The sky is the limit when tall ceilings meet compact floor plans . The homes featured in this post sacrificed some of their impressive height for the sake of gaining more usable square footage - and the results are pretty fun to admire. Many of these interiors take the traditional approach by placing a bedroom in the lofted area, but others break the mold by using their newfound second floor for other purposes like a home office or library. While loft living isn’t a great solution for the stair-weary, it’s still a neat option for people who want to put their extra vertical space to work.
Designer:ILYA Derkach
Designed to mimic the freedom and playfulness of a treehouse, this interior makes great use of its impressive 4-meter-tall ceilings. A comfortable bedroom occupies the loft space, leaving plenty of room for functional areas like the kitchen and hallway beneath. The staircase is compact but just the right depth to contain useful storage cabinets.
The living room enjoys the full atrium-like effect of the apartment. Tall windows brighten the interior upstairs and down. Accent colors tend toward the darker side of the spectrum, but the ample natural light makes it work beautifully.
Between the windows remains a strip of wall just wide enough for a tiny dining table and television. Not an inch of space is wasted.
Just check out this smart layout! A cabinet in the hallway hides the laundry space, just around the corner from the bathroom. The kitchen is small but contains all the necessities - the white surfaces banish shadows that might feel oppressive as part of the living room.
Upstairs decor remains much more casual and homey. It’s clearly a space to relax, reflect, and decompress at the end of the day. The head of the bed aligns perfectly with the window to allow a view of the outdoors.
The position of the loft bedroom provides plenty of privacy on its own, but the shuttered doors surely help to diffuse a bit of the noise and light without disrupting airflow – convenient when guests are crashing on the sofa downstairs.
Of course, when you’re dealing with a room this tall, pendant lamps can make all the difference. These pendants from Sandra Lindner feature beautiful copper accents toward the top, so they look just as gorgeous from above as they do from below.
Designer:Whiteline Design Studio
Unlike most living spaces that include a loft, this one is part of a freestanding home rather than an apartment – a beautiful example of the “tiny house movement”. Downsized living spaces are praised as a way to minimize, clarify, and eliminate some of the complexities of modern life. This home accomplishes all of this without sacrificing an ounce of style.
The layout is heavily linear, transitioning from the living room to the kitchen and finally leading to the entrance. A wooden ladder leads up to the lofted bedroom.
While the living room enjoys the full height of the building, the dining room and kitchen occupy a cozier spot beneath the loft. Modern pendant lights hang low to the table to create a more intimate atmosphere.
Contrast plays a key role. Many of the cabinets remain dark to prevent the appearance of crowding and to hide the shadows within the open shelving above – sometimes using dark colors can make the rest of the interior feel brighter.
The bedroom feels wonderfully cozy beneath its black vaulted ceiling. One group of cushions serves as the bed, and the other pulls double duty as seating or a guest bed.
Visualizer:Andrew Chiniakov
This space is part of an interesting mobile housing project titled WoodBox3x6, where every square meter of the ultra-compact interior realizes its full functionality and purpose. A realized version of this concept would include solar panels and wind generators, passive water collection, and other environmentally friendly features.
Although this home is packed with interesting features, the loft solutions are worth admiring. This home actually features two lofts – the library, featured here, is accessible from an extremely streamlined staircase.
A wider staircase provides a more comfortable route to the lofted bedroom. Storage cubbies, a full-size closet, and a small kitchenette all take advantage of the extra space.
Visualizer:Big nose
Dramatic panels give this loft interior a very cohesive aesthetic from top to bottom. It’s natural, warm, and has a distinctive vintage undertone that really brings out the best of its modern side. An ultra-functional furniture arrangement ensures that the residents are able to work and play without obstruction – just as if it were a conventional apartment.
Natural materials and low-profile furniture keep the interior feeling light and casual – a versatile aesthetic for a compact home where formality might feel too restrictive.
In an interior otherwise dominated by warm tones, the blue portion of the sectional draws the eye with temperature contrast.
Without room for a guest bed, a spacious sofa like this one pays for itself. Sofas with armrests are more comfortable for day-to-day lounging but this one combines the best of both worlds.
The wires in the foreground support the staircase. The form is industrial but the brass-colored coating lends a touch of luxury.
Omitting the staircase risers allows sunlight to penetrate deep into the home. There’s no obstruction, no shadows.
And, even though there’s not much room for other objects beneath the stairs, this bicycle has found quite a nice home there. Other residents might use this space for a sideboard cabinet or small desk.
Here’s a view of the tiny office on the loft level. Although there isn’t a clear shot of the bed, this little area is inspiring too.
Visualizer:Lai Yanan
This interior uses dynamic angles to instill a sense of movement and energy, overcoming one of the major boundaries that a carefully tailored compact home usually faces. A variety of planes not only disperses the concentration of decor for a better sense of balance but it also increases the perceived height of the already impressive ceiling.
The master bedroom actually occupies the main floor of the building while an office enjoys the loft – an unconventional but very effective choice.
Guests can dine or sleep on the wide bench seats that surround the dining table. Skip to the end of this section for a better idea of the multipurpose nature of each space.
The bathroom countertop lifts to provide access the tub, and a wooden platform lowers to cover it.
This visualization details just a few of the hidden platforms scattered throughout the home.
Visualizer:Jarek Banas
Although more difficult to accomplish from an architectural standpoint, “floating” lofts are visually powerful. This interior places the staircase against the wall and suspends the bedroom above the living area as its own little island. Glass bannisters preserve the line of sight without compromising on safety – a very light look.
The low-profile bed allows for a clean line of sight in all directions, to the double-height window in the atrium to the unique balcony to the left.
Visualizer:Dian Maulidi
And finally, here’s a look at a space efficient interior with the decorative appeal of a truly luxurious home. The sophisticated palette of high-end materials could make residents forget they’re in a compact home. This layout would work wonderfully as a guest suite within a larger residence, using the same amount of space that others might dedicate to a home theater or ordinary guest bedroom.
is known to be born out of the 1930s. In this style, everything is functional and simplified. Here we introduce you to two homes that embody these ethos. One is visualized by aTng 糖 and another by Aleksandr Vezlomcev. The first home uses more colors to highlight the design while the second only uses colors to highlight the child’s room and furniture items. Both homes showcase framed art and respect greenery. Take a look.
Visualizer:aTng 糖
A bright and open floor plan is the perfect setting for the modern Scandinavian style. This room welcomes both a family room and an in-home office.
When you look at this room, your eye immediately hits the hipster deer with oversized glasses. This piece of art is fun and makes the space feel less serious. The yellow lamp adds a burst of color and also serve the task of a (giant) floor reading lamp .
This home workspace has everything you need to be productive! White lockers hide important paperwork and keep everything organized. Art set alongside the wall adds personality. Living plants also interject life into the room which is connected to an outside balcony.
In this photograph, you can see both the living room and the dining area. The designer was smart to tier the artwork on the exposed white brick walls. On the left side, the deer art piece and the dog are lower to the ground. On the right side, gallery-style images and art pieces are hung higher. This is a great use of contrast. The higher hung artwork also draws attention to the two hanging pendent lights which are two different colors.
This bookshelf is artfully compiled. There is the perfect balance of greenery, bright colors, and simplistic pieces. Books are stacked on different shelves in different ways. The colors yellow and green are the loosely defined color scheme here.
Modern Scandinavian design has always been about functionality and finding the beauty in basic items. This image of the game of Monopoly showcases the idea that this space is meant to be lived in. The beauty of the game pieces stand out on the simple rug. A family can easily surround this rug and enjoy a game night in!
Using yellow to add color to a room is an easy way to update a space. This office had a base of white and then adds pops of colors in. A teal lamp, yellow filing cabinet, and red industrial chairs give dimension to the room. Adding greenery around the office also connects the inside to the outside balcony. Another favorite in this room? The text wall. Simple text can become art when you use black against a white wall.
Every modern Scandinavian designed home usually has an IMac. Why? Apple embraces a lot of the same principles as the design style. Simplicity is beautiful and there’s no need for frills. An IMac is sleek and chic. It blends into its environment but also stands out because of its prestige. It helps that this computer is silver or white!
Art doesn’t always have to be hung. In this office, you can see that the shelves are filled with brightly colored books and accents. Under, there are organic wooden picture frames that are stacked upon one another. This creates a sense of style. If you add a living item in front, you have a masterpiece yourself! It’s all about adding variety and textures.
With this style, it’s OK to break the rules. Chairs don’t always have to match and art doesn’t always have to be in a frame. You can see in this work space that each seating option is different. You have two red chairs that have different styles, a wooden chair , and a white stool! The art hanging above the computer is also unframed and thrown up there. This shows the spontaneity of art and how within it’s certain space, Scandinavian design embraces creativity.
This dining room is open to the rest of the large space in this home visualized by aTng 糖. When creating a gallery wall, like the one behind the dining table, you can cover the entire wall or just part of it. The designer has mixed pictures, wooden signs, and canvases to tell a story. Spotlights above the art make the set up dramatic.
Visualizer:Aleksandr Vezlomcev
This home is visualized by Aleksandr Vezlomcev of Line Design Studio. This home is similar to the first, but doesn’t use as many bright colors. The colors used the most to add life to the rooms is yellow and green. In this living room. The large windows revealing green trees are complimented by the painting that’s hanging above the gray couch.
At this angle of this modern Scandinavian room, you may not realize it has large windows that open to the outdoors. To remind you, the art on the wall is magnified by the natural green shade of the accent chair. Blue chevron throw pillows give the room more texture.
Thera is a lot of white in this modern aesthetic. This lays the foundation for bright colors and functional, yet stylish items. This TV is mounted off to the side and reveals a wooden media cabinet. Bright colored books peek out and add more color to this seemingly boring wall.
Both homes showcase their Apple computers! This office has less colors than the first, but is simple and sleek. A large window keeps the focus outside and the natural wooden accents give the room an environmental element.
Bedrooms should be a place of simplicity and recharging in a modern Scandinavian home. This bedroom has crisp, linen sheets, and gray bedding. Only one art piece is hung above and even that’s kept less busy. Each accent points you back to outside, from the tree photograph to the ferns placed in glasses on the night stand.
The outdoors played a very special part of the design of this entire home. In addition to eluding to beautiful outdoors in the art of this bedroom, there is a balcony. You can see that the owners spend time there because of the furniture.
This child’s room matches the rest of the home but uses bright yellow to bring fun and playfulness to the space. The bed is kept simple while the large bookshelves are filled with children’s items. A yellow nightstand matches a hanging print perfectly.
Instead of messing with a desk that has to be moved, this designer choose to built in a desk alongside the length of the room. This desk is the perfect size for a child and the window lets lots of light into the room.
Even though there isn’t a lot of yellow near this side of the child’s bedroom, it’s made its way over in the artwork. Along with the artwork, the study lamp is also yellow. The rest of the homework space is kept simple and natural.
A child’s playroom has small stools and extra large artwork. The light blue print hanging on the wall helps define the space as kid-friendly and also gives the room more color. Built-in shelves offer space to stow away toys.
A gray entryway is understated in this home. It’s not busy and almost reminds you of an industrial loft. There is a bench to sit on and a hanging rack for coats and purses. An unexpected built-in near the door holds keys and other out-the-door items.
This kitchen is fun without being over-the-top. Circular chandeliers hang above the dinner table and a green highchair lets everyone know that little ones eat here. Appliances are built into the wall to save space and a geometric tile design adds interest. Again, a large window welcomes the green trees into the room.
Looking down at the table, you can see the striking contrast the green highchair makes in the room. On the left you an also see that a black wall can be drawn on with chalk!
Visualizer:aTng 糖
The kitchen in this home appears much larger than it is thanks to tall cabinets. The lines on the cabinets bring the eye upward. The appliances are built-in, which also saves space.
The bathroom in this home helps reinforce the modern style. There’s no need to add stylish details in this room. It’s form follows it’s function and it’s simply meant to be used to go to the bathroom and nothing more.
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
