Dark Kitchen Cabinet Ideas to Elevate Your Space’s Style

June 20, 2023
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Dark Kitchen Cabinet Ideas 

Are you looking to create a striking and modern kitchen design? Dark kitchen cabinets add a touch of sophistication and elegance to your space. When paired with white countertops and walls, they create a beautiful contrast that instantly draws attention.

For those who prefer a subtler look, lighter shades of dark cabinets can provide a more understated yet stylish aesthetic. Another popular option is combining dark lower cabinets with lighter upper cabinets. This creates a balanced and visually appealing space.

Even in a small kitchen, dark shades can be used strategically to add depth and create an illusion of space. And if you’re feeling bold, consider incorporating bold accents to complement your dark cabinets. This will add a touch of personality and flair to your culinary haven.

HEADER IMAGE

SOURCE: Jula Cole Design

Dark colors create a bold and dramatic look, making a statement in your kitchen. They not only look wonderful, but they are also more forgiving than light-colored cabinets in hiding any blemishes or stains. Let’s explore the top 7 dark kitchen cabinet ideas to elevate your kitchen.

Dark Kitchen Cabinet Ideas

When it comes to creating a beautiful and modern kitchen space, dark kitchen cabinets provide a dramatic backdrop. Adding depth and character to the room, they become the focal point.

Dark Cabinets with White Countertops

A popular kitchen design choice, is the combination of dark cabinet colors with white countertops. This contrast of color tones creates a bold look that adds depth and dimension to any kitchen.

Darker cabinets create a warm and cozy atmosphere, while the white countertop brightens the space and creates a crisp look. Allowing for a clean and fresh feel, this combination is perfect for kitchens with natural light. The dark cabinets can be made of different materials, such as wood or laminate, giving a stylish and sophisticated look. White countertop options include quartz, granite, and marble, which provide durability, ease of maintenance, and resistance to stains and chips.

Want to save money on replacing your countertops? Check out this post!

Dark cabinets with white countertops are timeless and versatile, making it easy to integrate them with any other design element in the kitchen. This pairing is a great way to elevate your kitchen decor while maintaining a modern and elegant look.

Dark kitchen cabinet ideas in a large open kitchen with a center island and two bar stools

SOURCE: Everingham Design

Dark Kitchen Cabinet Ideas with White Walls

Dark cabinets with white walls is a classic look. The contrast between the darker shade cabinets and bright white walls creates a bold and striking look.

The beauty of this design is its versatility – it works well with both traditional and contemporary styles. Choosing a darker color, such as a deep espresso or charcoal grey, can give the kitchen a sleek and sophisticated look. Adding in white walls offers a sense of spaciousness and balance to the overall design. This combination is perfect for a kitchen with natural light or bright task lighting, as it allows the dark cabinets to pop. To complete the look, consider adding brushed steel hardware or gold accents to enhance the modern feel of the space.

Large center island with 4 bar stools and large pendant lights

SOURCE: Gregg Homebuilding Company

Lighter Shades of Dark Cabinets

Lighter shades of dark cabinets are another popular choice in kitchen design elements. While dark cabinetry can add drama to a room, it can sometimes feel heavy and overwhelming.

By opting for a lighter shade, such as Aged Barrel or Onyx, you can still achieve the bold look of dark wood.

A light color palette will always make a room feel more open and bright. The key is to pair these cabinets with plenty of natural light and light-colored accents. A few great choices would be:

  • white or pale gray countertops
  • light wood flooring
  • sleek stainless steel appliances

This will help to keep the space feeling airy while still allowing the cabinets to make a statement.

Large kitchen island in a huge galley kitchen. Wooden beams overheard

SOURCE: Total Concepts

White Kitchen Cabinets with Dark Kitchen Island

If you’re looking to elevate your kitchen, then white kitchen cabinets with a dark kitchen island is the perfect color scheme. It’s easy to see why, this neutral color combination is a popular trend in kitchen design.

White cabinets contribute to a light and airy feel, while the dark kitchen island adds depth and contrast. The result is a visually stunning kitchen that is both modern and timeless. The darker island becomes the centerpiece to the room. While the light cabinets provide a simple backdrop.

White cabinets are also great for a smaller kitchen because they make the room appear bigger. A dark kitchen island provides ample storage space and also adds a touch of sophistication to the overall design. This pairing is ideal if you’re looking for a kitchen that is stylish, functional, and classic.

I love the contrast of my black kitchen island against my white cabinets and light countertops. It does a great job of breaking up the space in my large kitchen area too.

Kitchen island with a large artwork behind it

Want to build your own kitchen island? Here are the plans! So easy! 

Dark Lower Cabinets with Lighter Upper Cabinets

Pair black kitchen cabinets on the bottom with a lighter cabinet color on top. This two-toned kitchen cabinets look is often called tuxedo cabinets. The contrast between the two tones generates an eye-catching visual effect, making the area appear larger. The darker lower cabinets anchor the room and provide a sense of depth. While the lighter upper cabinets draw the eye upwards, making the ceiling feel higher. This design concept works particularly well in kitchens with high ceilings or open floor plans.

While darker tones add warmth and depth to a space, lighter cabinets can give the room a light and airy feel. Dark lower cabinets with lighter upper cabinets can be accented with a backsplash or countertop in a contrasting color for even more visual interest.

While black cabinetry on the bottom is a beautiful look, feel free to venture out in your color choices. You might try the following dark tones instead:

  • navy blue
  • dark grey cabinets
  • dark green cabinets (my personal favorite)
  • cherry cabinets

Large open kitchen with large square center island and huge windows

SOURCE: Paper Moon Painting

Using Dark Colors in a Small Kitchen

Using dark colors in a small kitchen can be a great way to create a dramatic look. Dark kitchen cabinet ideas can help to make a small space seem more spacious. The dark color provides a sense of depth and richness. Additionally, dark colors can work well with a variety of other decor styles, from minimalist designs to more traditional looks. Dark cabinets can also provide a bold contrast to lighter walls or countertops, making them stand out even more.

When using dark colors in a small kitchen, it’s important to consider the other elements in the room, such as lighting and accents. Proper lighting can help to balance out the darkness of the cabinets. Carefully chosen accents can add pops of color and interest to the space.

Dark sage green cabinets in a smaller kitchen

SOURCE: Heidi Caillier Design

Dark Kitchen Cabinet Ideas with Bold Accents

Combining dark cabinets with bold accents can really make a statement. The dark cabinets provide an elegant and sophisticated base for the bold accent pieces to stand out. This design can be achieved through various combinations, such as:

  • using black cabinets with bright red countertops
  • a patterned backsplash that contrasts with the dark cabinetry
  • black cabinets with gold light fixtures and accents

Adding light fixtures with a pop of color or unique design can also enhance the bold accents and contribute to the modern feel of the kitchen. Pairing the dark cabinets and bold accents with stainless steel appliances, sleek hardware, and simple yet striking decor pieces completes the overall polished look. Dark cabinets with bold accents are a perfect choice if you’re wanting an eye-catching and edgy space without sacrificing functionality and comfort.

Dark kitchen cabinet ideas in a large open kitchen with center island

SOURCE: Jute Interior Design

Incorporating dark kitchen cabinets into your kitchen design can offer a sophisticated and modern look. So many options are available, when it comes to selecting the right color and type of dark cabinets to match your kitchen space. Whether you opt for sleek black cabinets, deep brown or cherry wood tones, or more unique designs, the possibilities are endless. By considering one of these top seven dark kitchen cabinet ideas, you can achieve the perfect look to elevate your kitchen space.

FAQ’s: Dark Kitchen Cabinet Ideas

What is the best wall color for dark kitchen cabinets?

A lighter neutral wall color with warm undertones will tone down your kitchen and help it to feel cozy and inviting.

Are dark kitchen cabinets still in style?

Yes! Aside from being a timeless, evergreen style, dark kitchen cabinets are all the rage in 2023! After the long trend of all-white kitchens, people are craving some color back in their space.

What color countertop looks best with dark cabinets?

A light countertop, for sure! A light countertop will brighten up your kitchen and provide a great contrast for your darker cabinets.

Should cabinets be lighter or darker than the walls?

No steadfast rule! Do what you want! All personal preference.

Should cabinets be lighter or darker than countertops?

Once again, there’s no hard rule for this. However, with so many people opting for darker cabinets in 2023, lighter countertops are the popular choice currently.

Let’s go beyond the design to build something beautiful together!

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