Embrace the Trend for Mix-and-match Cupboards
Who says wall units and base cabinets have to be identical? Tap into a fresh new look that’s mixing it up in the kitchen
The unwritten rule in kitchen design has always been that base cabinets and wall units should match, but there’s no real reason this needs to be the case. Matching cabinets are simply a style convention, or perhaps you love the look, but now a new trend is gaining popularity – kitchens with mix-and-match units, featuring wall cupboards in one colour, style or finish and base cabinets in another. Done well, this look is fresh, individual and modern. Here are some smart ways to nail the mix-and-match look.
Focus on craft
The hand-crafted, modern-rustic look is big in interiors right now. These gorgeous units demonstrate how to mix and match base units while keeping walls bare and the overall scheme artfully pared-back and uncrowded.
This look is all about quality materials and tasteful colour choices; here, a matt burnt orange is teamed with a deep forest green.
The hand-crafted, modern-rustic look is big in interiors right now. These gorgeous units demonstrate how to mix and match base units while keeping walls bare and the overall scheme artfully pared-back and uncrowded.
This look is all about quality materials and tasteful colour choices; here, a matt burnt orange is teamed with a deep forest green.
Go floor to ceiling
If you plan to dedicate an entire wall to kitchen storage, don’t go into planning autopilot and plump for predictable floor-to-ceiling white. In this contemporary, country-style space, the units run together, but the top level features tall white cabinets with doors, while the grey-blue base units are reserved for drawers.
If you plan to dedicate an entire wall to kitchen storage, don’t go into planning autopilot and plump for predictable floor-to-ceiling white. In this contemporary, country-style space, the units run together, but the top level features tall white cabinets with doors, while the grey-blue base units are reserved for drawers.
Add a vintage feel
In love with the vintage look? A mix-and-match style is the perfect opportunity to introduce characterful retro buys into your kitchen while still being practical. Use more conventional carcasses with doors or drawer fronts for your bases, then shop around for interesting old cabinets that can be repurposed as wall units.
In love with the vintage look? A mix-and-match style is the perfect opportunity to introduce characterful retro buys into your kitchen while still being practical. Use more conventional carcasses with doors or drawer fronts for your bases, then shop around for interesting old cabinets that can be repurposed as wall units.
Mix blue with natural finishes
Bold blues look fresh on kitchen units, and go well with natural woods. In this spacious kitchen, the breezy island and bank of blue cabinets make the perfect partner to the pale, natural-hued wood units, dresser and breakfast bar.
Bold blues look fresh on kitchen units, and go well with natural woods. In this spacious kitchen, the breezy island and bank of blue cabinets make the perfect partner to the pale, natural-hued wood units, dresser and breakfast bar.
Reach up high
If you have high ceilings and want to maximise your storage, two banks of matching units could look too samey. In this tall, contemporary space, the minimal cabinets in biscuit brown are the perfect foil to the sleek white units below, and add a softness and warmth to the scheme.
Don’t assume your fittings have to match, either. While the blank frontage of these wall units is clean and modern, the handles on the cabinets below provide a more practical everyday solution.
Be inspired by a kitchen with supersized storage
If you have high ceilings and want to maximise your storage, two banks of matching units could look too samey. In this tall, contemporary space, the minimal cabinets in biscuit brown are the perfect foil to the sleek white units below, and add a softness and warmth to the scheme.
Don’t assume your fittings have to match, either. While the blank frontage of these wall units is clean and modern, the handles on the cabinets below provide a more practical everyday solution.
Be inspired by a kitchen with supersized storage
Combine white with grey
If you want a fail-safe modern combination, grey base units with white wall units look stunning, as this utility-chic kitchen demonstrates. Here, the cabinets are in the same style, so the look is unified and simple.
Using the darker shade lower down means the white cupboards blend into the wall, while the grey ones subtly merge with the silver appliances.
If you want a fail-safe modern combination, grey base units with white wall units look stunning, as this utility-chic kitchen demonstrates. Here, the cabinets are in the same style, so the look is unified and simple.
Using the darker shade lower down means the white cupboards blend into the wall, while the grey ones subtly merge with the silver appliances.
Let your island be the focus
One simple way to do the mix-and-match look is to choose an island that stands out from your other cabinets. The crimson island is the clear focus in this neutral country scheme, adding cheerful colour and attitude. Accents of red in the curtains, splashback and accessories help to subtly tie it all together.
One simple way to do the mix-and-match look is to choose an island that stands out from your other cabinets. The crimson island is the clear focus in this neutral country scheme, adding cheerful colour and attitude. Accents of red in the curtains, splashback and accessories help to subtly tie it all together.
Rock a glass-fronted unit
Glass-doored cabinets on walls work brilliantly as a mix-and-match option – here, combined with traditional wooden base units, they add a relaxed, eclectic feel. Save your prettier glassware and crockery for the display cabinets, and use your base units to store more workaday gadgets, saucepans and tupperware.
Glass-doored cabinets on walls work brilliantly as a mix-and-match option – here, combined with traditional wooden base units, they add a relaxed, eclectic feel. Save your prettier glassware and crockery for the display cabinets, and use your base units to store more workaday gadgets, saucepans and tupperware.
Link block colours
To soften the look of mix-and-match cupboards, you can use wall tiles (or even a pretty tray or painting propped on a shelf) to unify your colour scheme. Here, the decorative tiles link the blue base units and white wall cupboards. If you want to avoid a strict two-tone look, incorporate a third hue and accessorise around it.
To soften the look of mix-and-match cupboards, you can use wall tiles (or even a pretty tray or painting propped on a shelf) to unify your colour scheme. Here, the decorative tiles link the blue base units and white wall cupboards. If you want to avoid a strict two-tone look, incorporate a third hue and accessorise around it.
Take it to the top
In this slick, modern kitchen, the owners have reversed the idea of hanging white units high up and have instead gone for glossy pink wall cabinets. The white base units work low down in this scheme as the pink next to the orangey tones of the wood floor might have been too clashy. Extending the pink below the oven and around the fridge helps to ‘ground’ the effect.
Considering a pink kitchen? See 10 reasons why you should go for it
TELL US…
Do you have a two-tone kitchen? Share your advice in the Comments below.
In this slick, modern kitchen, the owners have reversed the idea of hanging white units high up and have instead gone for glossy pink wall cabinets. The white base units work low down in this scheme as the pink next to the orangey tones of the wood floor might have been too clashy. Extending the pink below the oven and around the fridge helps to ‘ground’ the effect.
Considering a pink kitchen? See 10 reasons why you should go for it
TELL US…
Do you have a two-tone kitchen? Share your advice in the Comments below.
In this charming, folksy kitchen, the sleek, deep-grey, glossy base units look lovely contrasted with the warm – and on-trend – plywood wall cabinets. If some of your units are looking tired, consider replacing the door and drawer fronts with ply. Unless you’re very handy with a saw, employ a good joiner for a professional finish.
The patterned floor tiles are another way to feed into the eclectic mix-and-match look, while the inset open shelving under the wall unit is a tidy way to contain the items you want on show.
Fancy using plywood? Discover how to tap into the trend