If you’re in the middle of remodeling your kitchen or bathroom right now, you know very well that it’s an exciting experience. But there are a lot of choices to be made, and sometimes you might not feel equipped to make them.

The trick is to take the process one step at a time. Start by choosing the material of your kitchen countertops or bathroom countertops, because there isn’t a better baseline than that.

Your countertops are the centerpiece of the room; they’re where eyes fall first. Instead of thinking “What are the best countertops for my backsplash?” you’ve got to think “What is the best backsplash for my countertops?”

Pairing Your Countertops and Backsplash

It can be daunting to match your countertops with your backsplash. After all, “matching” can mean a few things. You can use the same material for your countertop and your backsplash, or you might choose complementary colors.

The main advantage of choosing the same material for your countertop and your backsplash is the fact that you can highlight the material you’re using. If you found something you really love, this is a great way to show it off. With a seamless transition from the countertop to the backsplash, you can also make a small room seem bigger.

Whether you’re leaning toward an exact match or something complementary, we stick by our recommendation that you should always choose the countertop material first—that way, you’ll be able to accurately choose elements that support your kitchen countertops or bathroom countertops.

If you’d rather choose a complementary match for your countertops and backsplash, you’ve got plenty of advantages there too. In this instance, you have a chance to play with color—while many people stay on the safe side and choose gray or black, that’s not a requirement.

Pick out colors on the surface of your countertop and use the backsplash to emphasize them. Or if your countertop is on the plain side, you can bring out its personality by choosing a backsplash that makes a statement.

Thinking about Patterns

Patterns are a great way to add visual interest to your kitchen or bathroom—just make sure to use them correctly. That is, don’t overuse them!

If your countertop is expressive with a lot of personality, choosing a busy tile pattern could overwhelm your space and counteract the stylish vibe you were shooting for. In order to take advantage of patterns the right way, allow one element to be the focus and that’s it. Everything else should be toned down.

Visual Interest

All-white kitchens and bathrooms are on-trend right now and have been for a while, and we totally support this matching countertop and backsplash style choice. But here at True Blue Surfaces, we also think that these all-white rooms need a bit of visual interest (that is, contrast) to keep the room from becoming bland or devoid of personality.

Use color in order to make this happen (think of choosing a few kitchen or bathroom appliances in interesting shades) or texture.

Another way to jazz up your monochromatic palette is to turn to the shine factor. Shine adds dimension, and as it uses reflective materials, it ramps up the visual interest of a space. You can use glass or metallic tiles in small doses in order to bring the room to life in a modern way.

Cabinets, flooring, wall color, hardware, and fixtures are also great ways to increase the visual interest of your space. In order to make the room warm and inviting, you’ve got to utilize all of its elements, because they all play important roles.

The Big Picture

It’s not always easy to see the big picture when you’re designing your room or bathroom, and it can be difficult to know whether you’re making the right decision. To get help with this tough concept, contact the experts at True Blue Surfaces today.

There are so many different ways for your kitchen countertops and cabinets to complement one another, and one of our favorite partnerships is granite countertops with wooden cabinets.

In this article, we’ve included some tips to keep in mind as you move throughout the process of finding granite countertops and wooden cabinets to go with them—because, yes, the two do look very good together!

White Cabinets

So many people love cabinets in white. They love the clean crispness that white wooden cabinets bring to a room, and they also love the neutral palette that white cabinets are known for—which leaves the countertop decision much more open.

When it comes to white cabinets, here’s what you’ll want to lean toward:

Warm and light:

Warm-toned countertops paired with white wooden cabinets brings about a traditional feel for your kitchen. It’s elegant and neutral, choosing warm tones of light-colored granite.
If you’re interested in a more modern look and your white cabinets are on the cooler side, consider a darker countertop.

Dark countertops

Dark countertops provide interesting contrast with white cabinets, and this look can definitely help a kitchen feel modern. Using a granite slab with blue hues or dark brown swirls will bring about a contemporary aesthetic.

Oak Wood Cabinets

Given the right environment, oak wood cabinets can really shine. They might not be the trendiest choice anymore, but we promise there are still plenty of ways to make them look great. They’re classic, and if you pair them with recent design trends, you’ll be surprised at how you can update the room.

If you have oak wood cabinets, try the following:

Gray tones

Warm shades of light gray granite can create a contemporary aesthetic. To complement your oak cabinets, you’ll want to pick slabs that have rose, rust, or other such brown shades in them.

Black and dark tones

Black granite with gold tones looks great with oak wood cabinets. But if you’re looking for something more traditional, check out dark granite with brown and black undertones to pair with your oak.

Cherry Wood Cabinets

There’s plenty of choices if you’re working with cherry wood cabinets. But before you make any decisions, make sure to look at the amount of red in your cherry cabinets—that way you’ll find the right shade of stone.

If you’ve got cherry wood cabinets in your kitchen, consider these options:

Soft brown

This is a great way to put across a neutral feel in the kitchen. A gentle tone of brown granite will complement your cabinets and create a warm feeling.

Dark brown or black

Dark brown or black makes a statement when paired with cherry wood cabinets.

White or light gray

If your cherry wood cabinets are very dark, consider pairing white or gray granite with them in order to create a contemporary vibe. This creates a cool contrast in the room and freshens up the space in a unique manner.

Cream or light beige

This is the color granite to go for if you’re a fan of the farmhouse chic style.

Should You Match Your Countertops to Your Backsplash? Consider These Advantages