Should Kitchen Countertops Match My Floor?

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If you're in the middle of a kitchen remodel, you might be struggling with your color palette and the materials for different aspects of the room. What color should your kitchen cabinets be? Should your wood flooring match the cabinets? What material should you use for countertops? 

There are so many questions to ask yourself.

But what about your countertops and your kitchen floor? These are two of the most expensive parts of your kitchen design, so it's essential to make sure that they work together.

In this Kitchen Infinity blog we're going to look at whether you should match your kitchen countertops and flooring!

Do countertops and floors have to match?

A lot of our customers put forth this question when we are remodeling their kitchens: Should kitchen countertops match floor?

Kitchen countertops and floors do not necessarily have to match one another, no.

If your counters and kitchen flooring are the same, the space could start to look very samey unless you throw in some kitchen cabinets of a contrasting color to break up the monotone color scheme.

Generally speaking, your kitchen flooring and countertops should complement one another. This often means that they'll be two different colors that contrast with each other. The level of contrast depends on the design style you're going for:

    • Modern kitchen designs favor high-contrast colors such as dark greys with whites. This can be achieved with contrasting counters and floors OR with monotone counters/floors and contrasting cabinets.
    • Traditional kitchen designs favor low-contrast colors such as beiges and wooden tones that blend into one another for a warm, homely feel.

If you can get your kitchen countertops and floors to complement one another, it makes it easier to remodel in the future without needing to replace them. It could also save you a ton of money – these are expensive things to replace!

Accent colors

Most designs, especially in modern and transitional kitchens, tend to use a 3rd accent color as part of the color scheme. This color is there to add a pop of vibrance into the space while the counters and flooring have more “grounded” colors that give the space its overall mood.

Here's how to think about your kitchen's color scheme:

    1. You need 2 main colors that complement each other. Perhaps it's high-contrast black and white in a modern design, or perhaps it's complementary shades of wood/tile in a more traditional design. You could play around with these 2 main colors in the cabinets, countertops and flooring.
    2. You need a 3rd “accent color” that adds some character to the space, breaks it up, and stops it from looking too clinical. This color should usually be found on pieces of hardware and fixtures, such as hanging lights, food appliances, cabinets handles, faucets, and more.

Accent colors can also be a little more subtle. For instance, metallics are really popular right now. For example, a black-and-white kitchen could use polished brass faucets, cabinet pulls, and door handles to give the space a feeling of opulence without looking too over-the-top. You can explore our gallery of cabinets doors and our solid variety of countertop materials and colors for further inspiration.

kitchen floor and cabinets
Bright White Kitchen by Kitchen Infinity

Should the kitchen floor be darker than the countertops?

There is an article on how to choose a countertop color on our site. You might want your kitchen floor to be darker than the countertops if you're going for a high-contrast modern design. However, there are no concrete rules when it comes to kitchen design.

If you're going for a traditional, homely feel, then avoid contrasting colors. If you're going for a modern, contemporary look, then you might want to consider a dark kitchen floor with lighter countertops.

Ultimately it all depends on the design of the whole kitchen space and how the color scheme uses different elements of the room to come together as one. The cabinets could necessitate darker or lighter flooring and counters depending on their look too, for example.

darker kitchen floor
Image Credit: Kitchen Infinity Photo

 

Should kitchen flooring match the rest of the house?

If your home isn't open-plan (i.e. there are separate, distinct rooms) then there's no real reason to match the kitchen flooring to the flooring in other rooms.

Sure, if you've got wooden flooring in your home, you might want it all to be the same from room to room, but you could use a totally different shade for the wood floor in your kitchen.

The flooring in your kitchen should work for that particular space – you shouldn't usually be concerned about the rest of your home.

Does the kitchen island need to match the counters?

If you are instead interested in kitchen countertop replacement without changing your cabinets, then read more about it on our blog!

You do not need your kitchen island countertop to match the regular counters, though it's usually a good idea. While some designs like granite countertop look great with a contrasting island, some can look disjointed and messy when the island and the counters don't look the same.

It all depends on the design of the space and the feel you're going for!

kitchen island matching countertop
Image Credit: Kitchen Infinity Photo

The Bottom Line

Matching kitchen cabinets, counters, and flooring is tricky business, but it's essential for creating a cohesive space. Hopefully this article has given you some tips for your new design, whatever style you go for. While you are at it, be sure to also check out our pros and cons for countertop edges.

Good luck!

Dino Paccino

Dino Paccino

Dino is a lifelong writer and home improvement specialist. He enjoys bringing cutting-edge information on home renovation and remodeling to Kitchen Infinity.

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