How to create a Black Kitchen

Dark and black kitchens are super trendy right now, flick through social media, Pinterest or a home improvement magazine, and it won't be long before you come across one.

We're becoming bolder and braver with our kitchen design choice. However, we often see customers wanting a dark kitchen yet are still sceptical about actually taking the plunge.

Here are the common reasons we’re scared to go dark, and ways to overcome them.

A kitchen is a considerable investment. So many people are rightly concerned that dark will no longer be ‘the thing’ in a few years, and they'll have wasted their money.

But here’s the thing, dark kitchen designs aren't a fad. Like the old saying 'black is always in fashion', darker-coloured kitchens are here to stay.

This luxurious black kitchen pictured, one of our projects, is the Mornington by Second Nature. With cabinetry in ‘Beaded Carbon’ it’s anything but dull and drab; because it’s the way these kitchens are designed and accessorised that makes them timeless.

And for more tips on that, read on!

People are often worried by the lack of light in a black kitchen. Whilst it’s true white kitchens offer benefits like light reflection and give the perception of a larger space in smaller kitchens, you can still achieve a beautifully light and airy space with a dark kitchen.

We often team our black kitchen cabinets with warm wood kitchen worktops to soften them, like this worktop (and shelves) in solid oak.

The main work surfaces here are in white quartz, which creates a stark contrast and lightens the room.

There are also plenty of clever hacks such as additional lighting, accessories choices, and the use of metals or mirrors to create the illusion of more space and light where necessary. This kitchen is a perfect example of clever lighting under shelving, above units and a statement light above the peninsula. Of course, this is in addition to making the most of any natural light you have.

The final common conundrum associated with darker spaces is that it’s harder to keep them looking clean and fresh. Again, with thoughtful design and clever choices, this shouldn’t be the case. Kitchen worktops bear the brunt of the work, so choosing a low-maintenance option here is vital. Also consider a matt finish over gloss for your cupboards to avoid mucky fingerprints.

If you'd like our help designing a black kitchen or dealing with a dark kitchen project, we'd be more than happy to help, get in touch for a chat.