I have to admit it. There was a time when I was not into white kitchens. I preferred rich wood kitchens big time.
Then my parents renovated their house and put in a totally updated white kitchen. I had to admit I was impressed with it.
It looked good in the house even though much of the other rooms had quite a bit of natural wood. The white fit in nicely.
I also must admit I really enjoyed hand-selected the photos that make up this exclusive collection of designs. I hope you enjoy it and get inspiration from it as well.
What exactly is a white kitchen?
Most “white kitchens” are 100% white. Referencing a kitchen or any room by a particular color simply means that the room’s dominant color. For kitchens, it usually means the cabinets or most of the cabinets are white.
Related: White Foyer Ideas | White Living Room Ideas | White Dining Room Ideas | White Primary Bedroom Ideas | White Bathroom Ideas | Kitchens with Light and Honey Wood Floors | White Primary Bathroom Ideas
White Kitchen Color Chart
White is not just white. There are many shades of white. Here’s a simple white shades color chart.
White Kitchen Statistics
18.85% of the kitchens are considered white. However, 48% of kitchen cabinets are white. Please note that these statistics are based on self-reported kitchen colors, but based on an analysis of over 500,000 kitchen designs. Here are the charts.
Kitchen Color Chart
Kitchen Cabinet Finish Chart
White Kitchen Ideas (Photos)
Black and White Kitchen
This house features the same black and white throughout but done in a way so that it’s light and bright. The black throughout offers a pleasing contrast. You’d think that a kitchen with black cabinets would be so much darker but the tall ceiling, light wood flooring and white walls keeps it light.
Colonial Remodel in White With Light Wood
Above is a remodeled kitchen done in mostly white with natural light wood floors and wood island surface. The white farmhouse sink blends well in this quaint colonial house design.
L-Shape Splendor
Above is an L-shape white kitchen with an island that is beautifully designed. It’s simple but simplistic.
Huge White Kitchen With Wood Flooring (Beach House)
Beautiful white kitchen design in a large beach house.
See the rest of the home here.
White condo kitchen in open concept living. Notice the marble island with waterfall effect which adds nice texture the otherwise white kitchen.
Marble Backsplash
Modern style single-line with island white kitchen. This example offers plenty of storage (cabinets rise to the ceiling). Notice the fabulous sphere-shaped pendant lights above the all-white waterfall island. The island includes a range. One of my favorite design features of this kitchen is the marble backsplash.
Dine-In U-Shaped Island
Large white kitchen with a u-shaped island that includes a built-in dining table and bench seating. While the island is gray, the island countertop and all kitchen cabinets are white so that qualifies this kitchen as a white kitchen. I love the island above all else, but the cabinet design along with tall ceiling and light wood floors makes this one of my all-time favorites.
Elegant Kitchen Dining Table
This is definitely a gorgeous design, but I particularly like the elegant kitchen dining table and white chairs that fit inside this large l-shaped white kitchen. Notice the extensive storage as well as the large island with marble countertop with sink.
A-Frame White Kitchen
A-frame cabin with a modern white interior including the kitchen which has a super high ceiling in this open-concept A-frame interior. The white is offset with stainless steel countertops and warm, light wood flooring.
L-Shaped with Skylights and Coffered Ceiling
Spacious kitchen with a wide-plank wood floor and an incredible white coffered ceiling with skylights. The island comfortably accommodates 4 people with white stools. This l-shaped mega kitchen has loads of cabinet and drawer storage as well.
Curves
An arched window looks out into the living room from this kitchen which also includes a curved island with granite surface. There are hints of warm tones including the beige backsplash and light brown upholstered island stools.
My Dream Kitchen
Here are another one of my favorite white kitchens. It’s situated in a large open concept living space. It’s pretty much a single line with the island but the single line is slightly curved giving it a u-shape appearance. There’s a large ornamental white range hood in the center with herringbone gray and white backsplash. The grey upholstered stools match the grey dining chairs and sofa. The fireplace is visible from all points in the kitchen. This is definitely my dream white kitchen.
This is a dead-on view of the kitchen from the island vantage point. I love how the recessed lights follow the slight curve of the main kitchen wall.
Fabulous Hardware and White Paneled Fridge
This is a fantastic example of how hardware (drawer and cabinet knobs) can be the superstar of the kitchen. The dark hardware stands out nicely against the white cabinets as well as the white cabinet paneled refrigerator.
Marble
Here’s an aerial view of a u-shaped kitchen with an island that incorporates plenty of marble in it with a marble island surface and marble backsplash.
All-White Modern
This is an example of an ultra-modern white kitchen that’s large and well illuminated by plenty of natural light. The lines are straight. The kitchen definitely exudes a minimalist design. The only other colors include stainless steel faucets and black-seated stools. Even the fridge is white but does have fabulous stainless steel handles.
Beamed Ceiling
Check out that incredible coffered bare wood beamed ceiling. It’s really cool because the beams are suspended down from the ceiling proper. If you pull your eyes away from that ceiling, check out the long curved island with an elevated breakfast bar. This white country style kitchen is amazing.
Modern with Two Islands
Here’s a massive modern white kitchen in a mansion. This has two white islands, one of which serves as a breakfast bar. Black is an effective accent color and it’s all tied together with a light wood well-polished floor.
Massive Square Island
Gargantuan white kitchen with gorgeous wide-plank dark wood flooring. Marble serves as the countertop for the counters and large square island.
Butcher Block Island
What do you notice first about this white kitchen? I bet it’s not the fact it’s white or that it has wood flooring or stainless steel appliances. I bet it’s not the pendant lights or range hood either. It’s the incredible custom made butcher block island with checkered wood pattern. The design tip here is that you can make a kitchen stand out and be fabulous with one awesome design feature.
Glass Round In-Kitchen Dining Table in White Kitchen with a Touch of Blue
I love the splashes of blue (island and dishes) in this u-shaped white kitchen which incorporates color contrast with the dark wood flooring. The open shelves are super effective because the dishes form part of the color scheme. Photo by Greengage Interiors Limited
Butcher Block Island Addition
Massive kitchen with curtains on the windows… but the real star here is the long white island with a butcher block surface addition on the end of it that can serve as a food prep area and/or dining area.
Fabulous Pot Rack
Pot racks are under-used in kitchens. Take a look at that stainless steel beauty with an entire fleet of stainless steel pots hanging on it. It totally makes this otherwise mediocre kitchen fabulous.
Ambient White Kitchen Lighting
White kitchen with extensive stainless steel. Notice the chrome pendant lights along with the double-wide stainless steel luxury refrigerator.
Modern Narrow Galley Kitchen
If you have a narrow space, here’s a narrow galley kitchen design idea to consider. This kitchen looks like a spaceship. It’s not my favorite design but chose it for this gallery because it’s definitely unique.
Dark Countertops
Here’s an example of a predominantly white kitchen with dark countertops and dark island surface. The dark contrast continues with dark flooring and black round stool upholstery. It’s very well done. I think it’s a great idea to incorporate contrast.
Chrome Pendants with Subway Backsplash
That double-wide stainless steel fridge looks mighty nice along with the matching chrome pendant lights in this large, luxury l-shaped kitchen.
Small White Kitchen
I’d be remiss to fail to include a small white kitchen. I’m not huge on totally modern designs, but I like this one. The black countertops that partially waterfall down the sides are smart. The glass-faced cabinets are fantastic. Notice how the floor matches both white cabinets and black counter surfaces.
Country White Kitchen
Awwww, I had to include a country-style white kitchen. This is a good one with the small valiance, country backsplash, molding… it works.
Mediterranean White
Is this a Mediterranean style white kitchen? It’s close. The arches and earthen backsplash along with the hardware and rustic wood island makes me think falls into the Mediterranean style. Regardless, it’s a beauty.
Close up view of the Mediterranean style kitchen above.
Traditional White
Here we go with a fairly plain white kitchen that gives it a traditional look in every respect. Very little ornamentation, but there are some nice touches such as the black pendants along with matching black island stools. I also like the white subway tile which adds texture to this otherwise very simple interior.
Compact White Apartment Kitchen
Here’s a compact white kitchen with an l-shaped small island in a modern style.
White Contemporary
Here’s a stark white contemporary kitchen design with a super long island and a minimalist vibe.
White Farmhouse Kitchen
Who doesn’t love a nicely done white farmhouse style kitchen? I love the wooden chandelier above the island. Check out the curved bronze faucets which give it a farmhouse vibe. It’s easy to miss, but the ceiling curves upward into a barrel ceiling design.
Another view of the farmhouse kitchen.
Dark Wood Flooring and Recessed Lights
White with dark flooring is a classic look these days which stands out nicely in this contemporary kitchen design. I’m not wild about the brown backsplash though.
Custom Luxury Design
Luxurious white kitchen with large dark wood island and dark wood flooring. Includes a white paneled refrigerator.
White With Gray Island and Stainless Steel Appliances
Here’s a u-shaped white kitchen that does something I really like which is inverse color schemes. White cabinets with dark countertops juxtaposed with dark gray island with a white surface. It’s really a fabulous design technique for kitchens with islands.
White Ceiling with Dark Countertops
This pearl of a kitchen design is fabulous with a stark white board ceiling with white base pendants on top of white range hood, backsplash, island… so much white except for that gorgeous wood floor and wood-seated stools.
Rustic White Kitchen
I know you’ve been waiting for the rustic white kitchen example. Here it is in all its rustic glory. Check out those wood beams and slightly distressed wood island along with rustic pendant lights. It’s not over the top, but it’s enough rustic to look really good.
Cathedral Ceiling with Skylights
Here’s an interesting white kitchen with towering cathedral ceiling (all white), skylights and stark white kitchen space including the floor. There are two splashes of light wood – a microwave shelf and a built-in open-faced shelf.
New Home Construction
Hey, it’s that inverse contrast again – white cabinets with dark counters juxtaposed with dark island with white island surface. This is a fabulous new kitchen in a new luxury home.
U-Shape with Island
Do you like this? I do, but it’s not my favorite. It’s contemporary in every respect. I love u-shaped kitchens with square islands. It’s really a flawless kitchen design but it’s a bit busy for my liking – there are a lot of cabinet configurations from drawers, to cupboards to glass-faced cupboards. I also don’t care for the <a class=
Coffered, White, Large, Glass-Faced Cabinets and So Much More
I wrap up our photo gallery with one of my all-time favorite interior designers – Garrison Hullinger. Look to the rear and you’ll notice a built-in bench breakfast nook with upholstered benches that match the wood floor (I love symmetry in design). That eating nook extends off a fabulous large galley layout kitchen with island. Every square inch of this design was meticulously planned and exquisitely created. There isn’t a thing I don’t like about this.
Square Island
Large open concept white kitchen that has a huge square island (also white).
Half Wood and Half Marble
This beautiful and simple white kitchen has half the hardwood flooring of the hallway and half the white marble flooring for the cooking area. This matchup is mirrored by the white marble waterfall kitchen island and the wooden cabinets of the kitchen peninsula.
White Marble Cabinet Doors
This is a white kitchen with white marble cabinet doors complemented by stainless steel appliances and lighting.
This is a bright and white kitchen with consistent bright white tones on its countertops that matches with the walls, stools and ceiling that hangs a decorative lighting over the kitchen island. These are then complemented by the wooden gray tones of the cabinetry and flooring.
This kitchen features a clean ambiance because of the white theme that is present along with the furniture. The skylight amplifies the natural lighting of the room.
This is the white kitchen at the lower level of the house with a large white kitchen island and hardwood flooring. The room also has large glass walls and windows for better lighting.
Why Is White So Popular for Kitchens?
This is an interesting question, one I’ve thought about quite a bit. I think it has to do with the fact the kitchen is a utility space that can get dirty and so white gives it a clean feel even when in use getting dirty and used. It’s the same with bathrooms (where white is also a popular color).
Color Combinations
- All White: white countertops, ceiling, floor, and cabinets.
- White and Brown: This is very popular where the cabinets are white and perhaps countertops and other parts wood such as floor and/or island.
- White and Black: Not very popular, but can be very effective. Example: white cabinets with black countertop.
- Inverse Cabinets and Island: A popular color concept is white cabinets with dark countertops juxtaposed with dark island with white countertop.
Do white countertops make a kitchen white?
No, not in my opinion. If you have natural wood cabinets with a white countertop, it’s not a “white kitchen”.
A Piece of Heaven
White kitchens are elegant above all else. Or they have the potential to be elegant, at least. The trick to maintaining elegance when using white in your kitchen design is to keep the use of other colors consistent in their texture and their saturation.
If your cabinets are white, but your cups are pastel pink, your teapot should also be a pastel color that’s of similar color saturation to the pink. This means that wood can often pair extremely well with white kitchen designs because it brings consistent texture and color in the same package and can be used to accentuate the cleanliness of the white.
Draw Attention to the Light, or Reflect It Away?
White kitchen designs tend to reflect natural light awkwardly, and often too much. Likewise, white kitchen designs don’t always handle artificial light as well as they could.
The question that you’ll need to answer while designing your white kitchen is whether to embrace the reflection by including other light reflective objects like metallic or chrome appliances or try to dampen it by introducing wooden or faded turquoise surfaces which aren’t as reflective but are more colorful.
Double Down, or Casually Incorporate?
The final question you’ll need to answer before finalizing your white kitchen design idea is whether to double down on the concept of a white kitchen design or to simply build white into your kitchen as one color component of many others.
Doubling down could result in an operating-room like a whirlwind of light and brightness—perfect for making breakfast in the mornings, but perhaps a bit hard to make look perfectly clean after dinner. Casually incorporating white into your kitchen design is the more traveled route, using items like white table cloths, cushions, runners, or even candles.
You can also easily incorporate white into your appliances, dishes, and cookware, though its tendency to show dirt can be frustrating. Because of this, it’s probably best to avoid making your countertops white if you go the route of partial white design.
If these ideas don’t appeal to you, check out our larger gallery of custom kitchen design ideas.
