional is a mix of old and new designs, which makes it hard to go out of style! Shaker-style cabinets are perfect for transitional kitchens, blending traditional and modern elements seamlessly.
Modernizing old pieces is the perfect way to keep the traditional look in your kitchen without having it look dated. You can mix and match old and new styles with modern hardware, like traditional wood cabinets.
Another way to blend modern and traditional in your kitchen is with open-frame cabinet doors. These doors resemble the kitchen cabinets traditionally used to display fine china but can be updated for a more transitional look by pairing them with shaker cabinets.
Like open shelving, a mix of lower shaker cabinets and upper glass-front cabinets can also help your space look brighter and more open.
