Black Kitchen Cabinets – the Next Big Trend?

White kitchens have been all the rage for the past several years. After all, white cabinets do a great job of making a kitchen feel bigger and brighter. But, more and more we’re seeing black cabinets popping up in kitchen designs, which begs the question…is black the next big kitchen trend? Will black kitchen cabinets become as popular as white ones?

Let’s take a look at some beautiful kitchens with black cabinets, and see what you think. 

One of the hottest shows on TV right now is HGTV’s Fixer Upper (so good). Joanna Gaines has used black cabinets in many of her kitchen designs, and the result is beautiful and sophisticated. Here is one of my favorites from their bed & breakfast makeover.

 

Joanna and Chip Gaines also chose distressed black cabinets for their new bakery. The combination of black cabinetry with warm wood floors, and white subway tile looks so classic and timeless!

Here is another great kitchen with black shaker cabinets, and crisp white walls and countertops. The key to making a high-contrast kitchen design like this work so well, is the incorporation of warm wood tones on the floors and countertops (cutting boards).

This farmhouse kitchen looks light and bright, even with black cabinets. Using black in your kitchen doesn’t mean it will automatically look dark or dreary. Just keep your other surfaces light to counteract darker cabinetry.

Another option is to use black and white kitchen cabinets together. Using black base cabinets will make the bottom half of your kitchen feel solid and grounded, while white upper cabinets will make the kitchen feel brighter and taller.  

You can also create an airy and elegant look with glass doors on your black cabinets. In this next kitchen, the tall glass cabinets have a white interior, which makes the inside of the cabinets appear to be an extension of the white walls.

Next up is another beautiful two-tone kitchen with black base cabinets, and white upper cabinets. The dark grout between the subway tile helps to tie the two contrasting cabinet colors together.

What about using black cabinets throughout the space? Definitely! This next kitchen looks classy and sophisticated with both black base and upper cabinets. Choosing a lighter color for the countertops and backsplash helps to create some visual separation and keep things from looking “heavy.” 

If you love the idea of an all-white kitchen, but still want to incorporate some contrast, go with a black kitchen island and/or black countertops. This kitchen is a great example of both!

A few more examples of gorgeous black kitchens for you…

No doubt about it…black kitchen cabinets are gorgeous! I also wanted to show you how great they can look in a laundry room. I’m thinking about doing something like this next photo in our laundry room. I just love the contrast of the dark cabinets with the white walls, and that patterned tile floor…dreamy.

If committing to black cabinets makes you a little squeamish, there are other more subtle ways to add some black to your kitchen. How about black painted doors, like in this white farmhouse kitchen?

You can see another great example of black painted doors in the incredible before-and-after pics of this next dining room (a la Fixer Upper).

Tips for Using Black Cabinets in Your Kitchen

So, how do you make black work well in your kitchen? If you noticed in the pictures above, there are several common elements that make them successful. Here are some tips for creating a beautiful black kitchen:

• Keep it from looking dark by using lots of white accents – walls, countertops, backsplash, etc.
• Consider mixing black and white cabinets (black kitchen island and/or black base cabinets, with white upper cabinets)
• Use natural wood accents to soften the harsh contrast of black and white
• Distressing the black cabinets can also soften the look
• If using black cabinets makes you nervous, consider using a few simple black accents like painted doors, cabinet hardware, or pendant lighting

Black kitchens may not ever become as popular as white ones, but black is still a beautiful classic color to use in a kitchen. It’s a fabulous kitchen trend that I think you will be seeing more and more of in the future!