Cooking With Color: When to Use Black in the Kitchen
Consider sampling Caviar or Cracked Pepper on your kitchen walls or cabinets for richness and impact
Black is a classic hue in fashion — there's the little black dress and the debonair black tuxedo, and I'm sure I'm not the only one out there with way more pairs of black shoes in my closet than there are days of the week. Yet when it comes to decorating our homes, most of us tend to shy away from using black as more than a mere accent color. Yes, black can suck a good deal of light out of a room, making it appear cramped and dreary, but when used successfully it can be crisp, dramatic and elegant.
Check out eight gorgeous Houzz kitchens that feature this darkest of hues, along with tips on how to work with black in the kitchen.
Check out eight gorgeous Houzz kitchens that feature this darkest of hues, along with tips on how to work with black in the kitchen.
Black absorbs rather then reflects light, so if you are using a large amount of the hue in a space, try to counter it with plenty of light — preferably of the natural variety. The high white ceiling, skylights and wall of sliding glass doors in this kitchen more than balance out the black.
But you don't need to have walls of windows or skylights galore to make black work in your kitchen. There are other ways to balance it. For instance, this beautiful kitchen features cabinets that have a black-washed look that makes them less heavy and monolithic than cabinets painted solid black. And because the black is paired with plenty of light neutrals and reflective materials, this kitchen feels light and open.
I'm a big fan of adaptive reuse, of taking an older commercial or public-use building — in this case a onetime Carnegie library in California — and converting it into a living space. I enjoy seeing something antique or vintage get tweaked with contemporary elements in a way that still respects the original.
Here, the large modern black pendants over the island contrast nicely with the vintage exposed-brick walls. So simple, and yet the effect is dramatic and elegant. The restrained yet rich color palette of blacks, browns and brick red is also very successful.
See more of this kitchen
Here, the large modern black pendants over the island contrast nicely with the vintage exposed-brick walls. So simple, and yet the effect is dramatic and elegant. The restrained yet rich color palette of blacks, browns and brick red is also very successful.
See more of this kitchen
If you favor a black and white kitchen, I recommend adding another bold color or accents of warm neutral browns, taupes or beiges to keep it from appearing stark and cold. The wood floor in this kitchen warms things up nicely.
High-Contrast Kitchens for Every Style
High-Contrast Kitchens for Every Style
Use black to call attention to your kitchen's interesting architectural details, finishes or fixtures. Against a light backdrop, these elements will stand out, whereas everything white will recede into the background.
Consider the sheen of the black surfaces in your kitchen, too. Matte black absorbs light and tends to look flat and dark. Glossy surfaces will reflect light back into the space — but you can really see the texture of the surface, so make sure it's something you want highlighted. This kitchen has a nice mix of shiny and matte surfaces, and the crisp black really defines the space.
See how light affects color
See how light affects color
Since it's a neutral, black works with any other color you want to introduce. These lemon-yellow counter stools add a nice twist to this handsome black kitchen.
Black brings a lot of drama to a kitchen, so it requires little ornamentation. You really can't go wrong with high-quality finish materials and workmanship combined with a restrained palette heavy on black.
Most paint manufacturers carry a true black hue, but be sure to check out the many shades of black available that have subtle color differences. Some appear cooler, with hints of green, blue or purple; some are warmer — more of a brownish black. These subtle differences will be more noticeable in abundant daylight. As with any new paint color, it's a good idea to test a few different blacks in the actual room you plan to use it in to see how the color looks in the space and changes throughout the day and night.
4 enticing black hues to try (left to right):
1. Dark Kettle Black 4011-2, from Valspar
2. Caviar SW6990, from Sherwin-Williams
3. Black Berry 2119-20, from Benjamin Moore.
4. Cracked Pepper UL260-1, from Behr
Tell us: Should black stay in the fashion world, or are you ready to get cooking with it?
More: Are You Ready for a Dark and Sophisticated Kitchen?
Houzz Guides: Working black into your design
4 enticing black hues to try (left to right):
1. Dark Kettle Black 4011-2, from Valspar
2. Caviar SW6990, from Sherwin-Williams
3. Black Berry 2119-20, from Benjamin Moore.
4. Cracked Pepper UL260-1, from Behr
Tell us: Should black stay in the fashion world, or are you ready to get cooking with it?
More: Are You Ready for a Dark and Sophisticated Kitchen?
Houzz Guides: Working black into your design