For decades, white kitchens have been a staple of the premium kitchen design world– no matter the era, they’re always stylish. A designer kitchen in white fits into every home. Whether it’s Bauhaus, Scandinavian design, or an unconventional urban aesthetic, the white kitchen is absolutely timeless. However, planning a white kitchen isn’t quite as simple as you might think. Particular care must be taken when you’re working with a “non-colour” like white or black. If the shade of white is too cold, it can appear sterile and soulless. Even a tiny gradation in the shade of white can make a huge difference in the overall feel of your space. But with the right advice and expertise, a white kitchen can be the perfect statement to add to your home. 

Are white kitchens out?

You might be worried that because white kitchens are so classic, they’re not “in” anymore. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s exactly because white kitchens are so timeless that they work in any home. White kitchens allow a great deal of versatility because white is such a neutral colour. The effect of white in the home combines several positive characteristics:

• White makes your space look bigger:  A white kitchen visually recedes behind its surroundings, making even smaller rooms look big. High-gloss fronts reinforce this effect and provide more depth and highlights through reflection.
• White is bright and reflective: White kitchen fronts reflect both natural and artificial light, providing maximum brightness.
• Clarity and structure: White is neutral and is associated with order, clarity and purity. White stands for purism and elegance, while simultaneously creating an inviting and positive atmosphere.
• Adaptability:  There really isn’t any interior style that doesn’t work with white: it can be combined with any type of furnishing, any lighting, and any space. White built-in appliances blend in seamlessly, while black built-in appliances add accents.
• Timeless and durable: White kitchen fronts never fall out of style and will last up to 20 years with good quality and proper care.
• The perfect contrast: Especially when combined with black or anthracite, white kitchens look high-quality and expressive

Are white kitchen cabinets hard to keep clean?

Because white is such a pure color, you might worry that dirt and smudges will show up more clearly. Don’t forget, however, that white automatically gives an impression of cleanliness. Kitchens without handles are extra easy to clean. And, of course, it’s important to clean any kitchen regularly, both to preserve your premium kitchen and to ensure a good cooking experience. To ensure that your white kitchen cabinets stay with you for a long time, they should be cleaned as often as necessary if they are used regularly - ideally with a soft cotton cloth and a little warm water. You can also use gentle grease solvents in small quantities, and a white kitchen with high-gloss fronts can also tolerate glass cleaner or chamois leather. Under no circumstances is it advisable to clean with a microfibre cloth, a scouring pad or acidic, aggressive cleaning agents. What else to look out for:

• Always use your extractor fan to prevent grease and water deposits on kitchen surfaces.
• If there is direct sunlight, avoid it by using curtains, blinds or shades. Sunlight can cause discoloration on painted surfaces that cannot be removed.
• Always remove stains immediately to avoid damaging your surfaces.
• Seal the grout lines of your kitchen tiles to prevent dirt buildup.

This is also good advice when it comes to cleaning any kind of kitchen– clean regularly and thoughtfully, and your kitchen will last decades!

Do white kitchen cabinets turn yellow?

You might be concerned that over time, the purity of the white will fade. But luckily, this doesn’t have to be an issue if you follow the advice outlined above. Especially important here is the tip about sunlight– discoloration is caused by sunlight, so if you invest in a white kitchen, it’s essential to consider how much sun you’re going to let into the room. Of course, smaller, darker spaces might benefit even more from a white kitchen, whereas a large, open, airy space doesn’t need the expansive properties of white. It’s also a good idea to think about what direction your kitchen faces– i.e. how much sunlight it will receive throughout the day, and when that sunlight will be brightest.

High-gloss white kitchens: still Number One

White kitchens with high-gloss fronts stand for maximum elegance more than any other kitchen style. They’re classic, elegant, and universally beloved. Especially in the case of lacquered fronts, it’s worthwhile to rely on high-quality coating processes, so that the kitchen remains pristine for decades, even with intensive use. Such processes not only ensure highly robust surfaces, but also have dirt-repellent properties that greatly reduce the intensity of fingerprints and smudges.

Modern white kitchen:
velvety matte surfaces

In recent years, velvety matte modern white kitchen fronts have been growing in popularity– especially in cosmopolitan living environments, the warm radiance of matte surfaces creates a sense of comfort. Minimalists also appreciate the matte white kitchen because it is more restrained than its high-gloss sister. This characteristic also leaves room for other style elements such as kitchen islands, countertops, tiles, or wall and floor colors. Even in very large open kitchens, which immediately merge into the living space, matte kitchens look pleasantly discreet, regardless of their actual size.

White kitchen ideas: how to decorate your white kitchen

A white kitchen is so variable that other design elements in the room can overwhelm it, but there are a few basic suggestions to guide you towards a successful design. As with any modern kitchen, it’s important to plan effectively, examine all your options, and get good design advice from a kitchen designer– whether digitally or in person at a nearby kitchen studio. There are also two separate but intertwined elements to consider when choosing walls, countertops, floors, and tiles: on the one hand, color is extremely important to the look and feel of your kitchen, while material is essential for usability. We’ll examine both sides of the equation, so you have all the information you need to make an informed choice.

Should white kitchens match the walls?

This is a very common question when looking for white kitchen ideas. The answer is that if the shade of your walls is right, it’s a great idea to match your kitchen to your wall color– but you absolutely don’t have to! If your walls are already white, it’s important to look at a sample of the color you want to use for your kitchen cabinets in front of your white wall. That way, you can see exactly how the shades will work together. If the colors clash, maybe you should think about repainting the wall. Luckily, there are a lot of options there too: pastel tones and warm, earthy colors are particularly effective when combined with white kitchen cabinets and can be a wonderful statement.

Which countertop is best for a white kitchen?

A natural stone such as granite is extremely robust: it’s heat-resistant and deals well with moisture and scratches. Dark marble is also extremely durable and creates a high-value impression. Countertops made of real wood or solid wood (for example, walnut, beech or oak) convey a warm atmosphere. Light countertops made of concrete, marble or other stone promise a purist look without sacrificing luxury. The countertop is a crucial design element for any kitchen and has a massive influence on the overall style, especially with white kitchen cabinets. The interplay of kitchen fronts, wall color, floor, and countertop should result in a coherent whole that is still pleasing after many years.

White kitchens, dark countertops: what’s the best wall color?

Creamy or sandy tones create a harmonious overall look in white kitchens with dark countertops. Red, grey or anthracite provide stronger contrasts– a tile backsplash in these tones serves both as a functional piece of the kitchen and a style element.

What tiles work best with a white kitchen?

As with wall color, warm grey or natural and sand tones create a pleasant contrast to white cabinets in the tile backsplash (this can also be called kitchen backsplash). But accents in red, black or a two-toned white solution are also popular choices. Alternatively, today there are quite a few finishing processes for walls that make them dirt-repellent, so tiles aren’t entirely necessary. Whether you still want to use tiles then becomes a purely aesthetic question.

What floors are best for a white kitchen?

In terms of material, parquet and stone floors have a very high-quality effect– there are special versions that can withstand the extreme demands of a kitchen floor. Tiles or plastic floors are also a good choice, since they are extremely easy to clean and less susceptible to damage from heat, dirt or falling objects.

When it comes to color, light-colored floors create visual expansiveness, while dark floors look sophisticated. A white high-gloss kitchen will mirror the floor and thus also minimally take on its color scheme, so consider whether it will ultimately harmonise with the tones of the wall color and countertops.

Inspiration for your white kitchen: white as a style element

Before you start planning in detail, it's always worth it to look for some inspiration– because the possibilities of designing a white kitchen are endless, there are plenty of options. That can feel overwhelming, but we’ll break it down for you!

Modern white kitchens for the urban lifestyle

Ultimately, taste is very individual– are you more of a city dweller who goes for innovative design and smart furnishings, and need to fit it all into a small space? Take a look at SieMatic's URBAN collection.

White kitchens for purists

The PURE collection combines iconic furniture design with visual restraint: reduction to the essentials is particularly impressive when implemented in "lotus white”.

Classic white kitchens for connoisseurs

Black, white and silver tones in a mix, implemented with the highest quality materials: The BeuxArts range from the CLASSIC collection combines classic kitchen design and unconventional solutions in the most impressive way imaginable. See here a luxury kitchen that shines with inventiveness.

White kitchens for your home

If you’re planning a white kitchen, we hope you got some inspiration and valuable advice! If you still feel like there’s more to learn, you’re right– and we’d be happy to advise. We’re always open to discussing your ideas, and our kitchen experts live to bring your dream kitchen to life.