The kitchen is a place where we spend a good part of every day. It's important that its decor makes cooking and shared family meals even more enjoyable. In modern kitchens, black is increasingly prevalent – and we're not surprised at all. This colour, which some find gloomy and others exceptionally elegant, can give a kitchen interior a unique character. Discover how to design this room in black so it looks stylish and doesn't feel optically smaller.
Black in the kitchen – the most popular myths
Before we delve into ways to arrange an intriguing black kitchen, let's focus on a few myths associated with it. I'm sure we've all heard at some point that black interiors are linked with sadness, coldness, and the blues, and certainly can't look cosy. Nothing could be further from the truth! Appropriately chosen black solutions look exceptionally elegant, and when combined with warmer accents, they create an aesthetic, atmospheric whole. All it takes is for black furniture to have a wooden countertop, and the kitchen instantly feels cosier. Another myth concerns fingerprints visible on black furniture and appliances.
However, the colour is not the issue here – what matters is whether we opt for high-gloss fronts or those with a matte finish. On matte cabinets, fingerprints, smudges, greasy stains, or splashes are not nearly as visible. With glossy, light-reflecting furniture, they do indeed stand out more – but it doesn't matter whether the furniture is black, white, or red. If, however, we want to visually enlarge the room, then glossy fronts will prove to be a better choice than matte. They reflect light, which can make the interior appear larger than it actually is. Another myth claiming that black always makes an interior smaller, debunked!
Black kitchen – what style?
Black furniture, appliances, tiles, or accessories in the kitchen fit into more than one interior design style. They suit modern design, as well as Nordic interiors, and even those maintained in a glamour style. However, black is most commonly associated with a loft style – combined with classic brick and raw, metal accessories, it looks absolutely perfect. So, by opting for this colour for your furnishings, you truly have a blank canvas.
Black matte furniture – elegance and modernity in one
When we talk about a black kitchen, we most often mean an interior with black furniture – after all, they make up the largest part of this room. Black matte fronts are currently one of the most common choices for kitchen spaces. It's important that the dark colour of the furniture and appliances is broken up by light accents – for example, white or light-grey tiles, or lighter wooden countertops. This way, black doesn't optically shrink the interior, and the whole thing works well together.
Fridge, cooker, and other appliances in black
Just as modern and elegant as black furniture itself, small appliances in this colour also make a statement. A matte black fridge, cooker, or oven perfectly matches the rest of the black furnishings and makes the kitchen even more modern. The same applies to smaller appliances such as a coffee machine, microwave, stand mixer, or juicer – especially if they stand on wooden, contrasting countertops. A good move might also be to combine dark grey furniture with black appliances – such a colour combination is also exceptionally stylish.
Or perhaps black kitchen tiles?
Black in the kitchen can dominate on furniture and appliances, but you can also opt for black tiles – both on the floor and on the walls. In this case, it's best to complement the decor with wooden furniture in a cooler, light shade, but with black countertops. Wooden fronts will gently brighten the entire space, and black walls and floor will provide an elegant, modernist atmosphere. Tiles don't have to be uniform either – a popular solution recently is a marble pattern on a black background. A mosaic with black and additional colourful accents or universal black brick-shaped tiles will also look interesting.
Black decorative accessories
If you don't feel comfortable in darker rooms where black dominates, you can introduce only black accessories into your kitchen, which will also add character to it. Black chairs, lamps, a kettle, a bread bin, an under-sink organiser… – each of these accessories will be a hit in a modern kitchen. On the table, you can lay a black table runner or liven up the space with a black tablecloth adorned with colourful, eye-catching flowers. What's more, accessories in shades of black are an exceptionally versatile solution that suits almost any arrangement – regardless of style. Even small black accents in a lighter kitchen will help create a modern, aesthetic space.
How to liven up a black kitchen?
If you dream of a kitchen filled with black furniture, but also want to introduce a touch of colour, you have many options. On the wall between the suspended cabinets and standing furniture, you can lay a colourful mosaic or simply apply white paint. Another exceptionally simple way to liven up a black kitchen is to introduce a large number of plants. This refers to both your favourite potted flowers that suit the arrangement, as well as fresh herbs in pots. Their green will add expression and a cheerful atmosphere to the interior, and will also pair wonderfully with black furniture.
On kitchen countertops and windowsills, you can also boldly place scented candles, which will add cosiness to the interior, and hang colourful posters on the walls.
If you're not afraid to experiment and like things to be lively in your decor, you can also paint one of your freestanding pieces of furniture – for example, a kitchen table – a completely different colour. This is a slightly more time-consuming, but very original way to liven up the space. Finally, it's worth mentioning cabinet handles – by changing the colour of these seemingly minor details, you can also add character to the arrangement.
A black kitchen can truly be a showstopper – you just need to think through its arrangement carefully and combine black with the right accessories. Regardless of whether you opt for black matte fronts, black tiles, or a black kitchen table, the interior will convey elegance and modernity from the threshold. Check out which furnishings from FormAdore's offer match your vision of the perfect kitchen and create an interior where you'll feel fantastic – not just when cooking!
And if you're looking for inspiration on how to furnish other rooms in your home, but don't have much space, then check out our guide "How to furnish a small living room?" or "How to furnish a small bedroom?"
