Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and if you’re considering a kitchen remodel it’s important to plan it carefully. The choices you make now will likely stick with you for years to come and could become a daily annoyance just as easily as a source of pleasure.

Whether you’re starting out on a full remodel or just sprucing your kitchen up a little, one of the biggest choices to make is which color of cabinets to install. Here’s what to consider.

White Cabinets

White is a classic color that stays firmly outside fashion, providing a timeless appeal. When it’s freshly painted, it gives your kitchen a bright, clean look which increases the sense of space. The downside is that a white finish can be difficult to keep clean, and any staining will quickly make your kitchen look shabby. What’s more, an all-white kitchen gives a clinical appearance that can make the room seem cold and unwelcoming.

Cream

Cream provides many of the benefits of white, but with fewer discouraging drawbacks. It creates a sense of space and brightness, while at the same time being more forgiving of minor stains, discolorations, and fingerprints. However, a cream finish will soon start to darken, even turning yellowish, and within a few years can start to look grubby and poorly maintained.

Black

Black cabinets give a strong impression of luxury and are sure to make a dramatic impact. However, they’ll quickly feel oppressive unless the kitchen is spacious and well lit. Black cabinets can also be difficult to clean effectively, as any smears of soap or grease left behind will be highly visible.

Gray

Gray offers an understated style while being relatively easy to keep clean. It pairs up well with stainless steel appliances and utensils, giving a sleek and modern look. But as with black, think carefully whether your kitchen is large and airy enough to carry off gray cabinets without feeling oppressive.

Natural Wood or Wood Effect

Natural wood or wood-effect laminate gives a classic look that’s an ideal basis for a rustic kitchen style. Both materials are good at hiding scuffs and scratches, and the wide range of stains and finishes available means it’s easy to balance character with brightness. However, natural wood can be expensive, and the less costly laminate option can often look artificial unless you buy at the higher end.

Bolder Colors

Lastly, you may be tempted to make your kitchen more impressive and individual by using a bolder color such as red or blue. There’s nothing wrong with this, but try and temper strong colors with areas of more neutral white or gray, or the effect can become overpowering and uncomfortable.

It’s worth bearing in mind that unusual colors in a kitchen will put a lot of potential buyers off, and could make it harder to sell your home in the future.

Whichever color you choose, remember that the effect will be more pleasing and last longer if you invest in high-quality cabinets. Don’t be tempted to treat your cabinets as less important than your appliances and work surfaces, using them as a way to save on remodeling costs. Your cabinets are vital to your kitchen’s look and feel, so it’s vital not to skimp when choosing them.