The Type Of Flooring To Pair With Cool-Toned Cabinets, According To Christina Hall

Warm tones have been taking over home design trends lately, but that doesn't mean that cool-toned interiors are going out of style anytime soon. Cool tones are particularly useful and still highly favored in the kitchen, where they work well to refresh the space and create a clean, spacious look. One of the best places to add a cool touch of color in the kitchen is on the cabinets, with relaxing shades of blue, green, icy white, or even gray. Among the many kitchen designs fans have seen from HGTV's Christina Hall, plenty have featured these cooler cabinets to prove that it's a style that works beautifully with the right approach. However, cool-toned cabinets require a mindful balance in order to not come off as too clinical. From what we've seen in Hall's designs, the best way to achieve a stylish harmony with cool-toned cabinets is to pair them with warm-toned flooring.

When discussing one of her kitchen designs that included deep blue cabinets and a light, warm wood floor, Hall expressed on her show "Realtor on the Coast" that "the warm and cool mix very nice together." Not only are there endless reasons why this pairing works, but there are plenty of ways to apply it in your own kitchen for a look that reflects your personal style.

If there is one thing we know about Hall's design approach, it's that balance is at the core of her beautiful interiors. She's previously mentioned how Tuscan kitchens are a once-popular design trend she can't get behind, mainly because it tends to go overboard with brown tones. Rather than letting one strong tone dominate the design, mixing cool cabinets with warm flooring can help add more depth and character to your kitchen. For instance, a kitchen with cool blue cabinets mixed with cool-toned flooring and features can seem one-dimensional, almost like there's a cold filter over the entire room. By introducing warm flooring, it breaks up the monotony to create a more dynamic, exciting look.

Kitchen cabinets also have a large impact on the overall color palette of the room, considering they make up a majority of the interior design in most cases. Designers believe that warm tones perfectly offset a cooler cabinet palette for a look that's sensible and timeless. The kitchen is the heart of the home, so it needs to feel both comfortable and functional. Cool-toned cabinets create a calm, airy vibe, while warm-toned floors add a welcoming energy. When paired, they make a space that feels inviting, stress-free, and practical — perfect for cooking, gathering, and enjoying your daily routines.

The beauty of pairing cool and warm tones comes from the range of opportunities the approach can offer. To nail the design in your kitchen, build your color scheme from a focal point, which in this case could be your cabinets or even a neutral backsplash to add balance. If you want your cabinets to contribute to an airy or even neutral kitchen design, opt for soft cool hues. For instance, light blue is the new neutral for timeless kitchens, bringing a subtle touch of color that won't overwhelm your design. These lighter cabinet shades can pair well with dark, warm flooring like walnut to create a contrast that makes the room appear more spacious. You can also achieve this by using opposite tones, like dark green cabinets paired with rustic red brick tiles a bold farmhouse charm.

When Hall discussed how the pairing works well, she was referring to her design that featured crisp white upper cabinets and dark, navy lower cabinets among light, oak engineered wood floors. This allowed the navy to become a strong focal point, while adding balance with neutral tones and warmth. Using a light neutral as a middle ground between tones also works in more dramatic designs with a darker cool tone on all cabinets. For example, cold, black cabinets paired with a honey oak floor emphasize the character of both tones, while creamy white countertops and walls add an extra layer of contrast that unites the overall look.