Bright white kitchens are a thing of the past, and instead, we’ve traded in those illuminating white cabinets for dark rich woods and moody tones. Dark cabinetry leads in kitchen and bath trends this year—and we can see why. The appeal of designing a space that balances contrast with color is bold and yet simple to manage. Styled with lighter countertops, backsplashes, mixed metals, and bright finishes, the dark cabinet trend is here to stay and will carry over into 2022. So, how do you elevate your flooring to complement this trend? We have several simple tips on how to do this, from installing white oak hardwood to beautiful luxury vinyl plank in various colorways.
Gorgeous White Oak Hardwood
Normandy Oak in Brulee by Mannington
White oak flooring is a hot commodity and is popularly used not only in kitchens and baths but throughout entire households. Its white-washed look and light grain patterns work to balance out the navy blues or greys in your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Of course, whenever you’re installing hardwood in the moisture-prone areas of your house, you need to consider the water damage that can occur. We recommend looking towards engineered hardwood for your kitchen and bath needs, as these planks have an enhanced seal that can lock out moisture in case of spills.
Brightening Hardwood Looks
Bengal Bay in Sand by Mannington
Other lighter hardwoods such as white-washed hickory, maple, birch, and ash are easy choices to complement dark cabinetry. Light floors will open up your space to give it a contemporary and livable feel. Natural wood floors never go out of style with their asymmetrical knotting and graining, infusing organic life into your home. If engineered hardwood isn’t for you, luxury vinyl planks are another excellent flooring solution and come in a variety of wood finishes so you can find the perfect light hardwood to brighten your space.
Gray Undertones
Cheshire Oak Rigid Core in Buttermilk by Armstrong Flooring
If you’ve chosen a cool dark tone such as navy, dark green, or dusty blue for your cabinetry, install floors that have gray undertones. For instance, this luxury vinyl plank balances out the black of the cabinets with a contemporary gray mid-tone. Notice that the kitchen doesn’t feel cold or stiff thanks to the beautiful warm graining of the wood-look plank with low gloss and brass metal finishes.
Neutral and Earthtone Tile
Epitomize Glazed Ceramic by Daltile
For those looking to venture out of the woods and into the tile arena, try to find neutral tiles in pretty creams, marble whites, and earthy tones, as these colors will tie together brilliantly with the rich hues of darker cabinets. With tile making such a big comeback right now in the interior design world, now is the time to elevate your space with the latest tile trends. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are known for their incredible durability and naturally waterproof abilities. With so many stunning colorways and styles available, tile is an easy choice for your kitchen, baths, and laundry rooms.