WHITE APPLIANCES VS. STAINLESS STEEL: WHICH FITS YOUR KITCHEN?

When weighing stainless steel or white appliances, the decision often comes down to personal taste. Stainless steel offers a neutral, elegant and modern look that pairs with a wide range of styles and colors. White has been a go-to appliance color for decades, and for good reason—it tends to be a more economical choice, and the soft hue can help brighten up a kitchen. Both finishes bring something to the table, and the right choice depends on your preferences and how the space is used day to day.

Stainless steel is a standard finish in today's kitchens, but can be prone to showing fingerprints and smudges. Stainless steel can be cleaned with the right products and techniques—a quick wipe-down helps handle everyday marks, while deeper cleaning may take a bit more effort with specialized cleaners. White appliances tend to be easy to clean. They also tend to not show streaks and fingerprints the way their stainless-steel counterparts do, which often requires frequent polishing. Select Maytag^® appliances like refrigerators and ranges feature easy-to-clean, Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel that keeps the appliance looking as good on the outside as it works on the inside.

Both white and stainless steel finishes are built to handle daily use, but they may show wear differently. Like any finish, both white and stainless steel appliances can develop scratches and dents over time. However, dents in a stainless appliance tend to be more noticeable because of the bright, reflective qualities of stainless steel, which can catch and bend the light in a more noticeable way when a dent is present. Both white and stainless-steel finishes are built to handle the demands of a busy kitchen, though scratches and dents may show differently on each.

In general, white appliances tend to have a lower entry price point than their stainless steel counterparts. However, this depends on the model and the market. White has been a staple appliance color for decades and tends to be a more economical choice. But, limited white availability in some product lines can sometimes push the price up, while promotions on stainless steel can reverse the gap. So always compare finishes in each category, such as Maytag^® stainless steel dishwashers, vs. these Maytag^® white dishwashers. Availability varies by brand and model line, so it is worth checking both finishes before making a choice. In some cases, white may cost less; in others, stainless steel may be the practical pick. Comparing prices on the same model takes the guesswork out of the decision.

SHOP MAYTAG^® RANGES

Maytag^® ranges come in options such as stainless steel and white, and bring the heat with features built to handle everyday meals and tough messes. Select models offer easy-to-clean Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel finishes that keep your range looking as good on the outside as it works on the inside.

Stainless steel's consistent popularity over the last few decades has helped seal its ranking as a timeless appliance finish. Its appeal comes from its ability to blend in with past and future design trends, from sleek and modern to classic and rustic.  White appliances also hold their own as a timeless neutral that adapts as cabinets, countertops and other appliances change over time. 

No, white appliances are not outdated today. White appliances are not a passing trend—they are a timeless neutral that fits a wide range of styles, from ultra modern to kitschy vintage. While there may not be as much buzz around white appliances as black or stainless steel, their appeal endures alongside other popular trends, and they can be stylish when paired with a variety of design choices.

Stainless steel is popular because of its durability, its modern look and its neutral tone that can complement pretty much any other color to be found in the kitchen. Buyers like stainless steel because of the durability, the modern look and the neutral tone that can pair well with warm wood tones, cool grays or bold colors. Stainless steel is—and will likely remain—timeless, with its popularity not necessarily tied to a single design era.

Mixing stainless steel and white appliances, in a white kitchen—or any other colored kitchen—is a practical option when replacing one appliance rather than buying all new appliances. Appliances in different colors, finishes and designs can help create a kitchen that feels more rustic or even retro, and many kitchens mix and match appliances to achieve a desired look and functionality. Stainless steel and white finishes are both considered neutral, so mixing finish colors can create an eye-catching aesthetic.

Pairing white kitchen cabinets with stainless steel appliances is a classic combination that works in many kitchens and can create a clean contrast that feels modern and open. White appliances can also work well, creating a bright, fresh monochromatic look when paired with white cabinets, counters and backsplash—or they can be complemented with a vibrantly colored backsplash, wall paint and even countertop appliances. The key to making either finish work is in the details: countertop materials, hardware finishes and repeated design elements can help tie the look together.

A stainless steel refrigerator with white appliances is a common mixed-finish scenario. When a stainless steel refrigerator sits beside a white range or dishwasher, the key is making the mix look intentional. A stainless steel refrigerator can serve as a focal point, especially in a kitchen with white cabinets and other white appliances. The stainless steel in a white kitchen combination can work because both finishes are neutral—they do not compete with each other. Tying the look together can be as simple as adding stainless steel hardware to white appliances or repeating the stainless tone in a light fixture or faucet.

Using a white fridge with stainless steel appliances can look intentional when the surrounding finishes help tie everything together. Stainless steel and white finishes are both considered neutral, so mixing finish colors can create an eye-catching aesthetic. Placing a white refrigerator, such as these options from Maytag brand, beside stainless steel appliances can work well when white is repeated elsewhere in the kitchen—white cabinets, a white backsplash or white countertop details can help the refrigerator feel like part of the design rather than a mismatch. The white vs. stainless steel fridge question often comes down to what is staying in the kitchen and what is being replaced. For instance, if you want to move toward all white appliances, but only want to replace appliances as needed, it may make sense to do it one white appliance at a time over a span of time, and use white accents and details in the kitchen to help bridge the design gap until your whole suite is the color you want.

When replacing one appliance at a time, mixing finishes is often just fine. Many kitchens mix and match appliances to achieve a desired look, or to bridge a gap as they move slowly toward appliances of a uniform finish. Consider the following:

• What is staying: Take stock of the appliances, cabinets, countertops and hardware that remain in the kitchen. The finish should work with what is already there. White and stainless are both neutrals that work within a wide design palette.

• Visible marks tolerance: Consider how many fingerprints, smudges and scratches the household will tolerate. White tends to hide dents and fingerprints a bit more; stainless steel may show them but can be managed with regular cleaning and fingerprint resistant finishes, available on some models.

• Planned updates: Think about which other appliances, such as ranges or dishwashers, might change in the future. A finish that works now should still work with those updates.

• Dealbreaker mismatch: Identify which finish mismatch would be unacceptable in the meantime. If a mismatch would bother the household, matching the existing finish may be the simple choice.
  

SHOP MAYTAG^® REFRIGERATORS

Maytag^® refrigerators are built tough to keep food cold and organized, with select stainless steel models offering Ringerprint Resistant Stainless Steel that is easy to clean. From side-by-side to top-freezer configurations, there is a Maytag brand refrigerator ready to meet your kitchen's demands.

A few questions often come up when choosing between white and stainless steel appliances—or when living with a mixed-finish kitchen. Explore the answers below to learn more.

SHOP MAYTAG^® APPLIANCES IN WHITE & STAINLESS STEEL

Various Maytag^® appliances come in white and stainless steel finishes. Compare finishes across ranges and refrigerators and more to find the one that fits your kitchen and routine.

This article includes AI-generated content that our human team has reviewed and edited to ensure quality.