Cabinet painting is just one of many ways to transform a room like a kitchen or bathroom without committing to an entire redesign. That said, one of the most common surprises homeowners encounter during a cabinet painting project is just how much lighting and undertones can transform the exact same paint color. But understanding how these two factors work together can help you make a more confident, informed choice. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.
What Are Undertones and Why Do They Matter?
Every paint color has an undertone, which is a subtle hue beneath the surface color that becomes more noticeable depending on the light around it. For example, a “greige” cabinet, which is the combination of gray and beige, might have green, purple, or blue undertones that aren’t obvious until it’s been painted on your cabinets. Generally speaking, warm colors often have undertones that are orange, red, or yellow, while cool colors have undertones like green, blue, or purple.
How Does Natural Light Change Cabinet Color?
The direction your kitchen or bathroom windows face also plays a big role in how your cabinet color appears. North-facing rooms tend to receive cooler, bluish light, which can make warm paint colors look muted. On the other hand, south-facing rooms receive warm, bright light most of the day, which can strengthen undertones and make colors appear richer or more saturated. East- and west-facing rooms tend to shift throughout the day, appearing warmer in the morning or evening and cooler at midday.
Natural light isn’t the only factor to consider; artificial lighting matters, too. Warm-toned bulbs (often labeled “soft white”) tend to enhance yellow and orange undertones, while cool-toned LED bulbs can bring out blue or gray undertones.
Why It’s Wise to Test Before Painting
Since undertones can also clash with your countertops, backsplash, appliances, or flooring, testing a color and seeing how light impacts it is incredibly important before committing. Use paint samples and observe them against your cabinets at different times of the day to get a better understanding of how they’ll look under different lighting. Take pictures if you need to compare them against each other, rather than relying on memory alone.
Lighting and undertones can make a bigger difference than you’d expect when it comes to your cabinet’s final look. Of course, if you’d rather save yourself from the trouble of deciding and testing yourself, a team of trustworthy professionals is more than happy to walk you through it!
About Platinum Painting
Our team here at Platinum Painting has been helping homeowners all around the DFW metroplex since 2008, offering a wide range of exterior and interior painting services for all types of projects, including cabinets. If you have any questions or you’d like to schedule a FREE in-home estimate, feel free to visit us online or reach out by phone for more information.
Tarrant County Telephone: (817) 697-2726.
Dallas/Denton/Collin County Telephone: (817) 993-4095.