City apartments are abundant, central – and often tiny. For the modern urbanite building a beautiful interior, the apartment’s compact nature can be challenging. This studio by Insight Studio in Minsk, Belarus, is a compromise between a convenient location and a contemporary design. Combining the main living areas in one innovative space makes dark corridors bright and awkward spaces forgotten. Dark wooden panels contrast against monochrome prints, seeking refuge in linen couches and woollen rugs. Beige undertones, strikes of green and marble floors add warmth to the interior, without taking away clean lines. Take our tour to see how fresh thinking can transform a small space.
Our one-bedroom apartment begins in the central room, a fusion of living, dining and kitchen areas. Designed for a young woman, the TV space opens to a portrait of her likeness in black and white. Large panes of colour in a charcoal couch, wooden panel and beige wall provide clear space for thought. Subtle features in two types of foliage, white-bound books and a geometric-patterned rug add politically-correct personality. A semi-low, flat ceiling is disguised in white, minimal light fixtures.
From the TV room, kitchen and dining areas extend a hand. Tall white cabinetry, mimicking the length of two large windows, pops out from behind the partition wall. Three dangling white lights mark the dining table.
A monochrome print lords over a drinks cabinet. Oscillating in white and wood, its long lines mimic the TV cabinet, giving space to the print. A view further to the side shows a range of room partitions, each artfully placed to segment while uniting as one.
From the kitchen, the view is clean, minimalistic. A range of potted plants pave the way to another wooden feature wall, made all the more dramatic by a white textured painting hanging on its frame. Clean slate tiles and light-wooden flooring greet a hallway mirror, extending the space. A simple white door gives prominence to the artwork and table, avoiding overcrowding.
As the feature wall welcomes two lit ferns, a well-designed balcony leads us back out. Facing wide window panes in white joinery, the space is framed using very little space. A row of potted green fits almost into the joinery. A design feature wall in slatted wood replaces the original fixture. Wall shelving is stencilled and minimalist, while grey linen chairs gather peacefully.
The bedroom brings in the themes of the central space. Emanating relaxation, a dark wooden headboard mirrors the TV room, light-grey walls the kitchen floor. Black hanging lights match white counterparts in the kitchen, and monochrome prints the feature wall. Creating difference, an LED-lit panel beams atop the headboard, while subtle stripes line the rug, cushions and duvet. Minimal shelving and a mirror extend the space and let light in.
The wardrobe is both clever and contemporary. A cacophony of long, lean panelling, its central inlet appears to extend rather than take from the space. Dark-panelled, their cubby holes hide necessities while leading to another white, bright exit.
A closer look at the kitchen reveals similar themes. Long, white panelling makes it classic and elegant. Lit dark wood panelling creates an inlet of interest. Necessities hide in under-table shelving, while a stove and fridge take a seat to the side. An island bench affords room for unique drop lights to allude to more space.
Carrying on their accents, more wooden panels are bathroom-bound. Making friends with marbled tiling, they find expression beside towel rails, under sinks and beside the toilet. Stone blocks in white porcelain and a slate benchtop ground the space, while an illuminated mirror and glass panel give the illusion of ever more room.
Design magazines are famous for creating spaces that exude beauty – but not practicality. White, expansive couches with ornate gold fixtures and marbled tiles gloss over many of their pages, an inspiration to us all. Yet, modern life often makes interiors unachievable. Piled with chores, guests and kids’ mess on a daily basis, it’s pretty hard to keep that white linen couch clean. Scandinavian interiors impacted the scene with a different aim: to make the messy modern. A popular power in the world of design, their simple and often cost-efficient tones allowed white walls and your favourite kitschy finds to become beautiful. Take a look at these six stunners to see what all the fuss is about.
Visualizer:Yuriy Bobak Archviz Studio
Our first interior in Warsaw, Poland is a cosy nest for a couple of two. White-walled and wooden-floored, its structure allows the little things to add to a clean, spacious look. The living room offers us the first glimpse, with a powder-blue couch and striped rug making first impact. Wooden furniture and monochromatic prints complement their tones, without appearing same-same. Green leaves and simple, framed illustrations evoke simplicity. White lampshades hide beside the walls.
From the couch, the little things take greater force. Rows of hanging pot plants become features, a standing bookcase a cabinet of knowledge. Amidst a deck and windows swathed in white, a powder-blue chair offers a seat to take it in.
A desk needs no introduction, in common white and wood elements. The most minimal of markers, a trio of wooden frames highlight a place for work, while harking back to the lounge. Potted plants and small white ornaments are magnified in white cushions and a lampshade, on opposing sides.
Simple yet lived-in, the bedroom is a canvas of white pocked by wood. Undesirables in lighting, a heated rail and blinds become one in white. A wooden chest and cane basket hold personal items, while green frames each corner. Four monochrome prints reflect on the study and lounge, mimicking the wardrobe’s compartmentalisation. A mirror relaxes to the side.
The kitchen’s light and breeze is retained, despite its many elements. White cabinetry, windows and blinds are matched by light wood in benches and floors. The perfect Scandinavian backdrop, they allow pops of black to surprise in an oven and chair, while green and chrome talk to one another.
Two perfect circles round off an all-white bathroom, briefly joined by a wood bench and mirror rims. Circles join more circles in standing basins, chrome magnifiers and an oval bath, all grounded by large-format charcoal tiling.
Visualizer:YUlOnG Fu
Our second space is much more kitsch. Dotted in a variety of textures and tones, a Scandinavian framework makes it clean and stylish. In the central area, light wooden chairs , floors and chests provide a perfect canvas. A stencil chandelier is fixed by a block of black, as a grey rug opposite mimics its shape. Grey and khaki meet with potted plants which hang, sit and hide amongst the wooden. Terracotta pots, books and monochromatic prints are lit by simple French windows.
The study and TV areas mark their spaces by plants. In the study, a small-leaved potted plant drapes over the ceiling, partially obscuring a drop-down light. In the TV room, potted plants sit on library shelves and a TV cabinet, giving prominence to the TV and central wall. Light wood grounds the plant and finer ornamental detail, making the busy look basic.
White spaces oscillate between over-piling and minimalism. A barn-door entranceway houses a heap of clothes, chequered and multi-coloured, on grey floral tiles. The TV room corridor, by contrast, features one potted tree against a white brick wall, as glass baubles and a green tray sit to the side. Both spaces suit the tone of the home.
The bedroom is a jumble of grey, white and light wood, illustrated and framed by more potted green. Innumerable in its decorations, its clean white walls and ceiling create breathing space, with no detail rising more than halfway. Wide French windows and simple blue-grey curtains greet a black-stencilled chair and lightly-patterned grey rug.
Visualizer:Dattran
Our next two-bedroom is a lot less ornamental – but not less patterned. The lounge shows a myriad of undertones and shapes in collaboration. Classic white walls and wooden floors open up to a grey couch and curtains, mottled rug and different-coloured cushions. A range of cubed and circular art pieces adorn the central table, while a standing lamp hovers beside a print. The look is monochromatic, mixed with the muted.
The kitchen provides a solid background for the smaller space, in simple white cabinetry and benching. A fridge and bench inlet framed in black show allegiance to the table, while not detracting from the main living space. Scandinavian chairs (Selig Z Style chair in the living and the Salt Chairs at the kitchen counter) really drive home the style.
The bedroom’s white light glows over charcoal, popping up throughout the room. Draped in bedding and a rug, its tones play in an abstract art piece and window sill. Pops of green and white kitsch both stand out and blend into white blinds and an exposed brick wall.
The second bedroom warms up with a wood-panelled feature wall and floor. A beige padded headboard and striped duvet set it apart, with matching tables and a rug in supporting roles. Features charcoal in the first are turned black in the second, with each bedroom comparing and contrasting. A bright blue seascape centres the space.
Visualizer:Harun Kaymaz
Our fourth contender looks a lot simpler – and it is. An L-shaped block sofa carries matching cushioning, while abstract prints shine in the same hue. White fixtures in window joinery, a light and side table are made different by abstract sparks – turquoise table legs here, terracotta pots there. A golden trumpet and beige woollen rug add warmth, while French windows mirror the shape of the prints.
Visualizer:Le Anh
Inject a bit of pastel with our fifth home for inspiration. Not content with charcoal and wood, a proliferation of patterns add pizzazz to the white-coated living room. Cushions sidle next to each other in a variety of detailing. Three frames gradate from minimalist lines to coloured crescents, all framed in light wood. A stencilled standing lamp is reflected in cane chair-backing and side table grate. Yellow pops on the table below a branched bulb light, dangling elusively from the ceiling. Grey and white stripes set the scene.
Visualizer:Yuliya Chudinovskikh
Our final space is a masterpiece in monochrome. Black and white adorn cushions and prints, before nestling into grey. The living room holds their colouring in black stencil and wooden frames, while natural green and a rustic bucket add the living. A silver bauble chandelier takes it into the modern day.
The kitchen makes monochrome its guiding principle, with black dotted in all the right places. Drawer and cupboard handles, ovens and a benchtop all go back to black, while a faint outline in the tiles combines the two opposing shades. A chrome fridge and plumbing quell their differences among green and wood elements.
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
