Let’s be real: not every kitchen is blessed with perfectly coordinated cabinetry. Maybe you inherited some mismatched cabinets from a previous owner.
Maybe you got a little too adventurous with your DIY projects. Or maybe you’re just a rebel who refuses to follow the rules of cabinet color coordination.
Whatever the reason, you’re stuck with mismatched cabinets, and instead of cringing every time you open a drawer, it’s time to embrace the chaos!
Here are 10 ways to perfectly style your mismatched cabinets—because why should perfection be your goal when you can have fun?
1. Create a Color Block Masterpiece
Instead of trying to make all your cabinets match, why not make them complement each other? Go bold with color blocking.
Pair a rich navy blue cabinet with a crisp white one. Add a pop of mustard yellow for flair. It’s like a color party on your kitchen walls!
Think of it as your personal canvas. Just remember, the goal is to look intentional, not like a toddler went wild with a crayon box.
Plan out your color scheme, and your mismatched cabinets will look like an artistic statement rather than a chaotic accident.
2. Add Open Shelving (Because Who Needs Storage Anyway?)
Mismatched cabinets can actually look intentional if you let your most stylish kitchen items have their moment to shine.
Swap out some cabinet doors for open shelving. Stack pretty mugs, store vintage glass jars, or display those fancy canisters you’ve been hiding in the back of the cabinet.
Open shelving gives the illusion of order, and it draws the eye away from mismatched cabinet doors—plus, it’s a great excuse to show off your aesthetically pleasing kitchenware (you know, the one you never use but look adorable in photos).
3. Embrace the Boho Vibe
If you can’t get your cabinets to match, don’t sweat it—go boho! The key here is to add textures and patterns that make it clear you’re a master of mismatched style.
Think wicker baskets, patterned rugs, and colorful ceramics. Your kitchen should look like a curated collection, not a design disaster.
Layer in soft textiles, funky plants, and wooden elements to bring it all together. Mismatched cabinets? Just another quirk of your eclectic, free-spirited style.
4. Create a Neutral Base and Add Pops of Color
If all the colors are giving you anxiety, calm down. Go neutral with your cabinets, then add pops of color elsewhere in the room—think quirky light fixtures, colorful chairs, or vibrant countertop accessories.
A neutral base keeps things balanced while your chosen accents bring the personality. Suddenly, that mismatched cabinet situation isn’t a problem, it’s a feature.
5. Use Hardware to Tie Everything Together
Here’s a little design trick: swap out your cabinet hardware for matching pulls or knobs. If your cabinets are mismatched in color, a uniform set of hardware can create harmony throughout the space.
Opt for sleek brass handles, industrial-style pulls, or even retro knobs to give your cabinets a cohesive look.
Plus, swapping hardware is an easy way to refresh your kitchen without taking out a second mortgage.
6. Add a Bold Backsplash
Your backsplash is the secret weapon you didn’t know you had. If your cabinets are mismatched, a bold backsplash can provide the cohesion your kitchen needs.
Whether it’s patterned tiles, a funky mosaic, or a solid color that contrasts beautifully with the cabinets, your backsplash will become the focus of the room.
It’ll distract from the cabinet chaos and make your mismatched setup look like a deliberate design decision. You’re not fooling anyone, but you’re certainly impressing them!
7. Mix Materials, Not Just Colors
Mismatched cabinets don’t just have to be about clashing colors. Why not mix materials? Pair a wooden cabinet with a sleek, glossy white one.
Add a marble front next to a matte-painted one. The mix of textures will create depth and make it feel less like a kitchen disaster and more like a design masterpiece.
If you’re feeling particularly daring, throw in a little stainless steel or glass for extra flair. After all, who says a kitchen can’t have a little personality?
8. Install Floating Shelves for Balance
Floating shelves are the perfect way to balance out mismatched lower cabinets. They create vertical lines, which helps break up the horizontal chaos of the lower cabinets.
Plus, they give you a chance to show off those cute plants or vintage teapots you’ve been hiding in your pantry.
With the right floating shelves, the cabinet mismatch will look like an intentional design choice, and not like a result of a hasty IKEA trip.
9. Create a Vintage Look
Sometimes mismatched cabinets can give your kitchen a vintage or farmhouse vibe—if you lean into it.
Distressed finishes, slightly different shades of white, and an eclectic mix of designs can make your kitchen feel like it’s been lovingly collected over time.
Add in vintage kitchenware, like enamelware, old-school clocks, and mismatched china, and suddenly, that cabinet mismatch looks like the pinnacle of shabby-chic style.
10. Frame Your Mismatched Cabinets with Bold Trim
If your cabinets look like they were put together from leftover pieces, a bold trim around the edges can give them some much-needed polish.
Add a bit of molding at the top and bottom, or even create a faux frame around the doors.
This trick will give your mismatched cabinets structure, making them appear more like a purposeful design than a “whoops” moment.
Plus, the trim adds a touch of sophistication that’ll make everyone forget about the color issues.