10 examples of dark kitchens
By Karine Dutemple
Updated on November 8, 2023

In a previous article, we presented the most beautiful white kitchens. However, some will say that white kitchens have dominated trends too much in recent years or will prefer to opt for darker shades. That's why we decided to create another list, this time showing kitchens where colour palettes are focused on darker tones like marine blue, forest green, black, brown and gray.
10 dark-coloured kitchens that are elegant and well-laid out
1) A forest green kitchen in the country style

Photo: Eye for design
The beams on the ceiling suggest that this kitchen is located in an old country house. We are more used to seeing brown wood beams, but these ones are grey and they blend perfectly with the rest of the decor.
Even if the shades chosen to cover the walls and cabinets of this kitchen are rather dark, the room is filled with a beautiful soft luminosity, imbued with calm and friendly nostalgia.
2) A kitchen where green and wood rub shoulders

Photo: Hilary & Flo Ltd
The decor of this kitchen is rather daring because this mix of textures, colours and patterns is not easy to arrange. However, the initiative is successful and the small kitchen brings us directly to a pretty cottage worthy of fairy tales.
3) A modern dark brown kitchen, but not cold for all that!

Photo: House and Home
This is a kitchen that is radically different from the others presented above! The layout of this kitchen is focused on straight lines, with cabinets that are perfectly integrated into the walls of the room.
We see the pantry which is enhanced by a pretty sliding glass door and which adds a little bit of colour to the decor of the room.
4) A magical cuisine, combining grey and gold tones

Photo: Remodelaholic
The mix of shades of grey, ochre and gold is wonderfully successful in this very cute kitchen/dining room. Once again, we have a unique layout that will not please everyone but will become a huge favourite for some people.
It is by being bold that one often succeeds in creating the most beautiful layouts and looks for dark kitchens. When one decides to opt for darker shades, the room can end up being too dull. By adding a few more vivid shades of colour, as well as various textures, you can have a very interesting result.
5) A kitchen where brown tones dominate

Photo: Dwell
This kitchen has a little bit of retro flair and could very well be found in a home from the sixties. However, its layout is not old-fashioned. These are lines that are very well suited to modern layouts and even more classic decors.
Of course, you have to love brown to enjoy this chocolate-toned kitchen. The lighting is subdued but perfectly targeted to highlight certain sections of the room, such as the countertops or storage spaces.
6) A black kitchen, lit by a skylight

Photo: Rover
If you'd like to have a black kitchen, but don't want to compromise the brightness of the room too much, a skylight might be an interesting option to consider. We see in this example that it is possible to opt for a colour palette where black dominates, without the room being too dark.
This kitchen is elegant and full of interesting little details, such as a textured countertop, state-of-the-art appliances and fixtures that add a little bit of warmth to a rather cool colour palette.
7) A kitchen for lovers of dark blue hues

Photo: Studio Mcgee
This image does not show the whole kitchen, but you can still see the nice combination between shades of blue and dark gray. It's chic, timeless and straightforward as a choice of decor, which we like very much!
So, would you like to have a kitchen with a colour palette centred around navy blue or midnight blue?
8) A black, modern and refined cuisine

Photo: Chad Mcmillan
Here is another example of a highly elegant dark kitchen. Once again, we love the choice of windows, which allow natural light to enter the room while being oriented so that the dark hues of the kitchen are highlighted.
The design of this kitchen has a lot of punch and style, with straight lines and a nice use of noble materials like wood and natural stone.
9) A dark kitchen, with touches of white to balance the whole look

Photo: Style at Home
Here, we have a fine example of a kitchen that will appeal to lovers of contemporary design. It's quite cold-looking, but that doesn't mean that this adjective should be inherently negative! Indeed, this sleek design is highly sophisticated and guided by intention, which makes it work out well.
10) A small kitchen that combines black and wood

Photo: Fire Clay Tile
Lastly, we have to openly admit that this kitchen is one of our favourites. Without saying that we would dare to install it in our home, we find that the combination between shades of pale wood and black/grey/blue is very successful.
This kitchen gives us a lot to look at, with a beautiful variety of textures, hues and decorative accessories. It's very small, but each little corner is filled with storage space or architectural details. The whole thing creates a beautiful visual cohesion.
Are you starting a kitchen renovation project? Here's a very useful article to check: Kitchen Renovation Project Checklist of the Steps to Follow.
Get 3 renovation quotes for your kitchen project
RenoQuotes.com can help you get quotes for your kitchen renovation project . If you submit your project to us, we’ll put you in contact with top-rated contractors. Fill in the form on the homepage (it only takes a few minutes), and you will get estimates from trusted professionals.
Dial 1-844 828-1588 to speak with one of our customer service representatives
Looking for something else?
Related articles
The latest industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources.

Editorial Team
•20 Aug 2026
A small backyard or patio doesn't rule out an outdoor kitchen. With the right layout and a few space-conscious choices, even 60 to 100 square feet can hold a grill, sink, storage, and enough counter space to actually cook a meal outside. The trick is picking a configuration and feature set that fits your footprint instead of trying to shrink a full-sized design.

Editorial Team
•21 Jun 2024
In general, the living room is a space associated with relaxation, entertainment, and gatherings with friends or family. It's a room that often serves as the central point of the home, so architects will strategically place it.

Amanda Harvey
•17 Feb 2025
Embarking on a renovation project can’t be done without establishing a realistic budget from the get-go. How in the world are you supposed to budget the cost of all the work planned down to the last dime? There are two common methods used to calculate renovation costs: the square foot calculation method and the full-cost method.

Cynthia Pigeon
•20 Jul 2026
Discovering black spots on a wall, a persistent damp-earth smell, or suspicious stains after water damage can immediately cause concern for a homeowner. Across Canada, cold winters, freeze-thaw cycles, heavy rainfall, and humid summer conditions can place considerable stress on a building envelope.

Editorial Team
•12 Dec 2024
Whether small or large-scale, when disaster strikes, it generally causes a great deal of stress, not to mention dealing with claims and negotiating with your insurance company for reimbursement. Needless to say, this is one trial you’d be happy to forget about. If you’re at a loss and aren’t sure which way is up, rely on the steps detailed by the Chambre de l’assurance de dommages (ChAD).