How To Style Navy Blue Kitchen Cabinets For A Luxurious Look

Navy blue as a kitchen cabinet shade has been on the rise in the past few years, cropping up in a variety of kitchen styles from modern farmhouse to minimalist contemporary-driven spaces. The allure?  Navy blue is both trendy and classic at the same time, making it a perfect way to add a pop of color to your kitchen. Blue, one of the most popular choices for kitchens, is calming wherever you use it and great for a room you spend considerable time in. You can skew navy any way design-wise you like, from the simplicity of classic Shaker-style cabinets or more elaborately streamlined cabinets perfect for a chic modern style kitchen. However, to get that luxurious look, consider accompanying elements like counters, hardware, backsplashes, flooring, and accessories to make this dynamic color elevate your kitchen no matter your style. 

While navy cabinets may not be right for every kitchen space, there are many ways to incorporate the color. The size of your space and lighting in your kitchen matters as well. Many design sites recommend avoiding too many deeper, darker shades in small spaces, but other advice from experts often say otherwise. Even rooms with limited light can also make darker shades work by carefully layering your lighting and choosing standout fixtures in shades of brass and copper that complement the navy hue. For a larger kitchen, with lots of natural light, deep blues can be a beautiful room to make the room feel cozier and cohesive. 

In addition to space and lighting, the textures and colors you use around navy cabinets will have a big impact on making the dark blue work to get the look you want. Texture is important in everything from backsplash materials, appliance finishes, flooring, and countertops. To create a feeling of luxury, focus on materials like white or light marble, which can contrast dark colors while brightening up a room. Iridescent materials, like colorful glass tile or pearlescent zellige tile, can reflect light and take away some of the heaviness that accompanies dark cabinets. Natural wood is also a material that looks amazing with shades of navy, whether you use it on the counters, wall paneling, or on the floors. 

Hardware can be one of the best ways to define your aesthetic, with a number of finishes like brass, gold, silver and copper looking great with navy. For modern spaces, opt for silver and brushed brass. For older antiqued style, look for antiqued and richly painted metals. To get a more natural feel in your kitchen, add lots of organic texture, be it woven mats, baskets, rugs, or lots of plants and greenery in rustic pots. As for other colors, many shades complement navy, like yellow, orange, pink, and even shades of blue that are saturated, muted-gray, and warm toned. White and classic navy can have a contemporary or nautical look, while gray and navy can have a sleek industrial vibe. Brown and navy can be much warmer, as can a cream and navy kitchen.