This gorgeous apartment in Sweden (Styled by Emma Fischer and Annica Clarmell, photographed by Alen Cordic, for sale via Nya Kvadrat) with large windows and historical details in the architecture is decorated in a subtle, natural way, with a combination of beige paint in the living room with sage green walls in the bedroom.
The minimal white kitchen with black countertops has storage modules built all around the fridge to optimize an awkward floor plan and the vintage dining table fits with the beige and white color palette.
The dark sage green wall color in the bedroom makes the layered textiles, natural elements above the bed and the black accents stand out in a beautiful way and the white tile bathroom is finished off with contrasting black fixtures.
Beige living room walls paired with white soft furnishings and a TV gallery wall
The beige walls in the living room make the white ceiling and crown molding stand out in the space. The white fabric couch is paired with a white fluffy area rug, a white lounge chair, and a white marble coffee table for a white base palette enhanced with dark brown tones for added contrast.
The combination of the white and beige linen curtains by the living room window warms the daylight coming into the space. On the beige wall, the white artwork is a true focal point as it stands out against the paint color.
The fridge is integrated into a wall of cabinets, allowing for extra storage and a smooth effect.
The vintage dining table is placed on top of a white area rug, paired with beige curtains by the window, resulting in a similar color palette to the one of the living room.
Sage green bedroom walls paired with layers of textiles
The sage green walls in the bedroom give the interior a moody touch, which is enhanced by the dark grey curtains in front of the window. The rattan headboard, wall art, and black wall lamps stand out against this deeper wall color.
The large window next to the bed reflects the adjacent living room and enlarges the space visually.
The beautiful layering of textiles on the bed adds a cozy effect to the bedroom interior, while the black side table adds a beautiful contrasting tone.
The white wardrobe stands out against the dark sage green walls, yet it blends in with the space because of its classic design.
A hallway with greige walls and a tone-on-tone wardrobe
The greige wall color in the hallway also comes back on the doors of the Ikea PAX wardrobe which has been built into the wall, resulting in a tone-on-tone effect.
White subway tiles in the bathroom finished with black fixtures
This spacious turn-of-the-century apartment in Sweden (for sale via Alvhem) features cool grey walls in the dining and living room connected with historic double interior doors. The brown tones in the furniture and soft furnishings add a contrasting warm element to the cool tones in the grey paint on the walls for an interesting effect.
The bedroom has dark green walls which also come back on the wardrobes and the custom headboard for an impressive tone-on-tone effect. The area in front of the window is used for a small home office spot.
The hallway includes an eye-catching sideboard and the bathroom is finished with beautiful brass fixtures.
Cool grey living room walls with a cognac leather couch
The cool grey wall color on the living room walls accentuates the white crown molding underneath the ceiling and the white floorboards. The warm wood herringbone flooring is covered partially with a textured wool rug in the sofa area, and the soft wood tones come back in the coffee tables and the wall shelf as well.
The two black leather lounge chairs add another beautiful touch of contrast to the setting.
The combination of the cognac leather on the sofa, the brown tones in the textiles, art prints, and on the dark oak coffee tables work perfectly against the cool grey wall color in the living room.
The large oak wood wall shelf on the living room wall is great for storing books and combined with the daybed in front of it, it turns this section of the living room into a reading corner.
A dining area with a warm-stained Ikea Ivar cabinet
Through the historic double interior doors, which also stand out against the cool grey wall color, you can walk from the living room into the impressive dining room. The long dining table is paired with dark oak dining chairs and a crisp white linen tablecloth.
On the wall behind the table, you can find an arrangement of Ikea Ivar cabinet painted a warm-toned stain. The cabinet resembles the cognac tone on the leather sofa and stands out against the cool undertones in the wall color.
A small dining area fills the space in front of the balcony window and offers a great spot for a quick dinner or morning coffee. The black dining chairs stand out against the white walls, light beige curtains, and the white kitchen cabinets.
A bedroom with a dark green wall color and a small home office spot
The dark green wall color in the bedroom also comes back on the custom headboard and on the wardrobe module against the wall, resulting in a beautiful tone-on-tone effect that makes the white ceiling stand out in a contrasting way.
The bed is made with a mixture of white, beige, and brown textiles and the two white mushroom lamps on the bedside table seem to jump out from the dark background.
The other side of the room also includes a large wardrobe so the bedroom has more than enough storage opportunity.
The area in front of the large bedroom window is the perfect spot for a home office section.
An entryway with a light grey wall color and a pink sideboard
The light grey walls in the entryway are spruced up by an eye-catching pink sideboard adding a wonderful pop of color in this otherwise modest setting.
A modern bathroom with grey tiles and gold fixtures
The grey tiles on the walls and floor in the bathroom are paired with a white vanity and beautiful brass fixtures for a modern, yet elegant effect.
This tiny attic apartment (Styled by Nouvel Interior, photographed by Alen Cordic, for sale via Entrance Makleri) has dark grey walls paired with a black kitchen for a moody effect in the living space that adds a unique and characterful effect to this interior with a small floor plan.
The living kitchen includes a small sofa section with a white sofa that stands out against the dark grey walls and a round dining table with dark wood dining chairs that add a warm element to the setting. The kitchen itself has black kitchen cabinets paired with a black stone countertop for dramatic effect in the interior.
The bedroom has lighter grey walls, highlighting the abundance of daylight that comes through the skylight in the ceiling.
Dark grey walls make the white couch stand out
The living kitchen includes a sofa area with a white couch, a graphic area rug in off-white, and a white pendant light above the coffee table. The white tones stand out against the dark grey living room walls in a strong and contrasting way that makes this space unique.
By painting both the walls and the ceiling in the same paint color, the different surfaces blend in with each other, and the low ceiling height isn’t that apparent anymore in the space.
A large round mirror on the wall at the entrance of the apartment reflects the living room and makes the space appear bigger.
A small round dining table with warm wood dining chairs
Opposite the sofa area and next to the kitchen, a small round dining table is placed on top of a natural area rug. The warm wood tones in the dining chairs add a beautiful warm tone to the setting, while the tall plant in front of the window adds a fresh element against the dark grey walls.
The gold wall lamp fits the space perfectly and adds another texture to the setting.
A black kitchen with black countertops and black hardware
To further enhance the moody effect of the dark grey walls, the kitchen is fully black. The black kitchen cabinets are paired with black countertops and black hardware for a tone-on-tone look that stands out against the wall color.
The black kitchen aesthetic can also be found back in the black wall shelving and the black range hood above the kitchen counter.
A small vintage bench with a peg rail decorates the kitchen wall and adds a natural touch to the design.
A bedroom with light grey walls and a gallery wall
Even though the ceiling is rather awkward in the attic bedroom, a niche space for the bed allows for a functional bedroom interior. The light grey bedroom walls add a subtle color to the design, which is enhanced by a round mirror and a gallery wall decorating the wall at the end of the bed.
A small entryway corner with an impressive round mirror
A bathroom with white tile walls and black fixtures
The small yet modern bathroom features concrete floor tiles and white tiles on the wall, contrasted by modern black bathroom fixtures in the shower.
This gorgeous turn-of-the-century apartment in Sweden (Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Fredrik J Karlsson, sold via Alvhem) with beautiful wainscoting and historical details is decorated in an elegant way, with a great selection of colors and materials.
The white kitchen with gold hardware features a beautiful floral kitchen wallpaper in the dining area, giving the space a unique and personal look.
The bedroom, which can be reached from the double interior doors in the living room is decorated in a mixture of neutral tones and includes a small home office section with a vintage desk.
Off-white walls and wainscoting in a spacious living room
All the walls in the living room have been finished with elegant wainscoting that complements the historic features of the building nicely. The white fabric couch in front of the window is decorated with a mixture of beige and blue textiles, a color palette that can be observed in the artwork hanging above it as well.
A living room gallery wall connects the dining area to the rest of the space
The living room gallery wall in brown, black, and beige tones connects the dining area with the sofa section. The light oak wood on the bentwood dining chairs pairs nicely with the white-soaped hardwood flooring in the apartment and the end of the area rug indicates the start of a new functional area visually.
A reading corner with open shelving
On the other side of the living room, you can find a comfortable armchair paired with open shelving on the wall and a small side table, resulting in a cozy reading corner. Also here a few pops of blue can be found back in the accessories.
A white kitchen with gold hardware and a wallpaper section
The kitchen features white cabinets finished with gold hardware, a white marble countertop, and a white subway tile backsplash. The floor plan is arranged in a galley kitchen layout, leaving a large space by the balcony window for a small kitchen dining table. This dining section is treated with beautiful floral kitchen wallpaper.
The white subway tile backsplash is finished with black grout that stands in strong contrast with the whimsical pattern on the wallpaper.
The gold hardware is complemented with a gold faucet and the brass rails on the wall are great for hanging small kitchen utensils.
The round dining room table with the white tablecloth and the white curtains stands out against the deep blue and red color palette of the wallpaper in the background.
A bedroom with light grey walls and a modest color palette
The light grey bedroom walls are paired with a mixture of white, beige, and grey textiles on the bed, and a fluffy white area rug at the end of the bed adds a lot of texture to the room. The subtle grey headboard complements the color palette of the room perfectly.
Bedroom home office with a vintage desk
The vintage desk in the corner of the bedroom is perfect to function as a small bedroom home office corner. The section next to the double interior doors is a great spot for this, as it’s not used for a wardrobe or other storage functionality.
Entryway storage made of Ikea modules
The apartment entryway includes an arrangement of Ikea Besta cabinets with a clothes rail attached to it, functioning as a great hallway storage solution.
This beautiful Swedish apartment on two levels (for sale via Alvhem) is flooded with daylight coming through the windows, which gets reflected nicely on the light wall color and the light palette interior color palette.
On the first level, you can find a living room and dining room, with a reading corner utilizing the otherwise lost space underneath the staircase. The entryway includes a custom white mudroom bench that matches the overall light palette of the interior.
The second level includes a large master bedroom with a seating area, a kid’s room, and a niche space with a floating desk that can be used as a home office.
A living room with light grey walls and a custom storage wall
The subtle light grey walls in the living room area paired with two white fabric sofas and the beige and white textured area rug adds so much character to the room. The dark wood legs of the coffee table and the black wall lamp add a bit of contrast to the setting, while the green plants add a fresh touch.
The TV is mounted on the small wall next to the doorway with a floating shelf underneath it for books.
A built-in wardrobe that spreads across the living room wall provides this level with so much storage space. By closing the area above the wardrobe until the ceiling and by placing floorboards on the bottom, the wardrobe looks built-in. Since it has been painted in the same color as the walls, it blends in with the interior.
A dining room with a reading corner underneath the white staircase
The space right next to the living room includes a bright white staircase to go to the master bedroom on the second level. This space makes for a perfect dining room with oak wood dining chairs and a cozy reading corner transforms the otherwise unused space underneath the staircase.
A simple kitchen with greige walls and a small dining area
Even though the kitchen itself looks a bit dated and the new owners will most likely remodel it, the general setting of this room looks stylish and inviting because of the cozy dining room setting by the window.
A large wall shelf placed high up above the dining table is great for holding wine bottles, glasses, and accessories. The shelf gives this section a unique look.
A spacious master bedroom underneath the sloped roof
On the second level, underneath the sloped roof, you can find a master bedroom with a seating area and so much daylight coming in through those rooftop windows. The light color palette present on the first floor also comes back in the master bedroom, with white, beige, and natural tones decorating the space.
The bamboo bench behind the bed is a great decor element and the off-white wool rug offers a soft surface to place your feet on when you get up in the morning. The black bedside tables with green plants add a bit of contrast to this beautiful bedroom section, while the striped headboard adds a beautiful texture.
On the other side of the master bedroom, you can find a seating area with a white couch and a white fluffy area rug. The wood tones in the Wishbone chair and the blanket on the sofa add a beautiful warm element to this setting.
A small wardrobe in the same style as the one in the living room is placed against the bedroom wall.
A home office with a floating desk in a niche spot by the staircase
A niche spot by the staircase includes a floating desk, which makes for a perfect home office spot to get some work done. This area would otherwise not be used for any other functionality anyways. I believe that an awkward rooftop niche can be found behind the curtain, which doesn’t need to be accessed so often but is great for storing items that are not used that often.
A hallway with a custom mudroom bench and a large mirror
The hallway on the first level is fitted with a custom white mudroom bench that includes closed storage drawers on the bottom and an elegant coat rack on top. The custom elements are white, just like the wall so they blend in nicely. The large mirror next to it is great for checking your outfit before you go, yet it also reflects daylight back into the entryway space.
White cabinets with gold hardware are a popular material combination for kitchen designs, as it’s both timeless and elegant. Gold accents tend to stand out from white cabinetry in a powerful way, allowing for a unique kitchen design with a contemporary twist whether you opt for brushed gold hardware, rose gold, brushed nickel, or brass hardware.
While chrome hardware or champagne copper will add a more modern and clean touch to your cabinet doors, and wood accents will add a warm and natural tone, gold hardware adds a bit of both with its warm metallic appearance that is both elegant and sophisticated.
In the comprehensive list below, you will find my favorite white and gold kitchen design ideas. Some with an appealing vintage note, some with a more modern appearance. What they all have in common though is the way they tend to stand out against the white canvas of the bright white cabinets.
A bright white kitchen with white shaker cabinets and traditional gold hardware
The small gold pulls add a beautiful finishing touch to this classic kitchen with white shaker cabinets that cover almost the entire kitchen wall from top to bottom. The white marble on the countertop also comes back in the backsplash, adding another white element to the stylish kitchen.
The gold hardware is matched with a gold faucet and the brass details in the light fixture above the dining table introduce gold finishes in this section of the kitchen as well.
A classic white kitchen with gold accents and a vintage dining table
This is one of my personal favorite white and gold kitchen design ideas. The crisp white kitchen cabinets paired with the white marble countertops are finished off with elegant gold hardware that is matched by the antique brass faucet by the kitchen sink.
The vintage dining table and the mixture of chairs complement the hardwood floor and this combination of different textures adds a lot of character to this all-white kitchen.
On the ceiling, an impressive row of small lighting fixtures allows for functional worktop lighting, while the black wall lamp next to the minimal range hood adds an industrial touch to the mixture of different styles in this beautiful kitchen space.
A contemporary-style white kitchen with integrated gold hardware
This modern and minimal kitchen design features white cabinets and white countertops that reflect the natural light coming in through those historic windows beautifully. The cabinet hardware is integrated inside of the cabinetry, which is a gorgeous design detail highlighted by the brass inlay that also comes back in the material of the faucet.
The cabinet hardware is center-aligned on the kitchen module with the sink, yet on the cabinet doors on the kitchen island, the matte gold hardware is left aligned.
A classic kitchen with white cabinets and subtle gold cabinet hardware
This spacious classic kitchen design pairs shaker-style off-white cabinets with a white farmhouse sink, a white subway tile backsplash, and a classic stove with traditional gold details.
The brass and gold tones in the cabinet hardware and details on the stove also come back in the elegant faucet by the sink in front of the window.
White cabinets paired with open shelving and gold kitchen hardware
This beautiful white and gold kitchen features a wooden countertop for a natural effect that is finished off with gold details in the cabinet hardware and the matching faucet and soap dispenser.
The open shelf above the sink includes a peg rail underneath it that gives the white kitchen a certain farmhouse style that is complemented by the style of the range hood cover. The off-white cabinets appear to have the same color as the wall for an integrated effect.
An elegant and luxurious white kitchen finished with a crystal chandelier
The minimal and modern design of this kitchen with white cabinets is enhanced with the integrated gold hardware and the gold accents in the crystal chandelier. This combination of materials results in a luxurious look and feel that is complemented by the white marble countertops.
The white cabinets are paired with a white dining table and chairs and gold details in the accessories enhance the white and gold look even more.
White and gold on the bottom, paired with contrasting black glass cabinets on the top
Even though the true focal point in this kitchen is the combination of the three black glass cabinets above the unique tile backsplash, the combination of the white cabinets with the subtle gold hardware and the white marble countertop certainly adds an elegant touch to this eye-catching kitchen design.
The lighting fixtures above the sink and by the coffee machine allow for a vintage look and the combination of the different materials makes this kitchen contemporary and eclectic at the same time.
A modern and minimal white and gold kitchen with a floating shelf
My white and gold kitchen was one of my favorite features in my previous apartment here in Munich. The white cabinets came back in a single floating shelf that spread across the kitchen and the brass cabinet hardware and brass faucet finished the look off perfectly.
To match the white and gold kitchen materials, I would work with brass interior details sometimes, to make the look even more apparent, while other times I would use black accents to make the design stronger.
A shaker-style off-white and gold kitchen with small and elegant cabinet hardware
The gorgeous white kitchen cabinets in this turn-of-the-century interior are finished off with an elegant white marble countertop and the most subtle brass hardware that is small in size, yet adds a powerful effect to the kitchen design.
This kitchen could easily be finished off with rose gold hardware as well. The rose gold would bring out the warm tones in the curtains and hardwood flooring and would have a more feminine effect in the elegant space.
White and gold kitchen in traditional shaker style
This beautiful white shaker kitchen is finished off with a white countertop, a classic stove with stainless steel details, a glossy subway tile backsplash, and traditional gold hardware that finishes off this classic design perfectly.
The powerful combination of white and gold comes back in the pendant lighting above the sink and the daylight coming through that kitchen window makes the white kitchen appear even brighter.
White cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and gold accents in a transitional kitchen
The white shaker-style cabinets in this transitional kitchen stand out against the cool tones in the sage green wall color and are enhanced with a stainless steel stove, stainless steel appliances, and delicate antique brass hardware.
The upper glass cabinets keep the kitchen layout light and airy and the white and gold combination also comes back in the pairing of the white countertops with the brass faucet with a matte finish.
A minimal white kitchen with a white backsplash and brushed gold hardware
The expansive white canvas brought on by the simple and minimal white kitchen cabinets, white countertop, and white subway tile backsplash is enhanced with gold handles on the bottom cabinets and round gold cabinet hardware on the upper cabinets.
The white and gold kitchen features a glossy subway tile, which makes the matte gold hardware stand out even more.
Off-white kitchen cabinets paired with antique brass hardware
The beautiful off-white shaker cabinets in this kitchen are finished off with stainless steel appliances, a subway tile backsplash, and traditional yellow gold hardware that finishes off the look of this elegant kitchen design.
The gold of the cabinet hardware also comes back in the gold hanging rail on top of the subway tiles and I love the way the off-white color on the cabinetry stands out against the bright white kitchen countertop.
Minimal white cabinetry enhanced with brass hardware
The simplicity of the minimal white kitchen, white pendant lights, and white walls is enhanced with a brass faucet and brass hardware that transform the kitchen design.
While the brass range hood and stove add contrast on the right side of the kitchen, the antique brass hardware brings the other side of the kitchen together with a muted shine that also comes back in the pendant lighting above the sink.
White shaker kitchen cabinets paired with black countertops and gold hardware
This is one of the most traditional white and gold kitchen ideas on the list, and the gold hardware makes this design shine. While you often see white kitchen cabinets with black countertops paired with black hardware, the bright whites and deep blacks in this laundry room kitchen are paired with elegant touches of gold to add visual interest.
The larger pulls on the top drawers add a farmhouse effect, while the small cabinet pulls on the bottom cabinets underneath the farmhouse sink are more subtle. The hardware is complemented by two brass faucets and wall shelf brackets in the same shade.
The focal point in this beautiful Swedish flat (photographed by Krister Engström, styled by Livindeco, sold via Kvarteret Mäkleri) is definitely the modern light grey kitchen with the custom breakfast nook fitted in between two pantries. The kitchen lies right next to the living room and is connected by an open-plan layout.
The living room features greige walls, a textural area rug, and a TV that’s integrated inside of a beautiful gallery wall, making it a beautiful decor element in the space.
Both the master bedroom and the kid’s room have a delicate wallpaper design that adds an elegant and slightly romantic touch and the hallway hides away a small home office space behind the curtain.
Light grey kitchen cabinets paired with chrome hardware for a modern look
The top half of the wall above the kitchen sink doesn’t have any upper cabinets. Instead, it features a beautiful wooden wall shelf with a peg rail underneath it.
A cozy breakfast nook inside a niche space between two walk-in pantries
The custom breakfast nook on the other side of the kitchen is built in between two pantries and the grey fabric bench is made to fit the space. The wall shelf used above the kitchen sink comes back on the wall in the breakfast nook and displays a beautiful selection of ceramic plates.
The white marble kitchen dining table is narrow to fit the kitchen layout and above it, two classic pendant lights finish off the setting nicely.
The mirror reflects the other side of the kitchen and makes the room appear bigger.
A spacious living room with greige walls and a textural area rug
The living room features greige walls, paired with white and beige textiles, which results in a soft and inviting look. The large textured area rug covers a large portion of the living room flooring and complements the two different couch designs perfectly.
The open-plan layout allows an unobstructed view into the kitchen from the living room.
A TV gallery wall for an impressive effect in the space
A TV is one of the most challenging things to decorate and including it inside of a TV gallery wall is a perfect way to make it blend in.
The TV is surrounded by a selection of art prints in natural colors and on the bottom you can find two wall shelves offering storage space for magazines and a few complementing decor elements.
A delicate pattern wallpaper in the bedroom paired with an impressive headboard
The bedroom wallpaper enhances the look of the interior and adds a delicate touch in combination with the impressive headboard that continues up to the ceiling. The beige and natural color palette of the bedroom textiles and accessories allow for the wallpaper to shine and the black accents offer a lovely contrast.
A floating desk behind a curtain in the hallway
A small home office spot finds its place behind a curtain in the hallway. A floating desk is paired with floating shelves for extra storage space and I love the way the dark stained wood stands out against the grey wall color and the white curtain.
An elegant kids’ room with delicate wallpaper on the walls
This small yet stylish Swedish apartment (styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Henrik Linden, for sale via Alvhem) is decorated with subtle tints of beige, brown, and terracotta. This color palette adds a warm glow to the interior and has a contrasting effect at the same time.
The small kitchen with white cabinets and black countertops has been fitted inside a niche space in the wall, fully utilizing this otherwise lost space.
The bedroom has a minimal, yet cozy appearance with a mainly white color palette enhanced with brown tones in the furniture and art print above the bed.
A living room with white walls enhanced with warm elements
In front of the white living room walls, a beige fabric sofa is placed on top of a white area rug. The mixture of beige and terracotta textiles combined with the dark wood coffee tables and the brown tones in the art prints add a warm glow to this setting, while the black stool and the black table lamp add a beautiful contrast.
The terracotta linen curtains in front of the windows warm up the daylight and spread a warm glow throughout the space.
A round dining table with black bentwood chairs
In between the sofa area and the small kitchen, you can find a small round dining table paired with an elegant white pendant light and black bentwood chairs.
The dining area starts where the rug underneath the sofa ends, allowing for a clear visual separation between the two functional areas.
The two art prints above the dining table match the black and brown color palette that comes back in the dining area as well.
A small kitchen built inside a niche space in the wall
This tiny kitchen has been built inside a small niche space in the wall, which is an efficient way of utilizing this space. An old doorway is used to place the fridge, which otherwise would take up too much space on such a tiny surface.
Lower cabinets are paired with a single upper cabinet and floating kitchen shelves allow for a lighter look in this small kitchen.
Minimal white bedroom with subtle brown tones in the accessories
This bedroom has a minimal appearance, with a cozy effect with white walls, off-white linen curtains, and subtle beige and dusty rose bedding on the bed. The dark wood bedside tables and the brown tones in the artwork above the bed add a few contrasting elements to this otherwise light palette bedroom interior.
A simple white Ikea PAX wardrobe is finished with two blue knobs to add a special touch.
This bright and white Swedish apartment (sold at Stadshem) pairs white walls with white floors that reflect the daylight coming into these historic windows. The kitchen and living room are connected with beautiful double interior doors, allowing for an open-plan layout. The white living room palette is contrasted by a few darker interior elements and a vintage wood desk by the window.
The bedroom is the only room with a darker wall color, which makes the white historic details on the ceiling and the white textiles stand out in a powerful way.
The bedroom, living room, and the kid’s room with an asymmetrical floor plan come out onto the hallway which is fitted with a DIY mudroom bench that provides a creative solution for the storage of shoes and jackets.
A spacious living room with a light palette
The white walls and white floors are paired with a white fabric sofa (it’s the Ikea Soderhamn with a custom Bemz cover*) and a beautiful white and beige chequered area rug that adds a playful effect to the space. The darker textiles and the black leather Eames lounge chair provide the space with a beautiful contrast.
The black tones in the lounge chair come back in the legs of the Gubi Pedrera table, with a glass top, and the green tones in the plants and flowers add a fresh note to the setting.
A simple white kitchen with a spacious dining area
The simple kitchen design has white kitchen cabinets that go all the way up to the ceiling for ample storage space. Since the main kitchen module is located on just one side, the kitchen was planned with both upper and lower cabinets on almost the full length of the wall.
The white kitchen is contrasted with a selection of black and wood dining chairs and a wood dining table, which adds a lot of character to the space. The subtle beige area rug separates the dining area from the kitchen visually.
Rather than placing another upper cabinet right next to the kitchen window, a small open shelf provides a spot for a few kitchen accessories.
The subtle grey wall color in the bedroom makes the white window and door frames stand out in a powerful way. The mixture of textiles on the bed, the wall rug hanging on the wall, and the fabric pendant light provide the bedroom interior with a cozy and inviting look and feel.
The standing mirror right next to the white Ikea PAX wardrobe reflects the beautiful historic fireplace in the bedroom.
Next to the fireplace, an antique side table in dark wood adds a beautiful touch.
Cute kid’s room with an asymmetrical floor plan
The angled floor plan of the kid’s room is decorated with a cute bed and a play area in an inviting brown and beige color palette that matches the interior of the rest of the apartment.
A white hallway with a DIY mudroom bench
The original shiplap storage unite is paired with a modern wall cabinet in light wood.
The DIY mudroom bench allows two spots for hanging jackets and a shelf for placing shoes. The shiplap finish on the sides and back of this entryway storage piece complements the old wardrobe on the other side.
Ditching wall cabinets and going for kitchens without upper cabinets has a minimal and modern effect on a kitchen interior and allows you to work with open shelving in your kitchen remodel to finish off your kitchen walls.
Since you lose the storage space that would otherwise be provided by the wall cabinets a kitchen without upper cabinets is typically easier to achieve in a kitchen space with a bigger floor plan, as you can work with ample lower cabinets to provide you with enough storage opportunity.
In the list below, you can find a selection of my favorite kitchens without upper cabinets in different layouts, floor plans, settings, and color palettes for you to get inspired.
A spacious kitchen without upper cabinets to accentuate room height
In a spacious kitchen with high ceilings, it makes sense to ditch the upper cabinets if you can find a place to store your pots, appliances, and other kitchen items. A low layout will make the space appear even higher and the combination of the three pendant lights in varying height above the dining table accentuate the tall room even more.
The absence of upper cabinets in this beautiful natural wood kitchen makes the space feel larger and the combination with the aesthetically pleasing dining area in different wood tones works well in this kitchen design where the materials themselves are the focal point. The range hood and the beautiful piece of art are the only elements on the wall in this kitchen living space.
A corner kitchen layout with storage space in the bottom kitchen cabinets
This kitchen is planned out in a corner layout with a kitchen island in the middle of the space. The different lower kitchen modules are great to maximize storage space so that the wall space can be kept minimal, with the exception of the white range hood and two elegant wall lamps.
A wall shelf instead of upper kitchen cabinets in between two windows
This beautiful corner kitchen layout has two windows that add a lot of natural light, which makes adding upper cabinets rather challenging. Instead, lower cabinetry is paired with wall shelves that can hold serving dishes, dinner plates, and serving bowls mixed with a beautiful selection of wall art on the top shelf.
Photographed by Lisa Wikstrand , styled by Helen Sturesson and Johanna Wikstrand Moresco for Kulladal
An awkward floor plan with a blue kitchen without wall cabinets
The blue kitchen cabinets have been adjusted to this rather awkward floor plan, which would look much too heavy with upper cabinets. Open shelving is added to the niche spaces in the wall to store easily accessible kitchen items.
A kitchen island provides extra cabinets and drawers on the back
This spacious kitchen with light oak kitchen cabinets includes a large kitchen island with seating and a long module of lower drawers and cabinets. The white marble countertop and backsplash add an elegant touch to the one wall on the back where the black task lighting adds a wonderful contrast.
The absence of upper cabinets allows for extra wall space for a beautiful floating shelf
Rather than trying to fit wall units in the small wall space available above the sink, this beautiful kitchen has been fitted with a floating shelf that adds visual interest to the kitchen design. Since the sloped ceiling makes the room feel smaller, this is a great solution to create the illusion of more space.
Practical high cupboards on the side eliminate the need for upper cabinets
When you are worried the drawers and cabinets on the lower half of the layout won’t suffice to store all your plates, dishes, and appliances, a tall wall of cupboards like in the kitchen example below is great for functionality and it allows you to keep the rest of the kitchen free of wall cabinets.
Dark kitchens without upper cabinets look lighter and more balanced
A dark kitchen with upper cabinets can easily become too heavy visually, so leaving out the upper cabinets in this case will make your design appear lighter, especially when combined with white walls like in the example below.
This space requires a bottom kitchen layout and the long module of drawers provides a place for each and every kitchen detail. By painting the wall in an eye-catching color, the space becomes interesting and the fact that there is less space available is not so apparent anymore.
An off-white shaker kitchen without upper cabinets
The off-white shaker cabinets in this beautiful kitchen have been paired with tall cupboards on the side for extra storage, yet no upper cabinets have been added to keep the look light and airy. The tin floating shelf above the sink is great for displaying ceramics.
This galley kitchen layout provides lower cabinets on both sides, allowing for the upper area to be kept free of upper cabinets. This way, the accent pendant lights above the sink get all the attention they deserve.
A spacious kitchen with historic details and dark cabinets
Ditching wall cabinets in this historic kitchen was a great design choice, as the wall and ceiling features, dark cabinetry, and herringbone flooring get all the attention they deserve. The area above the sink is filled with a black marble backsplash, wainscoting, and black accent wall lamps.
A bamboo kitchen without upper cabinet space accentuates the high ceilings in this townhouse
This kitchen is located in a historic townhouse with high ceilings, which are accentuated even more because of the absence of wall cabinets. The wall above the counter is filled with an elegant wall lamp and an open shelf to display a selection of beautiful ceramics.
A small kitchen inside a niche space without upper cabinets
In this small niche kitchen, the combination of tall cupboards and lower cabinetry allows for a practical layout that is light and airy at the same time. The natural stone countertops stand out against the white cabinetry and they complement the beige limestone flooring beautifully.
Kitchens without upper cabinets work great in larger floor plans
In small spaces, you have to take every opportunity to provide storage, which often means a kitchen without upper cabinets is challenging. If you can work with a large floor plan, you might not need the extra space on the wall for upper cabinets, which will make your kitchen appear lighter. Especially in rooms with lower ceiling height, this can be such a great design decision.
A long peg rail rather than wall cupboards to complement the lower cabinets
This elegant kitchen without upper cabinets has been fitted from wall to wall with an impressive oak wood peg rail which provides a true focal point in this kitchen design. The white-soaped oak of the lower cabinets complements nicely with the warmer wood tone on the peg rail for a beautiful effect in this cozy kitchen design with a white marble countertop.
Open shelves make up for less storage in the kitchen
Open shelves are a great alternative for wall cabinets, however, if you are worried your kitchen items or appliances will gather dust, you can use the shelves for decor items only. Just like in the example below, open shelves are great for a fresh green plant as well.
An attic kitchen with open shelving in the same material as the backsplash
When your kitchen is fitted underneath a sloped roof, it’s often not a possibility to fit in wall cabinets. This kitchen design pairs white kitchen cabinets with beautiful grey marble countertops and a backsplash that also comes back in the material of the open shelves for an integrated effect.
A long brass rail replaces the upper cabinets in a yellow shaker kitchen
This beautiful yellow kitchen from deVol features a pretty brass rail where you can hang your most used items. Above the rail, three beautiful vintage pendants provide the area above the sink with light and I’m a big fan of the classic shaker cabinetry which usually looks rather heavy, yet without upper cabinets the kitchen still looks light and balanced.
Kitchens without upper cabinets allow for art and decor elements on the wall
This modern, minimal kitchen with dark wood cabinets and white terrazzo countertops has tall cupboards for storage, yet the absence of wall cabinets above the kitchen sink allows a beautiful artwork on eye level paired with a white wall lamp that complements the countertop and small backsplash.
