A modern kitchen with white shaker cabinets and dark hardwood floors.

Do Floors and Cabinets Have to Match? Tips from Interior Designers

June 17th 2025

One of the most common design dilemmas homeowners face is this: Should my floors match my cabinets? Whether you’re updating your kitchen, remodeling a bathroom, or building a new home, getting this combo right can dramatically affect the overall look and feel of your space.

But here’s the truth — floors and cabinets don’t have to match. In fact, many designers recommend contrast to create depth, character, and visual balance. The trick is learning how to coordinate them in a way that feels intentional and polished.

Let’s walk through how to choose flooring and cabinet combinations that work — even if they don’t match perfectly.

First: What Does “Match” Really Mean?

When people ask whether floors and cabinets should “match,” they usually mean:

Should they be the same color or wood tone?
Should they be similar materials?
Will it look weird if they contrast?

The answer is: not only is it OK for them to be different — it often looks better when they are. Matching too closely can make a room feel flat or overly monochromatic.

Use Contrast to Create Visual Interest

Interior designers often recommend creating contrast between your cabinets and floors to help define the space. That might mean pairing:

Light cabinets with medium or dark floors
Dark cabinets with light floors
Textured cabinets with smooth floors, or vice versa

Contrast brings dimension. Just like layering textures and tones in your outfit, mixing tones in your home creates a more dynamic and sophisticated look.

How to Coordinate Cabinets and Flooring (Without Matching)

Here are professional design tips to help you pair cabinets and floors that complement — not copy — each other:

1. Work Within the Same Color Family

Choose tones that live in the same warm or cool color family. For example:

Warm oak floors with creamy beige or honey-colored cabinets
Cool-toned gray floors with navy or slate cabinets

This helps everything feel coordinated, even if the colors are different.

2. Use Undertones to Guide You

Pay attention to the undertones in both your flooring and your cabinetry. Is your floor more golden or red? Does your cabinet paint lean toward blue or green?

Pair warm with warm and cool with cool to avoid clashes.

3. Create Balance with a Third Neutral

If your cabinets and floors are very different, bring them together with a neutral countertop, wall color, or backsplash.

Example: Light floors + dark cabinets + soft white walls = cohesive design.

4. Vary the Texture or Finish

Even if you use the same color family, adding variety in texture or sheen can elevate the look.

Glossy cabinets with matte floors
Rough-hewn wood floors with smooth shaker cabinets

Texture contrast adds depth and keeps things visually interesting.

5. Stick to Two Dominant Tones

To keep your space from feeling chaotic, limit your palette to two main tones — one for floors and one for cabinets — and use everything else to support or neutralize them.

Tip: Let one tone lead, and make the other a complement rather than a competitor.

Popular Pairings That Work (And Why)

✔️ Light Wood Floors + White or Sage Cabinets

Airy and fresh. A favorite for farmhouse or Scandinavian styles. Add warmth with brass hardware.

✔️ Rich Espresso Floors + White Shaker Cabinets

Classic contrast. Great for traditional or transitional kitchens. Balanced with a neutral backsplash.

✔️ Gray Floors + Navy Cabinets

Modern and moody. Sleek and sophisticated when paired with brushed nickel or matte black fixtures.

✔️ Honey Oak Cabinets + Warm Beige Floors

Works well in retro-inspired or cozy traditional spaces. Add white walls to prevent it from feeling too warm.

When Matching Works

Matching can work well in small spaces where you want to create a sense of unity. Using similar tones throughout can make a room feel more open and cohesive.

Examples:

Studio apartments
Small galley kitchens
Bathrooms where floor space is limited

Just remember to add visual breaks with hardware, lighting, or wall color so the space doesn’t feel flat.

Should the Floor Be Lighter or Darker Than Cabinets?

This is another common question — and while there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, here are some general guidelines:

Lighter floors can make the space feel open, modern, and clean. They’re great for dark or bold cabinets.
Darker floors feel rich and grounded, especially when paired with light cabinets and lots of natural light.

If you’re working with a smaller kitchen or limited sunlight, light floors may help the space feel less cramped.

Final Thoughts: Choose What Works for You

At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong answer. It’s all about balance, tone, and how the materials interact with each other — and with your home’s lighting and layout.

Our expert team at Walk The Plank Flooring can help you visualize flooring samples against your existing cabinets or help you coordinate both during a renovation. We’ve helped hundreds of DFW homeowners create gorgeous, functional spaces — and we’d love to help you too.