These homes make the most of their compact layouts – each one is smaller than 50 square meters in size, yet packs an abundance of unique personality. Whether you’re dreaming of a small home to call your own, or just want to make the most of what you already have, these spaces demonstrate how creative constraints can lead to inspiring breakthroughs. In fact, many adventurous souls who could otherwise afford spacious abodes are opting for a more streamlined lifestyle by choosing cozy apartments like these. It goes beyond practicality – the tiny home movement is part minimalism, part environmentalism, and part genuine curiosity. Use these ideas next time you need to spruce up a small space.
Architect:Nastya Antonyuk| Visualizer:Anya Garienchick
Designer:Solo Design Studio
Architect:Nastya Antonyuk| Visualizer:Anya Garienchick
Designed by Ukrainian architect Nastya Antonyuk, this bold apartment makes a big impression in just 43 square meters. It centers around a matte black structure that houses the entertainment system on the outside, and cleverly hides a bathroom on the inside – a window at the top ensures that natural light can penetrate even into the private heart of the home.
Architect:Nastya Antonyuk| Visualizer:Anya Garienchick
Architect:Nastya Antonyuk| Visualizer:Anya Garienchick
Eclectic decor reflects the personality of the client. Antique furniture, diverse textiles, and industrial lighting come together for a fascinating and fun aesthetic. It’s hard to go wrong with a nice mid-century modern focal point to center the space, like the classic Acapulco chair in striking cyan blue.
Architect:Nastya Antonyuk| Visualizer:Anya Garienchick
A quick peek at the kitchen reveals gorgeous vintage-inspired appliances from Smeg. The industrial lighting also enjoys an antique revival - highly visible cords draw immediate attention, while the Edison bulbs provide a soft glow that won’t overwhelm the senses.
Architect:Nastya Antonyuk| Visualizer:Anya Garienchick
Architect:Nastya Antonyuk| Visualizer:Anya Garienchick
Architect:Nastya Antonyuk| Visualizer:Anya Garienchick
Lovingly curated details make this small Moscow apartment feel like home.
Architect:Nastya Antonyuk| Visualizer:Anya Garienchick
Most of the necessary storage space is housed in minimalistic white drawers treated with a silky white finish - it looks clean and sharp, and most importantly, doesn’t take any emphasis away from the more important decorative details throughout the apartment. Using round decor provides an interesting contrast to the cubic forms of the furniture.
Designer:Solo Design Studio
Where the living and sleeping areas feature brighter colors, the dining and kitchen take on a darker palette. Wood cabinets complement the natural furniture materials used throughout the home.
Architect:Nastya Antonyuk| Visualizer:Anya Garienchick
Designer:Michael Temnikov
Working within a small footprint of just 43 square meters, designer Michael Temnikov took a minimalistic approach by embracing simple geometric forms and rich textures. Concrete, wire, and wood – the designer did a fantastic job applying these inexpensive materials in a way that looks fresh and sophisticated.
Designer:Michael Temnikov
Luscious vines serve as a living accent wall. This lively display helps balance the emphasis on industrial materials – you can never have too much greenery in a refined or minimalistic space.
Designer:Michael Temnikov
Designer:Michael Temnikov
Designer:Michael Temnikov
Negative space plays an important role throughout. Much of the furniture feels weightless as can be, whereas opaque or heavy furnishings would have blocked too much light and might have made the monochromatic theme feel imposing. Whitewashed woodwork certainly helps to amplify and preserve the sunlight.
Designer:Michael Temnikov
Concrete treatments appear in the most surprising places, like the hanging lights and even the planters. And aren’t those planters just fabulous? They’re the work of Decha Archjananun – and they serve a crucial role in uniting the greenery, wire accents, and concrete themes throughout the home.
Designer:Michael Temnikov
Designer:Solo Design Studio
Solo Design Studio completed this sophisticated studio apartment for a young couple who wanted clearly defined zones within the interior. Each space is distinct in terms of aesthetics and function, interspersed with smartly coordinated characteristics to unify the space overall. It has all the practicality of a studio without necessarily looking like one.
Designer:Piotr Matuszek & Gosia Czarny
Light colors and simple lines always make a room look a bit larger than it really is. The designers used scaled-down patterns in monochromatic colors to weave a playful character without creating any unnecessary visual clutter.
Designer:Piotr Matuszek & Gosia Czarny
One side of the room pops with cool graphic-printed wallpaper, and the other shines brightly with glossy white paneling. An abundance of integrated storage is a must-have for a space as tiny as this one.
Designer:Piotr Matuszek & Gosia Czarny
Designer:Piotr Matuszek & Gosia Czarny
Very clever take on the classic pull down bed – the hidden pendant light is a fun touch that offers a striking contrast to the teal accents found throughout the room.
Designer:Piotr Matuszek & Gosia Czarny
Designer:Piotr Matuszek & Gosia Czarny
The stylish chair is a refurbished Chierowski design that originally belonged to the client’s grandmother - an important piece of nostalgia, and perhaps one of the few features left over from the renovation. Grandmother must have had fantastic taste in furniture. The matching sofa is a contemporary interpretation of the iconic 366 design.
Designer:Piotr Matuszek & Gosia Czarny
Designer:Piotr Matuszek & Gosia Czarny
The bathroom takes a completely different approach from the rest of the apartment. It can be risky to use such large patterns in a space this small, but the effect here is absolutely gorgeous. Cohesive colors and clear lines make a statement without crowding out the senses.
Designer:Piotr Matuszek & Gosia Czarny
Talented designers Piotr Matuszek and Gosia Czarny gave this small-scale apartment a bright and spacious makeover. The clients were a young couple who inherited the property from their grandmother – and at only 20 sq. meters, it required a near-total structural transformation to make the space feel large enough for two.
Designer:Solo Design Studio
Designer:Solo Design Studio
Designer:Solo Design Studio
This sleeping area is the perfect “room within a room”. Curtains hang from a recessed cove that also provides a bit of soft indirect lighting – ideal for relaxing in the evening, when the pendant lamps might be too bright.
Designer:Solo Design Studio
Designer:Solo Design Studio
Designer:Solo Design Studio
Designer:Solo Design Studio
Lively colors help set the living room apart. The modular shelving above the television hints at teal and white, while the geometric pattern rug ties the space together. The apartment only has 40 square meters of floor space, so these little pops of color really make a big difference.
Designer:Solo Design Studio
When it comes to architecture, judging a book by its cover can unlock a world of inspiration. These modern exteriors display a wide range of stylistic influences but they all have one thing in common: they embrace the constraints and challenges presented by their environments by creating a unified experience between landscape, materials, and form. These buildings don’t disrupt the landscape – they provide a new way to experience it. Blurring the lines between vernacular architecture and modernist design principals allows home exteriors to become something more than just a beautiful facade.
Visualizer:Walter De Marco
A gorgeous cliffside home, embraced by a curved glass shell.
Visualizer:Tung Le Xuan
Roughage and timber resolve into orderly rectilinear architecture. The visualized landscape is whimsical, but the home itself is equally breathtaking.
Visualizer:TRES 31
Here, there are no boundaries. A verdant stone wall intersects the main volumes, and the rooftop lawn surrounds an outdoor living space on the roof. The stairwell itself is the most substantial part of the glass-clad design.
Visualized as a part of a resort for the “unplugged yet not-disconnected”, this space is carefully integrated into the surrounding landscape. It sits perched atop an overlook, its foundation plunges into the earth and emerges from the hillside as a chic entertainment space. The pool’s sunken fire pit is especially inspiring!
Serene settings with a view of the great mountains. What more could you want?
Yet another building that is built right into the landscape!
Architect:Yuriy Bochkaryov
Orderly, linear, folded - rustic wood cladding and sleek concrete panels help this home feel like the perfect compromise between suburbia and country living.
Visualizer:Brown And Blue
Built into the cliffside, this home features classic Greek influences mixed with notes of streamlined modernism. An observatory-type space sits discreetly underneath the patio.
Visualizer:Yuriy Bochkaryov
Another gorgeous cliffside concept, with a gravity-defying observation deck. Recreation areas occupy the top floor, with private areas enjoying the shade beneath. The uppermost room would make for an especially inspiring office.
Designer:Alex Barcelos
Wintertime visualizations are surprisingly rare but this home looks like the perfect place to warm up as the snow falls outside, especially with the yellow-hued lighting that emanates from the interior.
Visualizer:Topsidefront
The juxtaposition between the smooth white walls and textural stone cladding exert amazing visual appeal. Don’t you just love the cistern/urn-style fountains integrated with the retaining wall? The shapes echo the planters used on the upper balcony and, taken together, provide a touch of classical appeal to an otherwise fully contemporary design.
Visualizer:Vũ Trọng Quý
This home takes full advantage of its narrow plot. The pool runs alongside a tasteful garden and terminates at a patio sheltered by the room above. A tidy row of bamboo softens the look of the modern striped fence.
Visualizer:Xavier Xu
Part of a villa hotel project, this u-shaped retreat embraces its tropical environment. Small palms in the courtyard extend the landscape.
Pools occupy multiple levels. The topmost pool features clean glass walls to preserve the view for people lounging on the balcony, and to give swimmers an incredible way to experience the landscaped surroundings.
Visualizer:Mohamed Heshmat
The home architecture seems weightless and divine, but the lovely pool deck deserves a second look as well. The furthest portion extends out from the underneath a breathtaking cantilever dining room, transitioning from smooth white to sumptuous dark wood that matches the singular section of timber cladding on the upper story of the home. A neat boardwalk provides another route of access to the entertainment areas.
Visualizer:Maxim Jurov
A sleek rectilinear volume intersects with a strong triangular prism. This unique form helps to enhance – rather than obscure - its connection with the conifer forest behind it.
Visualizer:Michal Nowak
Rendered by Michal Nowak and designed by 81.WAW.PL architects, the Crown House projects its stoic form across a still dark lake. The somber color of the water is reflected in the treatment of the charcoal-colored eaves, heightening contrast and making the folded architecture look even more dramatic.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Diamond-shaped trusses support the home like a bridge, with a singular beam placed in the middle to create the illusion of an impossible balancing act.
Visualizer:Dachi Papuashvili
Designed for single person-usage, this compact modular home features a distinctive shape and an even more distinctive interior layout. Alternating stairs help to save space at the entrance but ladder rungs provide access to the main living spaces housed in cantilever cross-section. Ascending further, the vertical passage leads to a quiet observation deck with the potential for an amazing view.
Visualizer:Radosław Ignaciuk
Severe angles and impressive stepped cantilever volumes set this home apart from any other. The open vaulted ceiling and glass-clad gable creates a spacious impression, almost like a cathedral, and is made even more striking by the series of glass skylights that makes the ridge of the roof look transparent.
Visualizer:Shady Sayed & Nour El Deen Khaled
Intricate girih strapwork forms a metallic screen to shield the open volumes. A lower horizontally slatted wood screen offers a more discreet aesthetic that directs attention upward.
Architect:MOB Architects
This perforated building (located in Nicosia, Cyprus) is a striking blend of angular construction and playful port windows. Not pictured - but alluded to on the left - a u-shaped fold gives the back of the home an open and organic aesthetic that smartly contradicts the sharp facade.
Visualizer:Marat Zakirov
Designed to mimic the shape of binoculars, the Two Hulls project by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple makes spectacular use of its unique view of the Nova Scotian coastline. Geothermal heating, wooden rain skin, and concrete piers ensure harmony with the surrounding environment.
Visualizer:KAISERBOLD /ArchViz
A living room rests on thin concrete piers and offers an incredible 180-degree view of the mountainous surroundings, and a covered porch brings the surroundings into the architecture with a round porthole with a tree growing through.
Visualizer:Andrzej Drawc
The translucent ground level living space opens to the world, supporting the chevron-clad private living spaces above.
Architect:Thanh Nhan Tu
A modern boardwalk crosses a carefully framed channel of water, leading to an ever-so-slightly elevated indoor/outdoor living space decorated with trendy diamond frame lighting and streamlined furniture.
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
