Are you struggling to decide on which appliance finish will look best in your kitchen? If you’re planning a kitchen renovation or hoping to upgrade your appliances, the lingering question of appliance finish will have to be addressed.
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Appliance brands and manufacturers are now offering a much wider range of styles, colors, and finishes, so it ultimately comes down to price, practicality, and preference. Aesthetics can also play a role in how well the appliance fits into your kitchen surroundings. Aside from the retro refrigerators found in bright and sometimes gaudy colors, the three most popular appliance finishes exist to match almost any kitchen décor. Those finishes include white, black, and the ever-so-popular stainless steel.
If you aren’t completely sold on one of these options or you’re curious how upgrading to a new finish might affect the layout and design of your kitchen space, our experts at Don’s Appliances are here to help you decide. Before you can decide which finish is the right fit for your kitchen, let’s look at the pros and cons of white, black, and stainless-steel appliances.
Don's Appliances has the look you're searching for in the kitchen with the area's #1 selection of appliance finishes from top brands.
Shop In-Stock AppliancesWhite appliances are a safe and timeless addition when it comes to your kitchen. It isn’t the most exciting option, but with a wide selection of appliances to choose from, white is always a favorable choice. White is a neutral color that can play into existing kitchen designs or work well to add value to a new kitchen remodel. Some simplistic, low-budget options can diminish the look of the kitchen, so it’s important to do your research and take the time to find the right model to suit your space.
If you’re looking for a reliable and practical appliance for a garage, basement, or rental home, a white appliance finish is the safest bet if your appliance is destined to endure a little wear and tear. However, if the appliance is intended for your main culinary space, select a product that brings the most out of your kitchen. Consider the following pros and cons of white appliances
As the industrial era influenced interior design, black appliances started to become much more prominent in household kitchens. Black appliances are sleek, modern, and a great accompaniment to a seamless line of trendy kitchen designs. However, if you gravitate toward a more traditional looking kitchen with farmhouse elements, a set of black kitchen appliances might result in a clash of styles.
It's fair to say that appliances with a shimmery black finish are attracting a younger generation of first-time homeowners. The depth of color is best suited to match the influence of inner-city living spaces. Consider your current design and decide whether or not black will allow for a cohesive style in your kitchen.
Stainless steel is the most desirable finish amongst designers, builders, and home cooks alike. Stainless steel can make any kitchen space feel modern and contemporary, while still retaining the existing charm and style of your kitchen design.
Stainless steel blends the durability and ruggedness of black appliances with the timeless, classic style of white appliances. Stainless steel provides a level of quality that would be desired and sought after by anyone.
The biggest knock against stainless steel is the amount of upkeep it takes. This finish is known to show the most streaks, smudges, and fingerprints, requiring routine cleaning to keep stainless steel surfaces looking good as new. One use of an abrasive cleaning solution could also damage the surface, leaving permanently visible marks and scratches. Be careful while cleaning your appliances and do your best to prevent children from touching kitchen surfaces with dirty hands. Before you know it, wiping down the stainless steel will turn into a full-time job.
Now that you have a better idea of the pros and cons of the three appliance finishes, let’s explore some of these buying considerations a tad further.
As we mentioned, stainless steel requires the most maintenance, but it’s also the easiest finish to wipe clean and disinfect. Anything that spills on a refrigerator, cooktop, or dishwasher can be cleaned with no stains or streaking if you wipe with the grain of the metal. And if you’re handling raw meat or a family member gets sick, it’s easy to disinfect with a non-abrasive at-home cleaning solution.
It’s much easier for stains to settle and absorb into white appliances and cleaning products can discolor the appliance surface. Black appliances will hide spills and drips, especially if they have a matte finish, but in turn, it’s much easier for grease and grime to remain hidden unless you have a consistent cleaning routine.
We mentioned how greasy fingerprints can be an aesthetic pitfall, so if you desire a permanently spotless kitchen space, stainless steel could prove to be bothersome. White and black kitchen appliances with a matte finish tend to not show fingerprints as easily, but over time, white appliances can show more signs of dirt and scuff marks along the doors and handles. Black appliances require a more meticulous cleaning regimen because they are the least likely to show visible streaks and smudges.
Finding the right set of appliances to meet your standards of hygiene is important, but it’s an even greater feat to find appliances that accurately complement your kitchen’s décor. For a modern and easily adaptable design, there's nothing like the look of stainless steel.
If you’re looking to incorporate a bold color scheme, black appliances create a nice contrast that pops against lighter-colored flooring, cabinetry, and countertops. If you want your appliances to blend into your kitchen space so your backsplash and cabinetry can steal the show, then white appliances are the perfect neutral solution to achieve this look.
There isn’t a tremendous difference in price if you plan to purchase an entry-level appliance, but if you’re looking for a suite of appliances or a set of luxury appliances, every dollar will certainly count. The finish isn’t the only factor, either—additional storage, cooling, cleaning, and heating features will drive up the price of an appliance.
Decide what finish and features you desire and set a price range for your new appliances. You may even decide to pay for a hybrid finish known as black stainless steel. This color has a matte finish that provides the ease of cleaning of stainless steel, but with the darker, glossier hue to help hide fingerprints. Fingerprint-resistant stainless steel can also bump up the price of your appliance. This finish allows you to easily wipe away smudges , and it repels against fingerprints for a look that's sparkling clean.
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Like any addition or upgrade made to your home, the appliances you choose require thoughtful consideration. Each of the three appliance finishes offer strikingly different looks with pros and cons in equal measure. In the end, it comes down to which finish will allow you to create a clean and cohesive environment where you want to spend your time.
If you still can’t decide, then it’s time for the industry experts at Don’s Appliances to lend a helping hand. Shop our entire selection of kitchen appliances and find the right finish to let your kitchen shine. We're happy to answer any questions and guide you along while you find the centerpiece to your kitchen design. Give us a call, shop online, or visit us today!
Founded in , Don’s Appliances is a family-owned, independent appliance retailer based out of Pittsburgh, PA. Don’s has since expanded to 10 locations selling, delivering, installing, and servicing all major appliance brands. Large enough to offer competitive pricing yet small enough to continue offering the “white glove” service we pride ourselves on, our focus is always on the customer experience — from the first step into a showroom to the purchase transaction to well after your new appliance has been installed.
When our customers are remodeling or building a new house, Don’s has all the expertise, product knowledge, inventory, brands, displays, and services to meet and exceed your needs. And in the event an appliance breaks, we are there, right on time and with the right product, delivery, installation, and service.
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, and shop kitchen appliances online at Don’s Appliance. Our friendly experts are always happy to help decide between black vs white vs stainless steel appliances whether you call us at 866-544-, us, or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by any of our Don’s Appliances Pittsburgh, PA warehouse locations. Visit us today!
In my interior design work, I am often asked about kitchen appliance colors during the course of a remodeling or new construction project. While each project and each home is different, following are some guidelines to help you make the best appliance color choice for your upcoming design project.
In general, kitchen appliances offer more utility than fashion. They serve their purpose – either for cooking, washing or keeping your food cold – but quite often clients do not want them to become the focal point of the room. (Although, there are exceptions…have you ever seen the amazing vintage-reproductions ranges? Gorgeous, and definitely a focal point!) Choosing an appliance color to blend into your cabinetry and other kitchen finishes is the best way to ensure a seamless look. Appliance colors should complement the space, not hog the spotlight.
White appliances, while not the most popular option, do have their place. If you have white kitchen cabinetry, they can blend into the kitchen and become less noticeable in the room. Or, with very dark cabinetry (think charcoal or black), they can be a stark contrast and a ray of light in the room. The high-end “floating glass” appliances can be stunning in a modern space with lacquered cabinetry, as well.
Black appliances have a bit more of an upscale look, but can create an overwhelmingly dark space in some circumstances. Consider them if you have stained wood or dark painted cabinetry. The “floating glass” options, again, have a smooth, upscale look. If you like high contrast, consider using them in kitchens with very light cabinetry.
Stainless steel appliances are by far the most popular choice for appliances today. In truth, they do work in almost every situation. Whether you have white or colorful painted cabinetry, dark or light-stained wood or lacquered cabinetry, stainless steel will integrate beautifully into any space. They work in both contemporary and traditional homes.
Clients often wonder if their choice of stainless steel appliances will keep them from using other metal finishes in their kitchen or home. For example, they would like to use oil rubbed bronze light fixtures, but they are concerned about mixing that metal finish with stainless steel appliances.
My response? Mix away! To me, stainless steel appliances are like blue jeans – they work with just about anything. I consider them almost a neutral color, so I have no problem mixing them in with other metal finishes. Do not feel trapped into using matching light fixtures or cabinet hardware when choosing stainless steel appliances.
Of course, you always have the option of either partially or completely hiding your appliances away. Most manufacturers offer appliance options that will accept custom cabinetry panels, so you can make your refrigerator or dishwasher look like just another cabinet.
A unique option offered by Jenn-Air is their Oiled Bronze appliance finish. This rich, dark metal finish blends in with warm wood cabinets beautifully.
One caveat to both stainless steel and bronze appliances: they are more difficult to maintain. While all appliances show fingerprints to some degree, stainless steel requires constant cleaning to retain a fingerprint-free and streak-free surface. Children and stainless steel don’t always play nicely with each other.
Another option is the “stainless look-alike” finishes for appliances that require less maintenance, like this one from Whirlpool. Their “Satina” finish is easier to clean and shows fewer fingerprints than stainless steel. Another advantage to a stainless-look finish: magnets work on its surface. Magnets do not work on real stainless steel, so if you like to use your refrigerator to display photos and reminders with magnets, be aware of this fact.
One more note about appliances: just as your black shirt doesn’t necessarily match your black pants, and there are 357 shades of “white,” all stainless steel finishes are not alike. For best results, purchase all of your stainless steel appliances from one manufacturer to ensure a finish match. While this is also true for other appliance finishes, it is most noticeable in the stainless steel finishes.
There are hundreds of choices when it comes to appliances. Hopefully, these tips will make your shopping trip just a little easier.
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