These 51 fabulous landscape design ideas will make you want to live your life outdoors, during work, rest, play, and every meal time in between. Don’t be intimidated by the size of some of these great gardens, even when scaled down these combinations produce a superb effect that is sure to delight and impress. We’ll tour through tiered garden spaces with layered green panoramas, paved exteriors with green interludes, pristine box hedge borders, elegant garden water features, and tree-lined landscapes that look plucked from a storybook. Whether you’re carving out an outdoor entertaining space for guests or a secret hideaway from the world, there is inspiration here for all.
Designer:ACLA
A pathway to heaven. Build up lush borders around a wide pathway that guides the eye to a green panorama of perfectly aligned mature trees and neat shrubs.
Designer:Fish Design
Be artistic with your patio. Patios don’t have to be a series of uniform paving slabs. By employing a combination of paving options you can create something far more unique and interesting.
Designer:Instant Fabrication
Textural evergreens. These shapely plant beds are jam-packed with contrasting textural evergreen perennials to create a tactile border around the patio. A combination of grasses and creeping groundcover has a surprisingly impactful effect.
Designer:Andy Sturgeon
Squared up. Simple squares create a highly formal landscape layout, which can be achieved with low boxwood hedges. Place more delicate plants at the centre of your square plant beds, or make a focal point with an attractive pool and fountain.
Designer:Scott Shrader
This squared landscape design preserves topiaried boxes of solid hedge to achieve an even one-level look.
Designer:Peter Fudge Gardens
Superior symmetry. This luxury garden landscape layout achieves its high-end look with a perfectly symmetrical arrangement of mirror image garden steps and tree rows.
Designer:DDON笛东
Peaceful conversation pit. Dipped low into the patio, this outdoor conversation pit goes almost unnoticed if not for its fabulous modern waterfall feature.
Designer:Greenhance
The patterned patio. Small linear plant beds and tonal patio slabs interrupt this large courtyard to create a captivating pattern between small trees. In autumn, the focus switches from the purple flower beds to the treetops, which blaze bright flame orange.
Designer:Luciano Giubbilei
Sculptural beauty. Topiary provides green, sculptural beauty in a garden, but you can also incorporate man-made creations as an outdoor focal point too. This wall-mounted sculpture is combined with atmospheric exterior lighting for impact after dark too.
Designer:Andy Sturgeon Design
This dynamic garden statue inspires a landscape filled with motion. Water fountains bubble from the paved terrace and a vertical garden wall creates a visual cascade.
Designer:OJB
Take a walk on the wild side. Let loose in your landscape layout with meandering pathways that scoop loosely around wild planting arrangements and majestic trees.
Designer:Humphreys Landscaping
Start a riot of colour. Jacaranda trees are a sub-tropical tree native to South America that burst with vibrant, long-lasting violet flowers. As the petals fall like confetti, a purple carpet forms beneath.
Designer:Stijn Cornilly
Equally pretty but with a delicate white star-shaped spring flowers, a Juneberry tree is a hardy option that grows well in most positions, including damp landscapes and under light shade.
Designer:Luciano Giubbilei
In this courtyard design , the Juneberry tree creates a stunning canopy over an outdoor dining room.
Source:CB2
Eat al fresco in a jungle of greenery. This modern outdoor dining table is situated in a spot that is completely enveloped with climbing plants and tropical shrubs to create a 360º jungle view.
Designer:Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt
Sweeping beds of colour. Make a garden pathway into a curving journey of delight through borders of colourful shrubs in contrasting sizes and textures. This loose approach makes a great contrast against sharp linear architecture.
Designer:Dangar Barin Smith
Fill in the gaps. A groundcover of Mind-your-own-business perennials will quickly fill in the gaps between stepping stones to achieve a well-established look. Add planters of varying heights to bring greenery to terraces.
Designer:Kaer Architects
On the straight and narrow. A narrow pathway along the perimeter of the household provides an easy tour of the garden. Plant beds and a water feature are set perpendicular to the path to form avenues of beauty.
Designer:Robertson Design
Carve out a moment of zen with a minimalist deck, serene focal point, and a comfortable modern outdoor chair .
Visualizer:Threelight CGI
Multistory planting. Incorporate rooftops and overhanging balconies to bring more greenery into your garden or courtyard. A multilevel planting scheme grows a calming feeling complete seclusion and safety.
Designer:Bowles & Wyer
Pond perfection. This precise circular pond with fountains, a built-in plant bed, and an encircling pathway is a sizeable design that can be effectively scaled down to suit smaller environments.
Visualizer:Luum Architecten
Streamline your design with built-in benches. In a minimalist modern landscape design, a laconic materials palette is key. To maintain the simplicity, forego freestanding seating in favour of custom cast concrete alternatives.
Designer:One Landscape Design Limited
Make an abstract compilation. A lush green lawn, a paved patio area, and a pond filled with monolithic forms come together in an abstract, angular formation. The elements are both defined and held together by a clean concrete border.
Designer:Z+T Studio
Create a water world. Each section of this unique garden appears as a floating platform due to fully flooded borders. Linear pathways provide passage over and around the ponds.
Designer:Ground Studio
Fashion a garden that ruffles in the wind with soft Mountain Sedge, and Big Bluestem from the Great Plains and grassland regions of central & eastern North America.
Designer:Karl Barnes Design Ltd
Lush lawns with sharp edges. A healthy green lawn is a beauty to behold on its own but becomes more of a jewel with a clear cut paved border.
Designer:Mary Barensfeld
Geometric climbs. A table and modern outdoor chairs are positioned casually at the base of a spectacular geometric hillside garden in this unique landscape design. A channel of water draws the eye to the focal centre of the climb.
Visualizer:Akim Vishnevsky
Build outdoor rooms. Bespoke box benches construct walls of utility and separation.
Visualizer:Vittorio Bonapace
A colour changing cube. Encase courtyard walls in copper that will change from brown to blue and green as it ages.
Designer:July Cooperative
Evoke traditional Japanese serenity with ornamental stones, a pebbled bed, and a stone water basin.
Designer:July Cooperative
Slices of nature. Whether you’re planning a pond or raised plant beds, these chamfered volumes splinter from one central mass to make a cool combination.
Source:XYZ Workshop
Make gardening a game with a cacti chess set .
Via:The Tutu Guru
Set your landscape overflowing with life and colour with a hardy Creeping Jenny perennial. Its leaf colour depends on sun exposure, appearing chartreuse in shade and golden in full sun.
Designer:WISTO design agency
Clean-cut and calm. Tame nature within smooth, polished perimeters. Add exterior uplights to underscore plant textures.
Designer:在源景观
Full and flourishing. An abundance of mixed groundcover and perennials around rugged rocks fashion a thriving primeval quality.
Designer:Shanmugam Associates
Stepped terraces. Combine exterior staircases with staggered terraces to ascend a layer cake of lush greenery.
Visualizer:Meryem Matur Yanık
Another stepped landscape design, but this time with battlement-shaped planters.
Designer:WISTO design agency
A raft of greenery. Set inside a pond, this platform of planting makes a raft-like landscape.
Designer:LISM Landscape Design
Look into the future with futuristic pod-like planters and pixelated sculpture.
Visualizer:Renato Azevedo
Conquer challenging plot shapes. This tight, triangular shaped garden presents landscaping layout challenges. In answer to the conundrum, one wall of the building has been incorporated into the pool as a water feature. A bamboo border draws attention to the abundance of height instead of the lack of square footage.
Designer:Clements Design
Simple squares of paving slabs crisply accommodate an outdoor kitchen and a patio dining room.
Designer:Ten Eyck Landscape Architects
Just part of the landscape. This cosy fireside lounge looks as though it’s been there forever thanks to the introduction of creeping ivy around the outdoor fireplace.
Designer:Harrison Landscaping
Construct a poolside planter with dual function. Not only a home for plants but a water feature too, this rustic stone-walled planter makes an ornamental backdrop for a small swimming pool.
Designer:Luciano Giubbilei
Concrete and commanding, this unique pool design and industrial backdrop add monolithic majesty to the green landscape.
Designer:Jo Thompson Landscape & Garden Design
Trimmed trees. Trees are always stunning in their most wild and natural form but another approach is to cultivate sculpted canopies with topiaried boxwood bases.
Visualizer:Massimo Colonna
The beauty of blank space. Developed in Japan in the late Kamakura period, karesansui gardens are built upon the principal of yohaku-no-bi, meaning the beauty of blank space. In this example, blank borders of raked sand draw attention to enchanting mounded groundcover and fiery red shrubs.
Designer:Jake Moss Designs
Dip into a deck to make warm memories around a firepit.
Visualizer:Halo Studio
Form a corridor of colour with boldly contrasting grasses.
Visualizer:Michael K
This cosy firepit design is bedded down in a sandy base to evoke beach vacation vibes.
Visualizer:Terremoto
Speaking of vacations, palm trees and hammocks have five star tropical hangout vibes written all over them.
Visualizer:Anthony Paul Landscape Design
Sculpt fabulous borders. Margarinata American Aloe and the wide-leaved Red Poker Aloe build engaging definition around a raised terrace. An Organ Pipe Cactus creates towering height.
In New Jersey, USA, this city apartment is designed for young professionals who value style and comfort. Visualised by Kamran Karimov , this 98 square metre apartment, this elegant modern home is fashioned with cool grey decor that is counterbalanced with warm wood grain elements. Punchy black accents give the contemporary decor scheme visual weight, whilst modern light installations instil an atmospheric glow. Storage furniture is sleek and linear, smoothing subtly around the perimeter of an open, light-filled living room with panoramic windows. Earthy brown and green infusions colour the two bedrooms and bathrooms to provide visual interest and promote a sense of calm.
We start the tour of this modern city apartment in an open layout living space, which incorporates a cosy lounge area, a formal dining room, and a kitchen with a peninsula breakfast bar.
Huge floor-to-ceiling windows break open the longest wall of the open plan living space, and wrap around a second adjoining wall to create a dual aspect panorama.
The sectional sofa echoes the line of wraparound windows with an L-shaped design. The back of the modern sofa is partitioned to allow more of the city view to show through.
The grey sofa complements cool grey concrete walls. Opposite the sofa, a TV wall is clad with visually warming wood grain panels. A recessed light feature draws a crisp glow up and over the entertainment wall.
A modern linear media unit runs beneath the TV, whilst a narrow tower of shelving cuts into a camouflaged wall of storage nearby.
There is an unobstructed flow from the lounge area into the dining zone to create one socially connected space for entertaining.
A dining room chandelier pins the open concept dining spot in position under its sizable wooden frame.
The black marble round dining table is encircled by black upholstered dining chairs , which seat four.
In contrast to the weighty dining room pendant light, a clear glass vase and floral display make a dainty table centrepiece.
The breakfast bar peninsula divides the kitchen from the rest of the open living space. The hob is situated here to allow the cook to be sociable while preparing dinner.
Two chrome kitchen bar stools invite guests to keep the chef company.
In the first of two double bedroom designs, a brown upholstered bed adds a warming element to cool grey bedroom decor.
A boarded focal wall adds a textural element to the room, whilst wardrobes carry a smooth concrete-like aesthetic.
Mini bedroom pendant lights descend upon a brown bedside table, whilst a recessed light strip cuts through a deep wooden window reveal.
The wooden window panels mark a bedroom reading nook.
A bedroom workspace is situated at the foot of the bed, where a linear suspension light spreads even illumination along the desk.
The desk merges with a bespoke floor-to-ceiling bookcase.
The lounge chair by the window introduces a chic black and white houndstooth pattern.
In the bathroom, it’s a modern linear vanity unit that sends a cut of contrasting brown tone through the cool grey backdrop.
The wall hung grey toilet coordinates with a granite clad cistern concealment wall.
A brown bathtub panel matches the vanity unit, creating one cohesive sweep of colour around the room. A modern toiletries shelf is mounted above the bath, where it introduces a bold black visual anchor.
A niche has been made inside the plumbing concealment wall to house a few select toiletries.
The second double bedroom is coloured with a deep green comforter. A walnut headboard panel complements the wooden interior of a glass-walled walk-in wardrobe.
A concealed ribbon of LED light glows across the top edge of the headboard to accentuate its great width, and to draw attention to a textured feature wall behind it. More LED light strips provide functional illumination to garment rails and accessory shelves inside the wardrobe.
A bedroom vanity table is wall mounted at the foot of the bed, where it benefits from natural light at the window.
The bedroom TV wall is wrapped by a light strip, which adds interest as well as functional illumination.
Fluted glass panels obscure the busy wardrobe contents from the restful sleep space, whilst accepting natural light into the dressing area.
A black modern wall sconce shines upon a low level bedside unit, which is incorporated into the bed design. A mature indoor plant complements the green bed covers with its lush green foliage.
A sleek stone hearth is set below the bedroom TV wall to create a platform on which to display a few decorative items.
Another potted plant adds a flash of greenery next to framed typographic artwork.
The TV wall is slatted to provide textural interest.
A unique modern wall sconce makes a soft night light after dark.
A mini pendant light illuminates the dressing table and a plush grey upholstered vanity chair.
In this ensuite bathroom, a unique bathroom sink sits a deep profile upon a textured modern vanity unit. A rattan laundry basket places complementary ribbed texture beneath.
A grey toilet contrasts with pale wall tiles.
In the shower area, a backlit narrow shelving nook is coloured with a tan tint, which warmly ties in with the wood tone elements in the bathroom scheme.
A multidirectional stem light illuminates the vanity area.
Mood board.
3D floor plan.
2D floor pan.
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
