Cabinetry is one of the main focal points in any kitchen. The wood used can make or break the whole kitchen design. Therefore, it is vital to carefully consider which wood will help you achieve the style you want. We put together some of our best tips to help you decide which wood will work best for the kitchen of your dreams!

Consider the Whole Room

The first step is to consider the rest of the room. Having an idea of the look and feel you want to achieve helps narrow down your choices. Are you going for an open and airy kitchen? Maybe you want to achieve a cozier and warmer feeling. Or perhaps you want to create a quirky and colorful look. There are no wrong choices here!

Additionally, consider other materials being used. What color and texture are the floors? The counter-tops? What about the walls? You want to choose a wood that will compliment the other tones in the room. Many stores will give you wood samples to take home. Holding these up to the other colors and materials in your kitchen will give you a better idea of what the room will look like when it’s complete.

Decide if You Want to Use Paint

Painting your kitchen cabinets is a sure way to add personality to the room. Whether you’re going for a bright kitchen with white or lighter colored cabinets, a modern grey scheme, or looking to add a bit of color to the design, decide on paint early in the process. Different wood reacts to paint differently. For example, Poplar is often chosen among woodworkers when painting cabinetry. When Poplar is sanded, primed, and painted correctly, it holds up against wear and tear and gives the paint a beautiful finish. Poplar is also relatively affordable compared to other materials. On the other hand, Oak Plywood is very porous. This makes it difficult to achieve a smooth paint finish.

Choose the best tone and texture

Once you’ve decided the overall look you want to achieve and whether to paint or not, consider tone and material. Many wood types are easy to stain or come in a variety of light and dark tones. A general rule of thumb is finding balance. If you have darker counter tops, consider a lighter tone. For example, with light marble countertops, a darker wood could be used without closing up the space.

The grain of the wood should also be considered. If you’re wanting visual uniformity, a wood like Rift Oak might suit you. It has a fine linear grain, which gives it a very consistent color. Contrarily, Knotty Alder has significant grain variation and gives a more rustic look.

The Most Popular Wood Choices

Now that you know what to look for, which woods will actually give you these results? Here’s a list of some of the most popular wood choices for kitchen cabinets!

1 | Maple

Maple is a popular wood choice among designers because it comes in a variety of tones and is relatively easy to work with. It has a fine and smooth grain, which gives a clean finish. This also means it’s easy to stain or paint. Maple can be used to achieve a variety of looks from contemporary to traditional!

2 | Walnut

Walnut is a fantastic choice if you’re looking to make a statement. It’s grain and color tend to vary significantly, giving it a beautiful, natural look. A lighter-toned Walnut will allow these elements to shine, while a darker toned Walnut will give a more subdued, classic look.

3 | Cherry

Cherry is a great choice of wood for anyone looking for darker-toned cabinets. This luxurious wood has a lush grain with the occasional knot, giving it a sophisticated, elegant look. It tends to come in red or reddish brown tones. A simple stain will give this wood a smooth finish, perfect for a timeless kitchen.

4 | Oak

There are over 600 species of oak, which makes it a versatile choice for any wood-working project. Oak has long been a popular choice for cabinetry. Strong and durable, oak can withstand wear and tear. The grain tends to be very coarse and uneven. Additionally, oak is usually lighter in tone, making it easy to stain. This wood is used to achieve a variety of styles.

5 | Alder

Alder is a softer hardwood with a straight grain. Because of this, Alder achieves a rustic or rustic-modern look. It also blends well with bolder woods like cherry or walnut. Alder is light in color when first cut, so it’s easy to stain. It’s also readily available, often making it a cost-effective choice!

Consider Working With an Expert

There is a lot to consider when choosing the best wood for your kitchen cabinets. You may not have the time or the skill to select the ideal wood for your project. If you work with a professional interior designer, you can share your preferences and let the expert narrow down the best choices for you.

At Kelley Astore Interiors, we have over 25 years of experience creating beautiful homes and custom cabinetry for our clients across Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and the Greater Washington Area. We will work with you every step of the way and do everything we can to ensure your kitchen is exactly what you dream of. Head to our services page to see how we can help you!

Whether you’re a first time buyer looking to turn your new house into a home or you’re in need of some change, picking the perfect paint color can be a daunting and stressful task. That’s why we’ve put together all the best tips from designers throughout the world to help you choose the perfect paint color for your home or office!

Stay True to Yourself

The first and most important step is to remember that you’ll be the one spending the most time with the new paint. The color has to be something that fits your preferences or personality. Don’t feel pressure to keep up trends or choose a color in an attempt to fit others’ expectations. At the end of the day, all that matters is whether you really enjoy the color.

Start with Inspiration

Discovering what inspires you is a good place to start. There are a lot of free tools available to help you create inspiration boards. Find images of rooms, objects, or art that inspire you or that reflect your personal taste. Pinterest is a great tool for creating digital mood boards! Notice the way the colors work together.

Next, decide whether you want the wall color to be a bold statement, or if you want the furniture, artwork, or accent features to capture attention. As an example, consider your livingroom sofa. What color and texture is the fabric? Is it a warmer tone or a cooler tone? Starting with the elements in the room will help ensure that the wall color compliments rather than detracts from their beauty.

Also, take note of any colors in the room that will remain consistent. What color are the floors? Will you also be painting the ceiling? These are all important factors to consider when picking the perfect paint color.

Understand Paint Strips

Collecting dozens of paint chips from the store can be overwhelming. Understanding how these are made will help you select the best colors. The darkest color in the paint chip is the truest color and will help you determine the actual tone of the paint. This is true, even if you go with a lighter shade.

Start by sorting the color samples based on what inspires what doesn’t. Anything that doesn’t seem appropriate can go in the recycling bin. Consider one strip at a time. Hold it up to any fabrics or art pieces in the room. Try sorting the strips into categories of warmer tones and cooler tones. This can help you decide if you want a warm or cool paint color. Continue ruling out options until you are left with the best candidates.

Invest in Testers

Most paint stores will provide a small sample of paint for a couple of dollars. Don’t be afraid to invest in these. Painting a wall section is the best way to judge the color. The size room and available lighting will affect the way the color appears.

Consider the painted sections for at least a week. Notice how the color looks in natural and artificial light. You could like the color during the day with more natural light, but less so with artificial light at night. Try testing different light bulbs to see how that affects the color.

A slower, more methodical approach can result in higher satisfaction with your chosen paint color. However, keep in mind, left over paint can be used for art projects or accent colors!

Remember Nothing is Permanent

If you do end up dissatisfied, you can always repaint. The wonderful thing about painting a room is you can always try a different color. Be kind to yourself during this process. Remember that nothing is permanent. Your perfect paint color may evolve over time. You can always reconsider the choice and decide to select a different color a few years later.

Consider the Expertise of an Interior Designer

If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, don’t be discouraged! Interior Designers spend decades perfecting their craft. Getting expert advice is always helpful. Interior designers are eager to assist in finding your perfect paint color, but also to help you create your ideal home.

At Kelley Astore Interiors, we’ve been helping people design their homes for over 25 years, providing full-range interior design and remodeling services for Northern Virginia, Washington D.C. and Maryland. Head to our services page to see how we could help you today.