What Color Complements Maple Cabinets?

Maple cabinets are a great choice for both contemporary and traditional kitchen designs. Because of its soft grain and durability, maple tops the list of popular natural woods to use for cabinets. Choosing what wall color complements maple cabinets is important as this will ultimately affect the overall look of your kitchen.

The best color to accentuate the reddish-brown hue of maple is green–particularly grayish-green or sage. Other complementary colors are yellow, taupe, teal, and light blue. It is important to choose a complementary color to enhance the look of your maple cabinets. Experimenting with these different color options will help you find the perfect match for your maple cabinets.

The warm shade of maple cabinets is sure to become the dominant color of any kitchen. The combination of the cabinets and the wall colors will create the basic color scheme of the kitchen.

If you want to create a simple, sophisticated look you cannot go wrong with selecting a neutral color. Using neutrals in design allow you some versatility while maintaining a classic look. The best neutral colors to pair with maple cabinets are taupe, cream, or off-white.

Likewise, pure white is a simple yet refreshing look for a maple wood kitchen. Overall, any of these neutral shades alongside maple will offer an airy yet cozy feel to your kitchen.

Another advantage to picking a neutral tone is that it will be easy to accentuate the look by including colorful decor and appliances. If you’re drawn to neutral-colored walls but still yearn for a pop of color, consider investing in eye-catching curtains or wall trim.

Maple cabinets can range from shades of brown to red to gray. While the slight variation in hue may seem inconsequential, it can nevertheless impact the look of the accentuating wall color.

You should determine if your maple cabinets have a yellow or a blue base. This information will help you pick out the ideal palette.

For example, a lighter, sunnier color complements maple cabinets with a yellow base. On the other hand, contrasting colors, like blues and greens, best accentuate blue-based cabinets.

A vital first step in the painting process is to first apply primer. Primer is the basic first layer of paint that ensures you will have a smooth, even paint job.

Unless the paint you are using is a paint-primer combination, you should prime before painting. This is especially true if the wall you are painting is porous as it can absorb moisture, oil, and odors.

Once you have decided on the color, you should begin considering which kind of high-quality paint you will use. There are many paint options and it is important to pick one that will help you achieve the best results. A high-quality paint will meet the following criteria:

Oil-based and water-based (also known as latex) paints are the two types most recommended for indoor use. The main difference between the two is that you clean oil-based paints with solvents and water-based paints with soap and water.

Oil-based paints were once considered the go-to for residential use as they were more durable. However, it was discovered that they released a toxic organic compound into the air when dry. Fortunately, water-based latex paints have become far more durable and is comparable in permanence.

Another quality that puts water-based paints in favor is the smell. They typically have less of an odor as they are applied and while they dry.

Related Questions

Are maple cabinets out of style?

Maple cabinets reached peak popularity in the 90s yet are far from going out of style or appearing outdated. Maple wood kitchens have a timeless look and offer versatile themes and aesthetics. There are many ways to upgrade maple wood kitchens to your liking, whether it be a traditional or modern look. These upgrades include repainting your kitchen, investing in new appliances, or refinishing the cabinets. 

How do I modernize my maple cabinets?

Other than painting the walls, there are other ways you can give your maple cabinets an updated appearance. 

A common complaint of homeowners with maple cabinets is that, over time, they fade and take on a yellowish hue. This is common when natural wood is exposed to sunlight for long periods of time.

Unfortunately, it’s also common for wood to turn brittle after being treated with harsh, oil-based finishes. Oil-based finishes can cause the wood to break down over time and take on a dull, yellowish hue.

Fortunately, there are simple ways to prevent this common affliction without breaking the bank. Many homeowners swear by applying a colorless, water-based acrylic as a finisher on maple cabinets. Water-based acrylics are easy to apply and do not yellow over time.

Other highly-recommended finishes that do not yellow over time include: