Super small, all under 30 square metres in fact, these five homes are impressive beyond their measure. Their effective layouts make small living look refined and entirely effortless. Using clever concealing doors, smart space prioritisation, unique storage solutions, plus mindful decor additions (and subtractions) leads to homes that not only rival larger counterparts but beat them hands down in terms of ingenuity. If you have a small space to fill, but don’t want it to appear overfilled, then soak up the originality of this amazing little collection.

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Designer:Brad Swartz| Photographer:Tom Ferguson

The Boneca Apartment was humorously named by its owner for its small size, with Boneca meaning ‘doll’s house’ in Portuguese. The 24 square metre home is actually located in Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales, Australia, and is a studio space equipped with a private alcove bedroom. The original layout has been reconfigured to align the bathroom and kitchen, creating a new flowing small living and dining zone.

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A compact dining bench and table set leaves plenty of free space around it, so that the room appears wider.

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The small kitchen is predominantly white so that it fades back with the paintwork to increase the sense of space. Just one kitchen shelf cubby is picked out in warming wood tone, which ties the kitchen area in with the wood slatted screen wall that hides away the bedroom.

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When opening up the alcove bedroom, the wood slatted screen moves into a new concealing position over the kitchen.

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Flipping which side the wood screen covers completely changes the whole nature of the space, from functional daytime to restful cosy nights. The lounge area and bedroom alcove are both oriented to the view and morning light.

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A plain white panel door is centred between the bed alcove and the kitchen. This leads to the bathroom.

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The walkway to the bathroom is also where the closet is located.

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Studio apartment layout.

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Designer:Brad Swartz| Photographer:Katherine Lu

This 27 square metre Darlinghurst apartment, in New South Wales, has been designed to comfortably accommodate a couple. The small space provides an affordable option for inner city living.

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The minimalist living room has a bespoke wall of units that meets the homeowners every storage need. White cabinet doors contrast with a jet black kitchen.

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A desk flips up below the TV to provide a comfortable home workspace that doesn’t encroach on precious floor space.

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One of the floor to ceiling doors slides across to reveal the bedroom.

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The bedroom is raised up onto a platform to create plentiful shoe storage in its foundation.

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A thin cupboard door reveals a tall tower of wine storage .

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The large door on the other end of the cabinet run leads to the small bathroom.

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More storage units make use of the headboard wall inside the alcove bedroom.

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A recessed shelf negates the need for bulky bedside tables.

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Layout.

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Visualizer:Obrys

This 30 square metre space was designed for a single man. Bright yellow accents pulse high energy bolts through a graphite, black and white backdrop.

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The yellow accent living room is earthed by raw timber elements.

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A small kitchen peninsula provides an ample eating area for three.

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The lounge area is more of a gaming room, with low slung chairs, a prominent TV screen, good sized media unit, and extra wall storage for console accessories.

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A chalkboard provides a place for notes, inspiration, humour, and gives the place a sense of personality.

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A smooth wooden pendant light drops character into the small home entryway. A splash of dark green complements the natural wood tone.

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Diagonally set yellow tiles make up both the kitchen and bathroom vanity backsplashes. The commonality gives the tiny home a sense of flow and connected space.

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Green curtains in the living room echo the green feature wall seen in the entryway.

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The green wall is in fact an extension of the bedroom.

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A beautiful wooden bedroom pendant light dangles by the bed, forming a gorgeous collaboration with a wooden headboard wall and deep green bedroom accents.

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Slate tiles give depth to the small bathroom.

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The attention grabbing yellow bathroom tiles cross over to form one wall of the shower.

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Plants bring in the rich green accent.

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A slatted wall loosely divides the sleep space from the lounge.

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Visualizer:Domo Visual

Our next home has a unique split level living space.

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A swing arm wall lamp highlights a small dining area. The open plan bedroom and one wall kitchen have doors that lead directly onto a large terrace. The lounge area is sunken down, like a loose take on a conversation pit.

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The outdoor area rivals the home interior on style, comfort and size. A table and modern outdoor chairs make up a large alfresco dining room, whilst a long pergola defines an outdoor lounge room complete with festive lights.

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Visualizer:Lia Zavoloka

Crisp, clean and very white, our last home is coloured only by natural wood grain. A modern wall sconce burns brightly against pure white paintwork, above a perfectly plain sofa.

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A white tiled wall wraps around from the kitchen to envelop a wide supporting wall.

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White marble mists across the U-shaped kitchen .

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A natural hanging chair makes an easy addition to the room scheme, and keeps the floor looking open and clear. It also forms a screening device of sorts between the living area and the bedroom alcove.

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Inside the bathroom, a combination of white tile and white marble fills the walls. An illuminated vanity mirror throws a halo of light onto the ethereal backdrop.

The F-house is a 590 square metre home for a young family in Minsk, Belarus, designed and visualised by LEVEL80 Architects . With the owners being engaged in the fashion industry, the interior was designed to be stylishly in-vogue with timeless elegance. Cutting edge designer furniture fills the pragmatic and spacious interior. Sophisticated red-brown accents come together with black, white and shades of grey to build a luxurious interior palette that is restful yet crisply defined. Natural wood, stone, glass and metal meld easily and age beautifully together. Enormous expanses of windows allow the landscape and changing seasons to become a main player in the flowing collection of inner spaces.

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A magnificent two-level luxury living room stands at the heart of the home, furnished with designer lounge furniture in soft grey, and earthy red-brown scatter cushions. At the top of a glass sided staircase, a home library climbs the wall of a mezzanine landing. The stair treads, mezzanine siding and bookshelves all match together in the same visually warming wood tone, which is offset sharply with crisp black elements.

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Moving to the other side of the staircase that cuts through the centre of the open plan living space, there is a dining kitchen with a formal air. A ten place dining set stretches out beneath a long installation of unique dining room pendant lights .

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A kitchen island stands just past the dining table; bespoke storage slots are bedded into its countertop to hold plates and items that serve the table.

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Wood effect panelling clads the wall leading directly off the kitchen diner. The first door leads into the home office. The double doors that follow give entry to a walk in wardrobe, which is located next to the front door to conveniently house outerwear. A unique ottoman spans the space between the doors, beneath a sleek mirror.

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A modern wall sconce brightens the end of the long hallway, whilst LED strip lights glow gently along the edge of the ceiling. Plentiful windows bring the outside in, but black walls and ceiling paint absorb much of the daylight.

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The house architecture is built in a T-shape arrangement, with a spa forming the vertical stem. It’s this single story wing that houses an indoor swimming pool. Massive windows amalgamate the pool with the garden on one side.

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Up on the mezzanine library there is a comfortable modern chaise and small side table - the ideal spot to set down a coffee, kick back and read.

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The library acts as a buffer zone between the dual story living room and the bedrooms. The decor in the guest bedroom continues along the path of bole coloured accents, with coordinated curtains and rug. Two white bedside table lamps stand out brightly against a dark grey accent wall.

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A dressing table is positioned to take advantage of natural light over by the windows. Its integrated mirror and accessories shelf keep all elements looking neat and tidy, and welcoming for guests.

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The wardrobes that run alongside the vanity table are elevated above floor level to give them a lightweight aesthetic and a feeling of increased floor space. Wall art brings all of the different hues in the room together in geometric pattern.

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The next double bedroom is the master bedroom, which has its own ensuite bathroom and a walk in wardrobe.

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High ceilings, big windows and a light palette create a divine sense of spaciousness.

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A cushiony lounge chair reclines by the closet. A swing arm wall lamp highlights wall art.

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A burgundy ottoman is seated at the core of a refined walk in wardrobe .

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Organised shelves and hanging rails are backed with smooth wood paneling.

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The red clay hues disappear in the child’s room, replaced by accents of deep muted green. The highest of the kids’ beds has been utilised as a sitting area instead of a sleeping bunk.

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More bookshelves make up a large part of the home office decor.

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Since the home office neighbours the living room/kitchen diner, special attention was given to creating a level of quiet, resulting in some of the walls being treated with soundproof panels.

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The family shower room has a modern double sink bathroom vanity with ribbed wood facing.

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A horizontal wall mirror hung opposite the vanity mirror creates an infinity effect in the reflection.

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The shower room is designed like a wet room, with no cubicle base tray to disrupt the smooth tile floor.

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Stylish storage options furnish the spa wash room. A low storage bench doubles as a seat, whereas the towel storage wall can be folded away flat as decor.

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The wash area is adjoined to a massage room.

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Light sage green tiles colour the serene decor.

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White LEDs glow around the perimeter of a sauna.

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Back up in the master suite, the ensuite bathroom is coloured in chestnut and cinnamon.

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White cube basins and a white modern freestanding bath sit cleanly in the earthy scheme.

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Green plants trail from a planter mounted onto the shower screen.

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A powder room, situated between the spa and the living room, is clad in a pretty burgundy glazed tile.

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The tiles create a lacy border by the ceiling line.

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Perspective drawing.

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Interior perspective drawing.

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Ground floor plan.

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First floor plan, showing the situation of the mezzanine library, bedrooms and upstairs bathrooms.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Visualizer:Huso

18. Create a Modern Dark Kitchen with Gradients

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Visualizer:Sasha Zolotukhin