10 of the Best Dark-Horse Kitchens
If you want something different from your kitchen design, check out these decorating tips for a bit of illuminating inspiration
Installing a kitchen with a dark finish is a commitment – more so than a pale design you can easily repaint later, or dress up with different coloured accessories. There are gentle ways to embrace the dark kitchen look, however. Check out these 10 options to see how you can incorporate the colour scheme in a variety of ways.
2. Try flipping the colours
If inky cabinets are a step too far for you, or out of your budget right now, update your kitchen easily by simply painting one wall in a darker shade and adding a few accessories, such as these bar stools. Again, colour helps break up the scheme, with the pale blue accessories looking gorgeous against this charcoal wall.
Try out different pastel shades against a dark backdrop like this. It can strip them of any sugary sweetness and make them look wonderfully striking.
If inky cabinets are a step too far for you, or out of your budget right now, update your kitchen easily by simply painting one wall in a darker shade and adding a few accessories, such as these bar stools. Again, colour helps break up the scheme, with the pale blue accessories looking gorgeous against this charcoal wall.
Try out different pastel shades against a dark backdrop like this. It can strip them of any sugary sweetness and make them look wonderfully striking.
3. Choose warmer darks
If you’re concerned about a dark kitchen feeling too cold, try purple instead of the more usual grey or navy. This dark eggplant colour – especially combined with the gleaming copper splashback and wooden sideboard – gives the kitchen a sense of warmth.
Any dark paint that veers more toward red than blue will help you achieve this look. Seek out almost-blacks with a hint of red, or browse a deepest ruby, a slightly browner burgundy or some dark berry colours.
If you’re concerned about a dark kitchen feeling too cold, try purple instead of the more usual grey or navy. This dark eggplant colour – especially combined with the gleaming copper splashback and wooden sideboard – gives the kitchen a sense of warmth.
Any dark paint that veers more toward red than blue will help you achieve this look. Seek out almost-blacks with a hint of red, or browse a deepest ruby, a slightly browner burgundy or some dark berry colours.
4. Dare to darken up high
The conventional way to add in some dark cabinets is to paint base units in a rich shade and stick to light colours on top so the room feels grounded and balanced. However, these blue-black wall cabinets work well because the colour is echoed in other areas of the room, such as in the low-slung mid-century armchair and pendant lamps.
The conventional way to add in some dark cabinets is to paint base units in a rich shade and stick to light colours on top so the room feels grounded and balanced. However, these blue-black wall cabinets work well because the colour is echoed in other areas of the room, such as in the low-slung mid-century armchair and pendant lamps.
5. Balance for a smart look
Create balance in your moody kitchen with a single wall and the floor in a rich, dark colour – anything from a grey like this to navy or deep green – and the ceiling and other walls in white. To keep the look on the lighter side, you could try painting a kitchen island in a colour somewhere between the light and dark shades to add a subtle ombré effect.
Create balance in your moody kitchen with a single wall and the floor in a rich, dark colour – anything from a grey like this to navy or deep green – and the ceiling and other walls in white. To keep the look on the lighter side, you could try painting a kitchen island in a colour somewhere between the light and dark shades to add a subtle ombré effect.
6. Don’t discount it in a galley
You may think this look can only work in a large, open-plan room and that it would be foolish to try in a narrow kitchen, but this slim example proves that, as long as there’s plenty of light, the effect can be anything but gloomy.
Creating a glass wall helps, of course, but you also could just consider adding a skylight or a larger window in your kitchen renovation.
You may think this look can only work in a large, open-plan room and that it would be foolish to try in a narrow kitchen, but this slim example proves that, as long as there’s plenty of light, the effect can be anything but gloomy.
Creating a glass wall helps, of course, but you also could just consider adding a skylight or a larger window in your kitchen renovation.
7. Make it sophisticated
Tip a charcoal kitchen over to the glamorous side by adding lots of warm metals, like the benchtop and splashback here, and choosing luxury finishes, such as marble and parquet flooring.
You can nod to this scheme on a smaller scale with a coat of paint and brass or copper accessories or small fittings, such as cabinet handles.
Weave metallics into your kitchen
Tip a charcoal kitchen over to the glamorous side by adding lots of warm metals, like the benchtop and splashback here, and choosing luxury finishes, such as marble and parquet flooring.
You can nod to this scheme on a smaller scale with a coat of paint and brass or copper accessories or small fittings, such as cabinet handles.
Weave metallics into your kitchen
8. Give minimal a twist
If you’re really taken with a minimal look, it doesn’t necessarily have to be plain and white. In black, a pared-back aesthetic can have a tougher edge.
As with any minimal kitchen design, going handleless will visually declutter the space, and including enough smart, closed storage to give everything its place will keep surfaces clear.
This mixture of vintage oak and dark concrete cabinets, with a hot-rolled steel benchtop, makes for an even stronger style statement.
If you’re really taken with a minimal look, it doesn’t necessarily have to be plain and white. In black, a pared-back aesthetic can have a tougher edge.
As with any minimal kitchen design, going handleless will visually declutter the space, and including enough smart, closed storage to give everything its place will keep surfaces clear.
This mixture of vintage oak and dark concrete cabinets, with a hot-rolled steel benchtop, makes for an even stronger style statement.
9. Just opt for an island
If all that black is scaring you, try a dark blue like this just on the island instead, and soften things further with a few traditional touches.
Tongue-and-groove panelling, nautical brass pendants and vintage-look industrial seating, all seen here, are just some ideas for adding a little homey, eclectic character. Also, look at old enamel signage and vintage crockery.
Give your kitchen island a facelift
If all that black is scaring you, try a dark blue like this just on the island instead, and soften things further with a few traditional touches.
Tongue-and-groove panelling, nautical brass pendants and vintage-look industrial seating, all seen here, are just some ideas for adding a little homey, eclectic character. Also, look at old enamel signage and vintage crockery.
Give your kitchen island a facelift
10. Update just your cabinets
You could have darker kitchen cabinets installed and leave the rest of the room as is. It’s also easy, if time-consuming, to paint your existing pale kitchen cabinets a darker shade, if you’d like to save some pennies.
Enquire at your local home improvement store for advice on the best paint type and prep method for your cabinet-door material.
TELL US
Would you dare to go dark in your kitchen? Tell us what you love or hate about this trend in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse daring black kitchens
You could have darker kitchen cabinets installed and leave the rest of the room as is. It’s also easy, if time-consuming, to paint your existing pale kitchen cabinets a darker shade, if you’d like to save some pennies.
Enquire at your local home improvement store for advice on the best paint type and prep method for your cabinet-door material.
TELL US
Would you dare to go dark in your kitchen? Tell us what you love or hate about this trend in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse daring black kitchens
This kitchen works in dark and light, with shots of bold colour for a modern take that still manages to look fresh and breezy. The vibrant bar stools, bold print and green foliage and accessories elevate the look.
The room configuration is also key: this one is open, with lots of natural light from roof windows, plus the owners have opted for just one ultra-dark wall and kept the floor relatively pale. A stainless steel benchtop bounces light around the room to great effect.
Browse more dark wood cabinets