Two-Toned Kitchens Are Officially a Design Classic—Here’s How to Get the Look In Your Home

Two-toned kitchens are quickly becoming the norm, and it’s no surprise why. The trend offers a great way to add visual interest to your kitchen, and the color contrast creates an illusion of separation that can end up making your space seem larger. For homeowners, picking just one perfect color for a room can be challenging, but two-toned kitchens allow for experimentation in different shades, finishes, and materials. Keep reading to find out what interior designers think of the look—and their best tips for recreating it at home.

What Are Two-Toned Kitchens?

“A two-toned kitchen will have two different cabinet colors, whether it be paint or stain color, typically on the island & perimeter cabinetry," Laura Williams, an interior designer for ATX Interior Design, says. "It's a great way to introduce warmth or another color into the space.” So, if you're upgrading your kitchen and deciding between painted and exposed wood, or brass and wood, maybe go for both. Or, if you can't choose between an all-white kitchen cabinets or a more bold color, the two-toned approach provides the perfect middle ground. Because of it's versatility, this technique can suit any style of kitchen, Williams says. Plus, it's only half a renovation!

How to Achieve the Two-Toned Kitchen Look

There are no real rules to perfecting a two-toned kitchen at home. “This is your home—you need to choose colors that make you happy,” says Williams, However, she does recommend choosing a neutral as one of the colors to make sure the color combination isn't too overwhelming.

If you want to go for a richer palette, “​​Earth-based greens, terra cottas, and browns can hold the color play without feeling chaotic," says Hollie Velten-Latrell, founder of SPACES by Hollie Velten.

The goal of a two-toned kitchen is to create dimension in your kitchen. For an easy way to get this effect while still maintaining a cohesive look, Velten-Latrell suggests staying in the same color family, with a light color on the upper cabinets and a darker shade on the lower cabinets "to root the space." Or, "flood the wall color with the same paint choice as some of the cabinets so it’s anchored and can liberate some more brave color choices," she says.

Contrasting colors can also be used to highlight architectural details or different areas of the kitchen, such as a statement island or a built-in nook.

If you're starting with an all-white kitchen or primarily white surfaces, your space is a blank slate, and you can go in any direction you want, says Williams. For some inspiration, Velten-Latrell says, “If you’re going light on your surfaces, greens are always low risk and beautiful with a relationship to nature. A pale gray-undertone green on uppers and a more earthy sage always looks timeless.”

On the other hand, if your kitchen is fully drenched in a color that you're not so happy about, consider adding in a second color that might help to offset and tone down the look—and save you from doing a full kitchen renovation.