Tuxedo cabinets are among the hottest of the hot trends in kitchen design right now, although they’re not all that new technically. In case the term is new to you, we explain tuxedo cabinets below along with a few reasons why you might want to choose this new kitchen design approach…

Tuxedo cabinets explained

Tuxedo cabinets are two tone kitchen cabinets, meaning the floor cabinets are one color or shade and the upper wall cabinets are another. Although the name makes it sound like the cabinets are black and white, tuxedo cabinets can be any combination of light and dark. You could have dark gray cabinets below and light gray cabinets above, for example.

Nor does the darker color have to be on the lower cabinets, although that’s usually the case. The lighter cabinets can be below with the darker ones above.

Are tuxedo cabinets right for your new kitchen?

Tuxedo cabinets are incredibly popular right now for a variety of reasons. Do any of these reasons appeal to you and your vision of your dream kitchen?

• Tuxedo cabinets have the effect of making the cabinets look more like furniture, as the upper cabinets blend into the wall more if painted the same color while the lower cabinets stand out more if they’re darker.
• Tuxedo cabinets can make a short kitchen seem taller when the lighter color is above, or shorter when the darker color is above.
• Tuxedo cabinets can create a focal point, because our eyes are drawn to what stands out, and you choose what that is. It might be cabinets or a kitchen island or an appliance that you choose, but it’s the contrast that helps you create the focus.
• Tuxedo cabinets break up the monotony of all one color cabinets. And as our homes are open in concept and kitchens are much more of a living space than a utilitarian one, we are much more mindful of design and visual appeal.

Tuxedo cabinets are versatile too

Although you might not think it at first, tuxedo cabinets are extremely versatile. Any number of cabinet door styles will work so you can go more traditional or contemporary, and your color choices and the degree of contrast you choose is also totally up to you. If you’re picturing a starkly modern and sleek black and white kitchen, that’s only if that’s what you want. Tuxedo cabinets are more about creating exactly the look you envision in your dream kitchen than they are about making any kind of design statement. So play with the idea a little and see if it might work for you!