No element transforms a kitchen quite like the color of its cabinets. It affects a wide variety of things — including the mood, the resale value of your house, and even how often you'll have to clean — so it's worth taking ample time to choose what is perhaps the single most important color in the home.

While you can select any color you want, it's also important to be thinking about whether light or dark kitchen cabinets make sense in your home. Here are benefits of each side to consider.

BENEFITS OF LIGHTER CABINETS

Some benefits of going with lighter shades include:

They make rooms look larger. Lighter colors make kitchens feel more spacious and inviting. If you have a smaller kitchen, a lighter shade is better.

They're timeless. White cabinets are everywhere. This is not because they're the latest fashion, but their crisp, clean design has a timeless appeal. 

They work with many other colors. Lighter cabinets complement a large range of colors and will give you lots of flexibility with the color of your walls, backsplashes, and countertops. They also generally make surrounding colors appear more vibrant, so they're a good option if you want to bring attention to your favorite accessories, artwork, or furniture.

They enhance natural light. Lighter cabinets do a better job of reflecting natural light during the day, keeping your kitchen adequately bright without the help of artificial lighting. Even at night, lighter cabinets reflect the lights from your overhead lamps, giving your kitchen a more vibrant, spacious feel. 

They increase resale value. Due to many of the benefits listed above, lighter kitchen cabinet colors can boost the resale value of your home.

BENEFITS OF DARKER CABINETS

They create a feeling of luxury. Dark finishes add a sense of richness, depth, and formality to a room — so if that's the atmosphere you're looking for, go with darker cabinets. 

They're edgy. Dark cabinets can make an otherwise bland kitchen space look more interesting. They have a bold appearance and can even add a vibrant and playful feeling to the room. 

They're cozier. If you want a sense of coziness and comfort in your kitchen, consider darker cabinets. Blacks and dark grays can help create a more inviting atmosphere. 

They allow you a wide variety of design possibilities. While lighter cabinets are more understated and bring attention to your accessories, darker cabinets take center stage, allowing you to mix and match your accessories. In other words, you can explore a greater variety of designs with dark cabinets.

They show food and scratches less easily. If you have an active lifestyle with kids or pets, darker cabinets may be a good choice as they tend to stand up better to wear and tear than lighter cabinets.