See what color countertops go with maple cabinets including the ideal shades for light and dark stained cabinets and recommended colors for kitchen countertops.
Although not impossible, maple cabinets are hard to pair with the perfect countertops because their colors are so distinct. It basically depends on how they’re stained; whether you have light-colored or dark-colored maple cabinets.
There are different guidelines for both. The rule of thumb is that warmer toned maple shouldn’t be paired with blacks, whites, brushed metal, or gray as they’ll end up clashing with the undertones of your cabinets.
It’s not an easy task and making the wrong choices could require you to come up with pricey fixes for them. But not to worry, we have a guide for you down below.
What Color Countertops Go With Light Maple Cabinets
Light beige is a little risky to pair with light maple cabinets but they can work really well in bringing out the rosy undertones in light maple. Make sure that you opt for a true neutral beige.
What this means is that it shouldn’t lean too much on the yellow or red tones. Go for something that more closely resembles the color of sand. This way, it doesn’t look too overwhelming when paired with your light maple cabinets.
Other colors and materials that work with light stained maple cabinets are:
Stainless Steel
There’s a reason why stainless steel countertops are the go-to choice for professional kitchens. It’s because they’re easy to maintain, clean on the eyes and easy to clean, and basically safer for food prep compared to say, concrete.
Poured Concrete
When picking out a color to paint the countertop with, go with the general rule of sticking to the same undertones so that the vibe is cohesive.
Warmer-colored maple should be paired with warm-colored paints and cool ones with cool colored paints.
What Color Countertops Go With Dark Maple Cabinets
Maple cabinets exposed to sunlight can darken the wood color. For these darker woods use neutral colors such as white and light gray to brighten the atmosphere and look modern & updated at the same time. – interior designer Ellen Siloy
White
White countertops can brighten up your kitchen area and make the space look bigger than it actually is. It acts as the perfect balance for an otherwise heavy-looking dark maple set of cabinets.
A white countertop delivers a look that’s crisp and clean and this is why they’re so beloved in homes all over the world. You can get them in granite, concrete, marble, or even laminate.
Quartz and quartzite countertops can also work here as they tend to border more on the whiter side of the spectrum.
Dark Grey Granite
Granite is also characteristic and distinct with its variety of patterns so overall, you’ll also be able to achieve a textured and sophisticated look to your countertops. It’s a good balance of colors even if the undertones contrast a little.
Black Granite Or Black Marble
They look great on your maple cabinets depending on how dark the stain is. They’re impressively dynamic and versatile that in reality, they can work with any type of wood.
A black countertop serves as a great contrast to maple’s golden grains and hues at times and it can give your kitchen space a special kind of edge that’s bold and somewhat sophisticated.
It is definitely the perfect color to complement darker colored maple cabinets because it can pair well with the overall look of the wood. It can provide a look that no other countertop color or texture can.
A word of caution though, if you have a smaller kitchen, this may not be the best countertop to go for as it can make the space look congested.
Granite Colors For Maple Cabinets
Take note of the color cues, and it certainly wouldn’t hurt to take home a few samples so you can directly see how they pair with your cabinets. Consider the deliberate design that you’re going for; whether you’re opting for contemporary or traditional or if you’re going for a little bit of both.
Lastly, consider the color of your appliances as well. Darker granites are usually best for stainless steel appliances whereas lighter granites pair well with white or light-colored ones.
Here are some of our basic recommendations for both stains:
Light Stained Maple
Medium gray: This is perfect if you’re going for a rustic or even traditional look in your kitchen. Medium gray works best with light wood, doesn’t clash with any appliance colors, and doesn’t weigh the room down by darkening it too much.
Brown: A dark brown countertop is perfect with light maples because they can offset its darker hues. If you want to make a large space cozier, go for a darker brown shade. If you want to make a smaller space larger, go for a lighter brown one.
Dark Stained Maple
Black: It’s perfect for dark maples as it can provide a contrast without it ending up being too stark.
Slate Gray: If you don’t want the harshness of full-on black countertops, slate gray can be a softer option. It certainly makes the kitchen look more welcoming and warmer compared to black.
Just watch out for white appliances as it might bring in a contrast that isn’t too aesthetically pleasing.
Cream or Tan: This color is less stark and more traditional compared to a white countertop. They’re perfect for lightening up a room which is why they pair best with dark colored maples.
What Color Quartz Countertops Go With Maple Cabinets
Always start off by identifying the undertone of your maple cabinets because it makes the choices pretty easy from there on out.
You can either go for complementary colors such as dark with light but the best rule to apply is to go tone on tone so that you can at least keep both your cabinets and countertops within the same color family.
See more related content at our article about the most durable kitchen countertops on this page.