'When working with a black kitchen, it's important to add different finishes and textures to make sure it doesn't look too one dimensional,' says Alex Main, Director of The Main Company, the team behind this Victorian-inspired kitchen. 'Glossy tiles, brushed metallics and matte cabinets all combine beautifully.
Incorporate bright or pastel colors to liven up a neutral kitchen with black cabinets. Here, the deep shade of black sets of warm finishes, like a butcher-block island surface and granite countertops. Cool stone floors and stainless-steel accents balance the look.
Pair Black Kitchen Cabinets With White Countertops and Walls
The classic contrast of black and white is a popular choice for modern black kitchens. A clean all-white kitchen can turn into a two-tone space with a few simple changes, bringing a black kitchen design trend to the forefront.
You can accent a black and white kitchen with virtually any color. For a bold, high-contrast look, add bright red, yellow, or orange accents. Add a natural feel with shades of green. Or soften things up with pastel shades of blue or pink.
Creative Lighting solutions
Consider installing lights underneath the overhanging cabinets to give your kitchen a quick boost of light. You can also install recessed lighting in the ceiling. Halogen light bulbs inject a large amount of light into a dark space, and CFL light bulbs mimic important natural light.
A black kitchen is chic and modern. To add warmth, bring in natural materials. Wood is a great way to balance the sleek, clean lines of black cabinets, appliances and fixtures. Try incorporating it into open shelving or a kitchen island.
White or lighter colors like gray and beige will contrast perfectly with dark cabinets. If a lighter countertop color isn't an option, use white backsplash tiles to create contrast instead.
While black has a reputation for being dark and dramatic, it makes for a great color to use in your kitchen. It's easy to pull off, and when done correctly, your kitchen will look totally chic.
Unlike lighter tones and colours, dark colours absorb light rather than reflect it throughout a space. This can cause a room to feel more cramped. The important part of the last sentence is the word “can”. Yes, black cabinetry can make a room feel more confining than it actually is.
Even if your kitchen is small or has bad natural lighting, there are ways to make your space feel less cramped even if you do incorporate dark cabinetry. Dark cabinetry mixed with a white or light-colored backsplash, white walls, a light-colored countertop, and warm decor tones will do the trick perfectly.
Countertop Color #1: Crisp Whites
Offsetting kitchens with dark cabinets with crisp, white countertops is a great way to add contrast to your kitchen and bring light into the space, helping to avoid an enclosed feeling that could result from too many dark surfaces.
Pick the Right Shade. If executed poorly, black kitchen cabinets can easily overwhelm a room. The key is selecting a shade of black that works with the space. Here, a soft tone was used to blend with the room's elegant feel, and when paired with a white island, the space doesn't feel too dark.
Neon colors are becoming more popular in decorating, but yellow is the number one choice for kitchens with dark cabinets. The simple reason is because it lightens the room so well while adding a huge statement piece. Working best with black units, try using monochrome accents to add more depth to the room scheme.
One of the primary cons of black kitchen cabinets is the fact that they require constant cleaning. They might not show the dirt, but they accumulate quite a lot. Dust, water splatters, food particles, and more can easily get on your cabinets. Don't let the fact that they don't show so much dirt deceive you.
Stick up some under-cabinet lights.
Under-the-cabinet lighting is the best fix for a dark and cramped kitchen. Choose from puck lights, fluorescent light bars, or LED light bars to brighten up your space.
A common question most homeowners ask is, “Should countertops be lighter or darker than cabinets?” Well, it depends on the look that you choose for your kitchen. Classically, one could use darker countertops than cabinets. Today, the trend is using lighter countertops than cabinets to improve the kitchen's appeal.
When you want a kitchen space that looks cool, yet is still cozy, black is a great color choice. It's elegant, inky and will go a long way toward adding character to your kitchen. If your space is larger, it can also create a more intimate feel you can enjoy whether you're home with your family or entertaining.
While a white and bright kitchen will always be classic, home decor enthusiasts anxiously look forward to the new trends predicted to dominate the scene. One of these anticipated trends is the rise of the black kitchen, characterized by dark accents and details that create a striking, modern look.
The risk is that in your kitchen the black almost overwhelms you within a setting that is too dark. This is why you need to ensure you include enough lighter-coloured features within your kitchen to prevent that. A room with black walls will always seem smaller than an identically sized room with white walls.
Hides Scratches and Stains
Your kitchen cabinets get a lot of traffic — they're always being opened or closed, kicked, scuffed, or knocked into. Fortunately, black doesn't show wear and tear like white or light-colored cabinets do, allowing them to maintain their flawless appearance, even when accidents happen.
Contrast Options
Pairing a light grey or white benchtop or splashback with darker cabinetry can help open up a space. While pairing a bold colour like gold or copper with dark cabinets and benchtop can make the space more dramatic and give it some wow factor.
Grey is a great neutral that works perfectly well with black, and a combination of black and grey turns up the sophistication factor another notch. A lighter grey with black can help freshen up a space, while a darker grey with black can set the mood in a space. It all depends on how dark you dare to go.
If you want something with a little more color, you can choose just about anything you want! Brown, beige, greige, green, blue, and almost any other color will look great on the wall with black cabinets. Overall, I just recommend you keep the shade on the lighter side to let your cabinets pop.