The smart home predicted by generations of sci-fi writers is finally becoming a reality – and some of the new devices out there fulfill even the most ambitious fantasies. While many of these useful gadgets remain in the realm of luxury, others are perfectly affordable and can start making your life easier right now. This super buyer’s guide covers smart devices for every budget and every lifestyle, whether you’re looking for simple objects like those fobs that track lost house keys or want to embrace the smart home lifestyle with the most advanced tech on the market. Look here for futuristic gifts for yourself or somebody you love!
iRobot Roomba
As one of the first appliances to usher in the age of the smart home, the Roomba automatic vacuum cleaner has grown to become an iconic device that actually lives up to its popularity.
August Smart Lock
Smart locks are so handy – use your phone to let the dog walker in while you’re on vacation, or unlock the door from your car before carrying in groceries.
Chamberlain Garage Opener
Like the smart lock above, this ultra-quiet garage door opener controls the door from anywhere. Never wonder if you left the garage door open again!
Ring Video Doorbell
See who’s knocking from anywhere, even while traveling – two way communication means you can chat with visitors while you’re away.
Canary Home Security
Canary’s wide-angle lens, night vision, and audio capture provide an effective way to monitor your home from anywhere. It even includes air quality and temperature monitoring! Plus, it looks nice too.
Sentri Monitoring System
If you’d rather have a home security system with its own touch screen, the Sentri offers an attractive upgrade. It even integrates with other smart devices like the Nest Thermostat and Philips Hue.
Awair Air Quality Monitor
This smart monitor detects for carbon dioxide, dust, and toxic chemicals in addition to everyday concerns like temperature and humidity. It looks just like a stylish and minimalistic radio.
Petnet Smartfeeder
Diligent owners can schedule feeding times, manage portions, and receive notifications right on the iPhone with the Petnet Smartfeeder. However, it’s not compatible with Android.
Petcube Interactive Camera
Does work or school keep you away from the home for long stretches? Use this sleek cube to communicate, watch, and play with your pets right from your smartphone!
Petzi Treat Cam
Petzi offers all of the advantages of the Petcube, but this device dispenses treats instead of shining a laser.
Home Security Robot:
This is so cool! The Appbot Link is a smartphone-controlled robot that goes right where you want it to go. Two-way audio makes it perfect for checking to make sure teens are doing their homework.
Flux Smart Bulb:
Don’t like the look of speakers? This smart bulb is a workable and affordable replacement. With multiple bulbs, you can coordinate music throughout the house over Bluetooth.
Playbulb:
This flameless candle is safe and fun for all ages. It cycles through thousands of shades of beautiful colors to enhance the mood in any room.
Nest Thermostat:
Besides looking better than an ordinary thermostat, Nest supports advanced features like self-programming to save time on scheduling and auto-away to save money while you’re not home.
Nest Protect:
This smart fire alarm sends alerts right to your phone, and lasts up to 10 years. It monitors for dangerous carbon monoxide as well. It’s a futuristic-looking necessity for any smart home.
Triby Connected Speaker:
Record messages for family members, take hands-free phone calls, and send doodles or messages from your phone – all with one super cute fridge magnet.
Nucleus Smart Intercom:
Communicate from room-to-room or monitor your house from your phone with this attractive touch-screen intercom. It transmits calls in under 200 milliseconds!
Water Resistant Wireless Speaker:
The gorgeous Turtle Shell 2.0 is portable, shockproof, water resistant, and perfect for adventures. Its sculptural shape ensures it looks great anywhere.
Sugr Cube Smart Speaker:
This minimalistic speaker eliminates buttons in favor of gesture controls. It’s sleek and interactive, and sure to become a talking point at parties.
RainMachine Irrigation Controller:
What smart home is complete without a smart lawn? Save money and water with this self-monitoring forecast-controlled irrigation tool.
Tile Item Finder:
Tile is basically the tool that every forgetful person has dreamed about. Just attach the smart fob to devices like keys and phones to make sure they never get lost again.
Digital Art Display:
Change your artwork on demand with this vivid display from Electric Objects. Discover new art, display your favorites, or upload your own works.
Eero WiFi System:
Most smart home devices won’t work without reliable WiFi. Eero is an intelligent multi-point WiFi system that accommodates even the largest homes.
Luma WiFi System:
This is a cheaper alternative to the Eero above, but this package offers a few more color choices to coordinate with your smart interior.
Customizable E-Ink Keyboard:
Do you have trouble remembering the keyboard shortcuts for different computer programs? This e-ink keyboard displays whatever symbols you want, changeable on demand.
Satechi USB Power Strip:
So many devices depend on USB for charging, but laptops and desktops only have so many ports. This power strip combines four AC power outlets with 4 smart USB ports to cover all the bases.
PowerCube:
This smart power source includes four AC outlets and two USB ports, in one of the most compact forms on the market. Connect multiple PowerCubes for a modular solution that can handle all your favorite devices.
WeMo WiFi Switch:
Ever had a productive day interrupted by thoughts about whether you left the coffee pot turned on? The WeMo makes it easy to set schedules and power devices on or off with just your smartphone.
OORT SmartSocket:
Energy usage is an important concern for people pursuing the smart home lifestyle. OORT tracks your energy usage and makes it easy to turn off devices from the app, from anywhere.
Withings Body Analyzer:
The traditional scale has been long overdue for a smart home makeover. This scale measures your pulse, tracks home air quality, and the included app generates daily reports to help you reach your health goals.
OLED Lamp Charger:
Gorgeous! This table lamp also serves as a discreet Qi charging station for your favorite devices. It’s stylish, smart, bright, and won’t cast a glare.
LED Qi Charger:
The difference between this lamp/charger combination and the other one is that this lamp has LED rather than OLED, and it’s significantly more affordable.
All-In-One Charger:
It’s a clock, a speaker, a wireless charger, a thermometer, a hands-free calling dock, and so much more. This is the ultimate smart device for a dedicated minimalist.
Fujifilm Smartphone Printer:
Print anywhere! Print any time! Fujifilm’s Instax printer recreates the photo booth experience right from your smartphone. Share memories instantly and permanently.
Peel Pronto:
Have you ever wished you could control all of your media devices with a single remote? The Pronto remote and accompanying Peel app support more than 450,000 devices.
Motion Sensor Night Light:
This automatic light turns on when somebody passes within 6 feet and turns off after 15 to 20 seconds. This is a great way to save on batteries compared to manually-operated nightlights.
Illumibowl Toilet Night Light:
As seen on Shark Tank, this night light illuminates the bowl whenever its motion sensor detects that somebody has entered the bathroom. Kids will be delighted, and guests will smile with surprise.
Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker:
Waterproof speakers are always handy. Whether you love to sing in the shower or listen while working near the sink, this handy device has your back.
Oral-B Smart Toothbrush:
Track and improve your brushing habits with this smart toothbrush from Oral-B. It’ll warn you if you brush too hard, remind you to touch up on those important areas, and motivates with helpful tips.
Touch Faucet:
Are you tired of wiping down your faucet handles after working with raw meat or messy foods? Touch-sensitive faucets are both sanitary and highly convenient.
Drop Smart Kitchen Scale:
Progressively measure ingredients without dirtying too many measuring spoons, and follow hundreds of interactive recipes without dirtying your iPad.
Perfect Bake:
Similar to the Drop scale, this smart device is compatible with both iOS and Android. The app even generates lists of recipes according to the items you have in your pantry.
WiFi Coffee Machine:
Smarter Coffee makes it easy to grind and brew coffee on demand or automatically according to your preferred schedule. Set your grind coarseness and brew strength for the perfect cup every time.
Smart Hydration Tracker:
Pryme Vessyl balances factors like your height, weight, age, activity levels, and hours of sleep to determine how close you are to reaching your ideal daily hydration goals.
Kitchen Tablet Mount:
A tablet is a must-have for any smart kitchen, but nobody wants to give up counter space. This tablet mount keeps devices at eye level for easy viewing and hassle-free use.
Cutting Board with Bin:
Not every smart home device needs to be battery-powered. This cutting board provides smart convenience with a foldable scrap bin for quick cleanup.
Folding Chopping Board:
Here’s another example of a kitchen tool that combines the best of high-tech convenience and low-tech reliability.
Arena Dish Rack:
This dish rack has that cool futuristic look suitable for a true smart home. Its innovative shape directs water right back into your sink and stores away neatly without taking up much space.
Click & Grow Herb Garden:
No green thumb? No problem – the Click & Grow automatically adjusts lighting and monitors water levels to make sure your family can enjoy fresh herbs all year long.
Withings Smart Infrared Thermometer
Super fast contactless thermometer that lets you measure body temperature without poking it under your tongue or armpits. Just keep it close to your forehead and it quickly displays your reading. It has an app too that plots your temperature over time and suggests causes and treatments.
What would you do with a sprawling luxury home? Many people would start looking for design themes to make it feel fuller, pouring through fabric and paint swatches and eyeing the art auctions to fill the walls. These interiors take a different approach. Each minimalistic space remains perfectly sleek and spare, allowing the interior architecture and quality materials to take center stage. Nothing distracts from the beauty of form. Even the furniture features a super-low stature to maintain an unobstructed view – a look that is quite inspiring on its own. Each of the following homes were visualized by Maria Garkusha of Kyiv.
Our first beautiful home resides in a layered environment of folded white volumes, the walls painted with light and shadow. Here the low-profile furniture does a brilliant job of highlighting the glass-railed staircase as it winds its way through the tall and bright open living space.
Concrete accents and sharp lines would make any other space feel too sterile, but the subtle range of grays does a wonderful job of softening the aesthetic.
A peek across the room demonstrates a strong unification of indoors and out, with the outdoor furniture maintaining the same low profile as the sofas and tables inside.
Uncomplicated by decor, this bedroom can remain light and free – a great environment in which to unwind after a hard day.
Of course, it has a spectacular view of one of the home’s many walled patios.
Here’s another bedroom, also very low and natural, with modern accents like the interesting cone-shaped floor lamp by Tom Dixon.
Nearly every room in the house has a view of the privacy wall. It’s lovely how the greenery cuts such a crisp profile against its pristine backdrop.
A return to the main living volume reveals a beautiful open kitchen surrounded by courtyards. The kitchen enjoys a clean white theme while the dining arrangement welcomes guests with warm wood furniture.
Simple surfaces, quality fixtures, and plenty of storage: this space has all the makings of a delicious minimalistic kitchen.
The bathroom is also in perfect communication with the rest of the home, the shower stall tucked away into a semi-private cove.
It’s impossible to understate how important the surrounding wall is to the open layout design. Situated almost in the living room, this hot tub would have seemed far less comfortable without it.
Our second tour is a little briefer, but it’s so worthwhile! This home has a higher-contrast aesthetic for more visual drama, making the low furniture choices pop out from their surroundings. Stark white and matte black accents gain balance from a careful selection of gray mid-tones.
Dark wood expresses a sophisticated yet restrained personality in the open plan kitchen.
White storage and a freestanding range hood stand in contrast to the natural elements.
The bedroom continues the theme, and emphasizes low furniture as well. An elongated counterbalance lamp by Daniel Rybakken stands out like artwork.
Next up is another home that takes advantage of tall glass windows to amplify the effect of a minimalistic interior. While the first home used light tones and the second home used a high contrast palette, this one seems to sit comfortably right in the middle.
The layout is semi-open, using limited dividers and a smart layout to maintain communication from one space to the next.
Behind the living room arrangement, a spacious yet compact kitchen includes a breakfast bar at the island and ceiling-height storage to keep things looking sharp.
Check out this cool wall treatment! The range hood looks like it could close for a sleeker look when not in use.
This view makes it easier to see the significance of the storage wall that divides the living and dining room. Without the reflection, the living space would be clearly visible through the glass walls to the right.
Compared to the previous homes, these bedrooms seem more decorative and personal. This one uses playful furniture and puts functional objects on display rather than hiding them.
Each room has at least one eye-catching lighting feature.
Here’s a look at a second bedroom, outfitted with the same low-slung furniture as the rest of the home.
The distinctive floor lamp with reflector is the Solveig model by Avril de Pastre – solveig means “path of the sun” in Swedish.
A return to raw minimalism, the bathroom gains its independent character from attractive angled features such as this cantilever vanity.
Simple wood accents add a functional touch. Both the palette floor mat and the ladder towel rack would serve as easy DIY projects for any home.
To round out the set, this final gorgeous home uses strong earthy tones rather than a straight grayscale theme. It still has the same incredible walls of windows and low furniture, but the organic palette and curved features bring out a completely different personality.
Strong lines play with the scale of the kitchen, making the countertops look low in accordance with the furniture theme throughout the rest of the home.
Because the countertops are relatively low, the ovens take up residence in the standing cabinetry to the right.
The sink, however, is part of a raised section of the countertop to make washing up a little easier.
Both of the bedrooms feature a different iconic chair. Here you’ll see Hans J. Wegner’s famous Shell Chairs occupying a calming spot near the window beside a black floor reading lamp .
In the background, this bedroom’s low-profile office enjoys the comfort of the Paulistano Armchair by Paulo Mendes da Rocha.
The lamps make a strong statement too!
Dark isn’t the first theme that comes to mind when designing a kitchen. Stereotypical assumptions are of white and bright kitchens matched by light wood—something like the color of breakfast pancakes. Have you ever thought otherwise? Perhaps something like a modern dark kitchen?
We’ve got a collection of stunning spaces sure to switch up your vision. This black kitchen design inspiration is the sexiest interior design can muster. All divulging in shades of black, navy, or dark brown, they add what white kitchens cannot—a seductive allure that says sleekness and sophistication at the same time. Take a peek at some brilliant interiors on the darker side to see if a modern luxury black kitchen could be for you.
Modern Dark Kitchen Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Renovation
1. Make it an All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:Design At Sketch
Almost completely covered in black, a few minor elements shine in chrome and wood in this kitchen interior. We love how the textures do the talking, especially through the matte table under black wood-panelled walls. But having an open approach like this means that every one of your accessories on display—including knives, wine glasses, mugs, cutting boards, teapots, cookie jars, etc.—need to be on point.
2. Add Wooden Elements
Visualizer:Bogdan Tovstyy
This black beauty edges towards wooden elements. We see a speckled floor, a white wall, and a central bench. Rounded black lamps hover over the island, providing functionality and style. If you’re wondering how visual intrigue is added to this modern black kitchen… a huge credit goes to the abstract art!
3. Complement the Black Kitchen with Orange
Source:Vancouver House
A bit of curve rounds out the hard edges—adding some much-needed warmth. This wave-design bench leads up to an orange-hued enclave in this black-and-silver interior. The burnt orange sure makes a design statement (apart from the unique central island).
4. Keep Your Dark Modern Kitchen Simple
Visualizer:Panda Fox Studios
A simplistic look makes this black kitchen a winner. We see the basics: a light floor, a black minimalist island, and sleek cabinetry. But the contrast between light and dark keeps the ambiance interesting, while the large window welcomes plenty of natural light.
5. Make it Dark… Or Not?
Visualizer:Who Cares Design
If you’re eyeing a dark kitchen aesthetic but are hesitant to make the change, this is it. Introducing more light, this black kitchen is hardly dark at all. Black benches, cabinetry, fixtures and stools are intersected by large-panel windows, a white shelving stand and light flooring.
6. Make Use of Asymmetry in the Black Modern Kitchen
Visualizer:Visual Method
This modern black kitchen takes another angle on this kaleidoscopic space, breaking all spatial boundaries. Black and glass alternate in this chic kitchen as the interesting ceiling design keeps the space unconventional. We’ve also got to appreciate the cherry blossoms, doubling as decor even within the interior.
7. Factor in Some Warmth
Source:Modulnova
This warmer-looking kitchen makes a move to brown. It strategically achieves the purpose with the use of wood. This not only introduces natural textures but also makes the ambiance inviting. Talk about a modern style that’s equal parts welcoming!
8. Place a White Island in a Black Modern Kitchen
Visualizer:Jean Regauer
An instant way to brighten up a dark kitchen (we mean, get the best of both worlds)? This kitchen space shows us how by using a white island on a black floor. The backsplash further enhances this dark-and-light effect, while the cowhide rug adds just the right amount of coziness.
9. Make Marble Your Best Friend
Architect:Chamberlain Javens Architects
If you’re looking to create a modern luxury black kitchen, you know what you’ve got to do: Go big on marble! This natural stone adds the luxe factor to any space, especially as a large, central island, as seen in the kitchen above. You can also add it through the backsplash.
10. Make it Mysterious
Visualizer:Tomek Michalski
You can double the visual intrigue in your all black kitchen by adding some mystery. In this kitchen, mood-lighting sets the scene in black and grey, while a marbled bench acts as the hero. The back inlet and flooring create contrast and depth. Taken together, these elements make the space an interesting one.
11. Layer Gray and Gold
Visualizer:Mitaka Dimov
Black kitchens are cool, but what if we layer in gray and add accents of gold? This stunning kitchen space uses gray flooring to add diversity to the otherwise black palette. The thick gold panel is one way that makes the space look incredibly high-end.
12. Add French Style to Black Kitchen Design
Visualizer:Aeroslon
Make your kitchen both modern and French with traditional black cabinetry. In this space, standing armoires act as sinks, and all other displayed items remain black. The stark white clock can surely act as the focal point of the space!
13. Consider Soft Elements
Visualizer:Julia Sultanova
Rough, light wood and low-hanging white lights set this kitchen interior a world apart. You can also notice a layer of light gray cabinetry, adding variation to the otherwise dark color palette. These elements factor in softness to the black kitchen design.
14. Let the Accessories Do the Talking
Photographer:Mikko Ryhänen
In this black-and-wood creation, the accessories take center stage in adorning the interior. We love the houseplant, but the crockery deserves a special mention for doubling as decor. The light oakwood backdrop further warms the space up.
15. Consider a Matte All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:HDR Designer
Neat square panels perfectly line up to emphasize the stark black minimalism that is at play here. We love how the cabinetry is matte black with no hardware, adding a sense of simplicity. The herb planters are a healthy green addition to bring the otherwise simple space.
16. Add Some Stencilling to Black Kitchens
Visualizer:Julia Sultanova
Fine lines and stencilling set this monochromatic space apart. Lined by black magnetic lights, black stencils and glossy white facades, it makes its mark on a light wooden floor.
17. Build a Shape Out of Black
Visualizer:Huso
18. Create a Modern Dark Kitchen with Gradients
Visualizer:Mario Nogueira
If you’re wondering how the intrigue in this space is working… It’s the gradients from black, to charcoal, to light grey. White surrounds in the walls and a monochromatic hanging light. This clever design technique makes sure the space is anything but boring, even if it’s using mere neutrals (minus the stunning orange dining chairs, of course).
19. Leverage Black Textures
Visualizer:Nefeli Kallianou
One instant way to add interest to a black kitchen is with textures, as seen in this metallic matte kitchen. This accounts for decorative presence in the light and bright space, providing character to an otherwise simple room.
20. Work on the Functionality of the Modern Dark Kitchen
Visualizer:İbrahim Ethem KISACIK
This dark modern kitchen makes sure it’s as functional as is stylish. The central island is paired with a black dining table, while all necessary appliances are fixed into the cabinetry. We also see pendant lights and lighting under the hood providing just the right illumination.
21. Create a Modern Classic All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:A&L Interior Design
Folks seeking an inviting all black kitchen can look towards this modern classic space. It merges contemporary elements (through sleek black cabinetry) with traditional ones (as seen in the wooden backsplash) to bring together the best of both worlds.
22. Put Essentials on Display in Your Modern Black Kitchen Interior
Visualizer:Polygon
Yet another kitchen that uses black and wooden elements to create a dark-themed interior. What sets this one apart is the hanging pans. They do offer easy access as the residents cook, but they also double as decor! (Note how the pans also use black and wooden elements to stay coherent with the theme).
23. Add the Industrial Style to the All Black Kitchen
Via:Emotion School
Industrial style lovers, rejoice! This is THE inspiration to set up your favorite interior design style, the dark way. This kitchen uses rustic wood and exposed elements for the ceiling to create an industrial black kitchen interior.
24. Make a Statement with Black Chunky Lamps
Via:HomePicture.in
All eyes on the two chunky lamps hanging in this monochromatic setting. They do add focus but also allow the contrasting white inset to shine. Not to forget the central island, providing plenty of storage space.
25. Make Room for Keepsakes
Visualizer:Maxim Goryachev
There’s nothing like personalizing your space to who YOU are. This kitchen serves the purpose by adding keepsakes and heirlooms. Also, black leaves room for details, so it’s one of the best colors to use if you’re hoping to display knick-knacks.
26. Use Black to Add Intimacy
Visualizer:Helen Bank
Who says dark colors make small spaces feel smaller? We only see black adding luxury to this compact space (with some credit to the white flooring adding brightness). This kitchen—with black marble backsplash—speaks opulence, and for all the right reasons!
27. Enhance Black Kitchen Design with Patterns
Visualizer:Ksenia Lenski
This black kitchen interior makes a design statement with the patterned marble island. Its sleek metallic legs lift it off the floor, creating an illusion of space. Simultaneously, the textured inset makes sure visual interest is added.
28. Don’t Forget a Black and White Rug
Visualizer:Nada Aboelrous
If you’re not in for a complete kitchen renovation, simply painting your cabinets black and adding a black-and-white patterned rug will achieve the purpose! We love how this kitchen keeps sets the base with white and tops it with black.
29. Let the Lighting Make a Statement in the All Black Kitchen
Architect:Artpartner Architects
When everything else is understated, letting the lighting create a statement is a good idea. This matte black kitchen interior uses rod lighting to do the talking. It sticks to the all black kitchen color scheme, though!
30. Tone it Down
Visualizer:Valeria Mosolova
This open floor plan uses dark gray throughout, showing us that black can work in more spaces than the kitchen 😉 It sure makes a design statement for those cooking and dining—or lounging!
31. Consider a Black and Wooden Bar
Visualizer:Amir Emami
This is the ultimate modern luxury black kitchen! After all, what’s better than displaying your favorite collection of beer right behind the black kitchen island? The low-hanging pendant lights also add to the black kitchen design.
32. Add the Gothic Vibe
Visualizer:Sebastian Lorio
This dark-gray kitchen is super simple with its sleek, hardware-less cabinetry. Well, except the far left end. Here, we see a statement piece of art and intriguing layered lighting created a focal point.
33. Stick to the Minimalist Style for Black Kitchens
Visualizer:Miguel A. Ramos
This compact kitchen space follows the simple rule: white walls paired with black cabinetry and an island. Even in this nook, the space is able to make a style statement while providing optimal functionality. The window here gives a contrasting element of light to the otherwise dark modern kitchen.
34. Layer Lighting in the All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:Tatiana Durnescu
We see shades of gray and black coming together to bring this modern dark kitchen to life. What we especially love is the multiple types of lighting, all layered together to bring visual interest to the space.
35. Set the Backdrop For Your Living Space
Visualizer:Sasha Zolotukhin
