10 black kitchen design ideas that may just convince you to be bold

10 Bold Black Kitchen Design Ideas

There’s nothing quite like using black in interior design. It adds a dramatic flair that few other colors can match. Although it’s still an unusual choice for a kitchen, this simply adds to the boldness.

Set the Scene

With natural light pouring in from the windows, this spacious galley-style kitchen offsets matte black fixtures and countertops with a concrete ceiling and grey stone floor. Finished with an eye-catching, light-colored extractor hood above the state-of-the-art gas hob, this is a sleek kitchen space, ideal for those who like to entertain.

Tip: Matte black surfaces absorb light, so they work well in bright spaces. Combining them with lighter shades like grey, cream, and white prevents the black elements from becoming too dominant.

Dark Romance

This elegant kitchen has the feel of a Victorian greenhouse, with its high pressed-metal ceilings, cottage-pane windows, and profusion of orchids. It sets wooden joinery and countertops in a light, cement-based composite finish against bold black walls, complemented by a collection of copper pots and pans.

Tip: In a dark space, choosing the right lighting is key. A central chandelier adds vintage glamour, while brass wall sconces provide retro accents against the black walls.

Shine On

In this urban apartment, slick, glossy, and glamorous black surfaces are used throughout the open-plan kitchen, with further shine added by copper light fittings and a polished wooden floor. Appliances and kitchenware are hidden behind integrated storage, finished in matte black, forming a discreet backdrop to the drama.

Tip: A sleek all-black space can be humanized and grounded by artworks, even when they feature more of the shade.

Hide and Sleek

The kitchen in this house is concealed behind a frameless black glass door. The bulk of the kitchen appliances and storage are discreetly hidden, with black fixtures and fittings reinforcing the theme of privacy.

Tip: Using a variety of finishes for black surfaces adds visual interest without needing contrasting pieces or other colors.

Material World

While this kitchen has an industrial feel, it’s also very practical. The kitchen cabinetry is clad with steel plates, and the custom-made light fitting is crafted from plumbing piping. The interior design celebrates rough edges but remains highly functional.

Cabin Fever

Contrast is key in this kitchen. The pale wooden bar stools stand out like sculptures against the dark base of the island. A master woodworker designed the streamlined galley-style kitchen in this compact surf shack, using black to create a framing backdrop.

Chiaroscuro Cool

The architect owner of this Parisian-style apartment installed a new kitchen in its center, with a steel and glass facade dividing it from the open-plan living space. The kitchen is gorgeously dark, with matte black joinery, black-painted walls, and black-veined Carrara marble countertops.

Tip: This space exploits the classic contrast between darkness and light, making it a perfect model for monochrome interiors.

Counter Productive

Fittings and fixtures in black are effectively framed against raw wooden walls in this kitchen. The dining table is a seamless extension of the kitchen unit, while the elegant countertop is made from blackened brass that will develop a unique patina over time.

Tip: Keep the lines of black pieces slim and refined, and they will function like visual punctuation in a space rather than overwhelming it.

Home Industry

Although it’s all black, the open-plan kitchen in this urban apartment feels multi-dimensional, courtesy of a considered layering of materials. A dramatically veined marble kitchen island combines with matte black cabinets to create a feeling of depth, with copper-colored pendants adding warmth.

Tip: In urban locations, especially in old industrial buildings, you can go bold with black as it suits the architecture well. Layer it on, then add warmth with gleams of copper or brass.

Perfectly Formed

Looking for proof that an all-black kitchen can work well in a suburban family home? This homeowner has cleverly combined the rich caramel tones of restored parquet floors with a kitchen prep unit made from black-stained pine and a countertop of very dark grey granite. The black-painted bricks add further texture to the space.

Photography by Greg Cox/Bureaux, Warren Heath/Bureaux