7 Reasons to Choose Dark Kitchen Units
Tempted to go with dark kitchen cabinets? Here are a few reasons to convince you to embrace the dark side
Amanda Pollard
17 January 2019
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Dark and dramatic, or light and bright? When it comes to choosing your kitchen units, it can be hard to decide. So in the first of a two-part series to help you choose your cabinets, we look at the benefits of going to the dark side.
1. Add some ambiance
If you’re looking to design a kitchen that’s both contemporary and cosy, dark cabinets could be the way to go. Inky surfaces, like the ones in this elegant room, help to close in the space slightly and create a snug feel.
Position lighting strategically, so it casts an atmospheric glow over the dark finishes.
If you’re looking to design a kitchen that’s both contemporary and cosy, dark cabinets could be the way to go. Inky surfaces, like the ones in this elegant room, help to close in the space slightly and create a snug feel.
Position lighting strategically, so it casts an atmospheric glow over the dark finishes.
2. Style it up
For an instant shot of sophistication, you can’t beat dark cabinetry. Moody colours give a sober, grown-up feel that can make a space feel seriously chic.
In this kitchen, the plain walls, classic white tiles and pale grey flooring highlight the dark grey units and black architectural features beautifully. Brass handles, meanwhile, bring out the richness of the charcoal hue.
For an instant shot of sophistication, you can’t beat dark cabinetry. Moody colours give a sober, grown-up feel that can make a space feel seriously chic.
In this kitchen, the plain walls, classic white tiles and pale grey flooring highlight the dark grey units and black architectural features beautifully. Brass handles, meanwhile, bring out the richness of the charcoal hue.
3. Hide the knocks
All kitchens get their fair share of wear and tear, but some show it less than others. A dark kitchen is a good choice if you think your cabinets are going to need to stand up to frequent spillages and knocks.
A dark surface can be more forgiving than a light one, and won’t instantly show up scuffs and stains. If you’re painting your cabinets, make sure you do a few coats, so the dark undersurfaces hide any scratches in the top coat.
All kitchens get their fair share of wear and tear, but some show it less than others. A dark kitchen is a good choice if you think your cabinets are going to need to stand up to frequent spillages and knocks.
A dark surface can be more forgiving than a light one, and won’t instantly show up scuffs and stains. If you’re painting your cabinets, make sure you do a few coats, so the dark undersurfaces hide any scratches in the top coat.
4. Contrast with white
If you’re going for a white worktop, contrasting it with a dark shade will have the most striking effect. Here, the gleaming marbled surface looks stunning against the deep-hued cabinets.
The designers have embraced the contrast, mixing white walls with dark grey features to create a monochrome space. To warm the whole thing up, they’ve added a wooden floor and some soft foliage.
How to make a black fridge work well in a non-black kitchen
If you’re going for a white worktop, contrasting it with a dark shade will have the most striking effect. Here, the gleaming marbled surface looks stunning against the deep-hued cabinets.
The designers have embraced the contrast, mixing white walls with dark grey features to create a monochrome space. To warm the whole thing up, they’ve added a wooden floor and some soft foliage.
How to make a black fridge work well in a non-black kitchen
5. Highlight bold colours
Just as dark cabinets set off a white worktop, they can also form a dramatic backdrop for vivid shades.
Take a look at this well-designed kitchen, for example. The dark grey units are neat and practical, but it’s the accents of green and red that really make the space. The units work as a moody canvas to showcase those bright bursts of colour.
Browse bar stools
Just as dark cabinets set off a white worktop, they can also form a dramatic backdrop for vivid shades.
Take a look at this well-designed kitchen, for example. The dark grey units are neat and practical, but it’s the accents of green and red that really make the space. The units work as a moody canvas to showcase those bright bursts of colour.
Browse bar stools
6. Embrace luxury
Sombre colours look beautiful with metallic finishes such as brass and copper, as this kitchen illustrates. The dark sage units complement, rather than clash with, the brass tap and backsplash.
The two surfaces are wonderfully balanced to give this room a feeling of understated luxury.
Sombre colours look beautiful with metallic finishes such as brass and copper, as this kitchen illustrates. The dark sage units complement, rather than clash with, the brass tap and backsplash.
The two surfaces are wonderfully balanced to give this room a feeling of understated luxury.
7. Zone the space
In an open-plan scheme, it’s a good idea to use colour to zone separate areas. By using a dark shade on your cabinets, you can make your kitchen appear grounded in its spot.
Here, the dark units contrast with the white walls around them, helpfully marking the kitchen out from the rest of the room.
TELL US
Are you planning to choose dark kitchen units, or are you still making up your mind? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments section.
MORE
15 Ideas from Stunningly Black Kitchens
In an open-plan scheme, it’s a good idea to use colour to zone separate areas. By using a dark shade on your cabinets, you can make your kitchen appear grounded in its spot.
Here, the dark units contrast with the white walls around them, helpfully marking the kitchen out from the rest of the room.
TELL US
Are you planning to choose dark kitchen units, or are you still making up your mind? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments section.
MORE
15 Ideas from Stunningly Black Kitchens
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I had many houses and therefore many kitchens , ranging from white through natural wood and grey cabinets but at one point I always end up craving black or charcoal cabinetry again.
My current kitchen is being build and will be deep dark charcoal cabinetry with soft gold wooden backsplash and brass hardware again.
love it and haven’t found a corps yet ( previous comment 😉 )
Bought a home with fairly new appliances but the cabinets needed a facelift. Lost hours of sleep deciding on white or dark cabinets. With a creamy white quartz decided dark would look awesome. Was hard to find the right paint color but I think the decision was the right one. We love how it looks. DIY
Finally done with backsplash.