Chinese decor and architecture is many things: sometimes humble and sometimes opulent, exciting or subdued, colorful and textural, and always thoughtful. This region’s trends have changed throughout history but there’s always room to re-explore the aesthetics of times past. This post looks at two modern Chinese home designs that take cues from traditional styles, blending old and new in a beautiful and refreshing way. Both homes are the work of designers based in China for new projects in the area. If you’re looking to introduce Asian decor in your own home, this pair of lovely interiors is sure to inspire.
Visualizer:Big nose
This home offers a modern interpretation of traditional Chinese decor, created by Shenzhen-based designer “Big Nose”. Warm neutral colors and artwork inspired by nature certainly take cues from classic Chinese design theory, while the modern textiles and contemporary furniture feel fresh and new.
Classic influences find their way into the very heart of the home. This includes the paneled walls, reminiscent of the decorative screens popularly used in Chinese homes since antiquity.
The open living room and kitchen maintains a unified theme of textural white furniture, beige walls, and wood trim. It’s sophisticated but still approachable.
Mudras are gestures said to facilitate the flow of energy through the body, often used to reinforce and communicate symbolic meanings in Hinduism and Buddhism. This lamp features the Karana mudra, intended to expel negative energy.
Orchids are perfect for an elegant home like this one. Later in this post, we’ll explore some of the reasons this flower is so popular in Chinese-inspired interiors.
If you’re looking for the five elements of the Chinese zodiac (Wu Xing), you’ll have to look for subtle abstract representations. Wood, fire, earth, metal, and water all shine through the patterns used throughout.
The master bedroom is warm and inviting, boasting a subdued sense of luxury thanks to the addition of gold textiles and artistic details. Each of the patterns have deep historical roots.
Orchids have a long and colorful history in Chinese culture: as an herbal medicine, as valuable gifts, as a booming international industry, and as a source of pride for competitive growers.
Although feng shui isn’t widely practiced anymore, practitioners often warned against hanging a mirror facing the bed. These mirrors reside on either side – a more acceptable placement.
Do you remember the mudra lamp from the living room? These symbols are a recurring and auspicious theme. This one represents the Vitarka Mudra.
Visualizer:Xiang Chen
Here’s a home with an even more modernized style. This delightful space is the work of Hangzhou-based designer Xiang Chen for a new project in Nanjing. This home feels bright and spacious despite its modest floor plan – it’s more minimalist than the previous home, but the magic is in the details.
In 1944, iconic Danish furniture designer Hans Wegner created a series of chairs inspired by Ming dynasty. The chair on the left is an example from this famous collection and a great demonstration of how this home combines modern and traditional influences.
Panoramic visualizations are difficult to parse at times, but this image does help give an idea of the home’s layout. It’s kind of neat how the flowing effect of the walls matches the textural backdrop behind the sofa.
Although the interior material theme feels cohesive throughout, this side-by-side view shows that each room emphasizes a different element. The bedroom uses wood boldly, the living room is light and airy, and the bathroom embraces stone details.
Here’s a clearer view of the dining room, separated from its neighboring rooms by sliding doors where appropriate. In terms of furniture selection, these choices would look wonderful in any modern home regardless of region.
A cozy office resides in a private nook off the kitchen. It’s beautifully appointed with subtle gold details. The horns, lotus flowers, and small pots are all auspicious symbols in Chinese decor.
In the bedroom, neutral tones stand out against vibrant wood floors. The lighting is soft and warm to facilitate a relaxing atmosphere in the day and night alike.
In context, the bedroom appears to have a darker theme than the adjoining dining room – but both spaces are pleasant and bright thanks to smart layering and color choices.
How cute! Here’s a look at a bedroom for the child. You’ll notice that it shares a door with the home office so parents can keep an eye on play and homework while finishing up the business of the day.
The tour ends with a look at the smooth stone bathroom, decorated with a singular watercolor painting with a subtle floral theme.
These dark bedrooms pull you into a dream-like state with black accent walls, and stunningly deep furniture and accents. So much design is about light and bright spaces, but you can achieve the same stylish and luxurious look by being bold and letting black take center stage in your bedroom space. Although some of the spaces highlighted here are gothic and baroque inspired, there’s also modern and minimalistic spaces that ooze with class, and will leave you desiring some deep, darkness in your own bedroom retreat.
Visualizer:Sergey Kondratev
With black walls, sleek leather, and peaked ceilings - this bedroom is a modern take on gothic architecture. Instead of intricate designs, this room plays with texture and harsh straight lines. We love how the giant windows let in a lot of light that turns the black wood walls an almost charcoal color, and how that corner with the tufted chair stays dark and cozy.
Visualizer:M.I Group
This gothic-baroque-modern room is deliciously dark and decadent. The chandelier is a work of art itself - black and bubbly, surrounded by a white molding on the ceiling. The mirrored wall art mimics the side table, and is a great juxtaposition to the sleek and modern desk. Opposites attract in this dark room - and we love it.
Visualizer:M.I Group
Besides boasting black walls and furnishings, this modern master bedroom has a lofty feel. We love that the elements like the hanging side table lamps, and that steam-punk looking fireplace in the corner make this bedroom also look like a living space. Just because it’s dark doesn’t mean it can’t be inviting.
Visualizer:Olga Podgornaja
Talk about a statement wall - this black textured wall just pops agains the crust white walls around it. We love the silver mirror in the middle and how it contrasts against the glowing, golden bedside lamps. The black draws your eye into this amazing focal point, and even though it’s dark it highlights some of the best elements of the space.
Visualizer:Archivizer
These black walls shine thanks to beautiful golden undercounted lighting. This wonderful trick makes these walls pop, and adds a beautiful and unique design element.
Visualizer:Archivizer
This dark bedroom is fresh, quirky, and modern. We love how that bright olive color pops against the very dark matte black, and how the warm honey wood warms up the space. Using black as a way to hide the work space behind the bedroom area is a great trick - because it draws your eye away and back towards the bed and those big windows.
Architect:PLASTE[R]LINA| Visualizer:Jan Wadim
Cushioned walls, luxe fabrics, and soft muted lighting makes this the perfect space to pull the curtains and retreat from the world around you. Windows are usually a focal point in a room because they let in beautiful light - but we love how they’ve been almost totally hidden here so that the focus stays on the texture and patterns throughout the space.
Visualizer:Anton Siriak
When you have a room that gets tons of amazing light - like this one here - don’t be afraid to go dark. We love how the black wall shines against the windows and that big shiny closet. The contrast is incredible and really makes this otherwise ordinary space special.
Visualizer:CG Wisdom
Black is the new gold. This luxurious room oozes with class: from the black paneled walls, to that plush black carpet. The headboard and side tables really shine against the black walls, and we love how the trunk dresses the space down a little. This room really feels like a 5 star hotel.
Visualizer:Alvaro Cappa
This is another great example of how to use black in a nice bright space. The black accent wall doesn’t take any of that incredible natural light out of the room, instead it makes the rest of the white pieces pop.
Architect:D.V- Yaroslav Kovalchuk
Who said it can’t be just black and white? We love the monotone color scheme here because it’s paired with super modern furnishings.
This minimalistic space is the perfect place to kick back, and clear your head.
We love the white washed wood walls which bring a country flare to this very modern space.
There’s nothing quite like climbing into a big white bed that looks like a cloud. Best, yet - you might just feel like you’re floating in the night sky against those charcoal black walls.
Visualizer:Pavel Alekseev
The black textured walls add an element of surprise to this space. The furnishings are quite modern, but the room really plays on texture with the walls.
Those plush linens, and the shiny cabinets against the almost matte ash flooring is just stunning. Plus, that pop of red looks phenomenal against all the gray and black.
What’s great about this space is the contrast. That giant window lets in tons of natural light which has allowed the visualizer to really play with all these dark 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
