Redoing your cabinets is a great way to give your kitchen or bathroom a facelift. Between choosing the right colors and materials and hoping the new cabinets really bring your room together, though, one thing often gets overlooked: how lighting affects the appearance of your cabinet colors.
Whether it’s natural light coming through windows or the artificial glow from overhead fixtures, your cabinets won’t look the same as the light in the room changes.
Why is this important? The interplay between light and cabinet colors shapes the ambiance and mood in the room. The same room can feel warm and cozy in dim, yellow light but come alive in natural sunlight. Lighting and its effects matter.
How Natural and Artificial Light Affects Your Cabinet Colors
Whether it’s your kitchen or bathroom, every room in your house is bound to get some amount of natural and artificial light. Knowing how both can affect the look of your cabinets will help you choose colors that best suit your personal taste.
1. Natural Lighting
Natural lighting varies throughout the day. Morning light is typically soft and warm, but its intensity and color change as the day progresses. It becomes brighter and more neutral during midday and then takes on a warm, golden hue in the evening. These variations can make the same cabinet colors appear different at different times of the day.
For instance, white cabinets in your kitchen might look crisp and clean in the morning with a perfect sheen. But the same cabinets might radiate a slightly warmer tone as they bask in the evening golden hues.
2. Artificial Lighting
Just like its natural counterpart, artificial lighting also affects your cabinet colors depending on its source and intensity.
There are three types of artificial lights:
- Incandescent Lighting: Known for its warm, yellowish glow, incandescent lighting can make cabinet colors appear warmer, turning your room into a cozy haven. Although incandescent lighting is flattering to most colors, it can sometimes make cooler tones look dull.
- Fluorescent Lighting: Fluorescent lights emit a cooler, bluish light, which can make a room feel brighter. However, it might alter the perception of warmer cabinet hues, giving them a cooler or even slightly subdued look.
Keep this in mind when choosing bathroom or kitchen cabinets colors. If you want to use fluorescent lighting, choosing cream, off–white, or some lighter shades of taupe can give your kitchen a cooler appearance.
- LED Lighting: LED lights are versatile and come in various color temperatures, from warm to cool. They use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Additionally, you can tailor them to complement your cabinet colors, making them suitable for almost any type of kitchen and bathroom.
For example, neutral LED lighting provides a balanced light that is not too warm or too cool. This lighting would be a great option for a kitchen with light gray cabinets. It’s also ideal for modern and minimalist kitchen designs, which often feature a mix of light and dark cabinet colors.
How Light Placement Affects Cabinet Colors and Ambiance
Whether it’s the bathroom or kitchen, your cabinets will also look different based on where the light is coming from. Typically, there are three types of lighting:
1. Overhead Lighting:
Overhead lighting, such as ceiling fixtures, chandeliers, and recessed lights, can brighten an entire room. Overhead lights can cast shadows and highlights on cabinets, affecting their overall appearance. For instance, recessed lights can create a dramatic effect by highlighting the upper part of cabinets while leaving the lower sections in shadow.
2. Under-Cabinet Lighting:
Under-cabinet lights are perfect for workspaces such as kitchen countertops, but they can also enrich the color and detail of cabinets. Under-cabinet lights reduce shadows and highlight the true color of cabinet surfaces. They’re an effective way to make intricate details and finishes “pop.”
3. Accent Lighting:
Accent lighting is perfect for glass-front cabinets or display shelves. This type of lighting is an excellent choice if you want to draw attention to a focal point in your kitchen or bathroom. Accent lighting can help sweeten the visual appeal of a few cabinet colors and textures, such as white, cream, or off-white shaker-style cabinets.
How Lighting Affects Different Cabinet Colors
When choosing cabinet colors, it’s better to understand how each type of color reacts to light.
1. Light Cabinets
- White and Off-White: Light-colored cabinets can reflect light, making a room feel larger and brighter. Natural light enhances their crispness, while warm artificial light adds a cozy glow. If you have a small kitchen or bathroom, off-white or other light colors can make it look bigger and brighter in the daylight.
- Light Gray and Beige: These neutral tones are versatile and adapt well to different lighting conditions. Natural lighting highlights their subtle undertones, while artificial light brings out their warmth or coolness.
2. Dark Cabinets
- Dark Gray and Black: Dark cabinets create a dramatic and sophisticated look and are a preferred choice for modern kitchens and bathrooms. These cabinet colors also absorb light, making them appear more intense. Whether it’s a kitchen or bathroom, your room will need proper lighting to prevent these cabinets from looking too heavy or dark.
- Deep Blue and Green: A staple in home interiors, these rich colors can add depth and character to a room. While natural lighting adds to their vibrancy, artificial lighting often creates a subdued, elegant effect, depending on temperature and source.
3. Natural Wood Cabinets
- Light Wood Tones: Light wood tones are a good choice for kitchen cabinets as the natural light highlights their grain and texture, radiating their organic beauty. On the other hand, artificial lighting can bring out their warmth and make the space feel more inviting.
- Dark Wood Tones: Dark wood cabinets have a luxurious feel, but they need proper lighting to highlight their richness and prevent them from appearing too dark. You can also use accent lighting to display their natural variations and patterns effectively.
3 Practical Tips for Choosing Cabinet Colors Based on Lighting
If you have been to a display room, don’t make your decision based solely on how the cabinets look under the display room’s lighting. Instead, we recommend these following steps when selecting cabinet colors.
Test Cabinet Samples:
Whether you are getting custom cabinets for the kitchen or bathroom, test how the cabinet color(s) look under natural and artificial lighting. Pick a color that perfectly matches the look and ambiance you aimed for.
Orientation of Your Room:
The interplay between natural light and cabinet colors can bring your kitchen or bathroom to life. Typically, a north-facing kitchen or bath may get cooler, more consistent light, while south-facing rooms might have warmer, more intense light.
Light colors will be washed out, while dark colors like deep blue will look brighter in a south-facing kitchen or bathroom. It will be the exact opposite in a north-facing room, where dark colors will look darker and light paint will have a dimmer appearance.
If your kitchen or bath is on the west side, it will receive shadows in the morning and warm sunlight in the evenings. However, an east-facing room will brighten up before noon but cool down in the evenings.
Balance Your Lighting:
Considering natural light alone isn’t enough. You will need to combine it with artificial lighting to create a balanced and harmonious look. We recommend using a mix of overhead, under-cabinet, and accent lighting to create layers of light that can bring the whole room, be it kitchen or bathroom, together.
It’s a lot to consider, which is why consulting professionals like the team at Holland’s Custom Cabinets can help. Our experts will help you pick the right cabinet materials, finishes, and colors that perfectly fit your kitchen or bathroom design.
Choose Your Cabinet Colors
When planning your kitchen or bathroom remodel, balancing natural and artificial lighting with your cabinet colors can help you create the desired ambiance in your room. Remember to test your color choices under different lighting conditions to get the best fit. This can help you choose colors that complement your room and bring out its personality.
Holland’s Custom Cabinets can help you choose the right color for your cabinets. Our custom cabinetry solutions are designed to help you with everything from layout to installation. Drop by our showroom or contact us now to discuss your remodel.
