A kitchen with white cabinets is such a timeless design choice that you see in many homes and you really can’t do anything wrong with this combination. A clean and minimal white kitchen can look boring to some, and fresh to others, yet if you combine the white cabinets with black countertops, you add a certain contrast that makes the design of your white kitchen much more interesting.
I have recently written a post about the most inspiring white kitchen ideas, and a post about black kitchen ideas as well, yet I thought the combination of white cabinets and black countertops deserved a post of its own as it’s such a great, contrasting combination that can add such an impressive amount of character and personality to your kitchen design.
White shaker cabinets with black countertops and a checkered floor
The contrast between the white cabinets and the black countertops in this beautiful shaker kitchen is enhanced even further by the checkered floor in black and white. The impressive black stove and the black pendant lights also contribute to the balanced contrast, and the light grey paint color on the walls softens out the look.
The u-shaped layout of the white cabinets goes over into a lower area in front of the window, which has dual functionality as storage combined with a seating bench. On the opposite side of the kitchen, you can find high storage cabinets and the glass front cabinets next to the stove give the layout a lighter look. The recessed stove is treated with a tile backsplash, for an elegant effect.
via Kvänum
Balance Out Contrasting Dark Countertops with a Subtle Beige Wall Color
Dark countertops in a kitchen with white cabinets will undoubtedly result in a strong contrast, especially if the color palette in the entire kitchen space is black or white. In this beautiful Ikea Bodbyn kitchen, the white soaped wood floor and the white subway tile backsplash contribute to the high-contrast look, making the dark countertops stand out.
To balance out this black-and-white contrast, the walls of this kitchen with white cabinets are painted in a subtle beige tone. This results in a soft color palette, from which the stainless steel appliances stand out.
Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Fredrik J Karlsson for sale via Alvhem
Minimal white kitchen cabinets with a black countertop and black backsplash tiles
The minimal white kitchen cabinets in this open-plan home are built into a corner of the space with two lower walls separating the kitchen from the hallway and the living room. One of the walls has been used to mount the TV, which is a wonderful solution for an open floorplan.
via Entrance Makleri
White cabinets and stainless steel appliances combined with black granite countertops
The black granite countertop in this kitchen is continued within the niche space of the white cabinets, resulting in a contrasting black element containing floating shelves. The impressive stainless steel range hood above the stove is combined with a stainless steel countertop in this section and the black kitchen island completes this look perfectly.
The clean mix of the black countertop and white cabinetry with the stainless steel appliances works so well in this kitchen, giving it a minimal, yet industrial look and feel.
via Historiska Hem
An eye-catching black marble countertop and simple white Ikea cabinets
The beautiful pattern in the black marble countertop enhances the basic white Ikea cabinets fronts in such an elegant way. I love the way the induction stove just seems to disappear in dark countertops like this one, this way it doesn’t attract as much attention.
The white cabinets are enhanced with subtle chrome hardware and the black pendant light finishes off the look perfectly.
Styled by Emma Fischer, photographed by Alen Cordic for Bjurfors
White cabinets with integrated handles and black marble countertops
The modern white cabinets in this kitchen have a subtly integrated handle, which matches up perfectly with the classic look of the black marble countertop. The range hood and stove in stainless steel add another material to the look, which complements the dark wood floors nicely.
The layout of the kitchen includes a narrow kitchen island that offers extra workspace, yet also visually separates the kitchen from the dining area.
via Entrance Makleri
Dark countertops combined with a light wood floor, white cabinets, and a grey wall
The raised panel doors in this kitchen add a subtle classic look to the space, which matches nicely with the crown molding on the ceiling. The dark countertops combined with the black Gubi bestlite wall lamps add a subtle contrast to the soft palette that is finished off so nicely by the subtle grey paint color on the wall.
via Kvänum
A tiny kitchen with white cabinets, black countertops, and a black range hood
What this tiny kitchen lacks in floor space, it more than makes up for in style. I love the contrast between the white cabinets and the black countertops, which is enhanced even further by the black hardware and the black range hood.
The white porcelain sink with the gold faucet adds a certain elegance to this contrasting look and the open shelving on both walls offers extra storage space without making the layout of the kitchen too heavy.
The black floor contrasts nicely with the white cabinetry and the white subway tiles with black grout that cover the entire wall follow the black and white combination that’s also present in the kitchen itself.
via Historiska Hem
Off-white cabinets with black granite countertops and chrome hardware
The minimal off-white cabinets on both the top and bottom of this kitchen layout complement this turn-of-the-century space so nicely. The dark countertops add a wonderful contrasting element to the space that works well with the warm wood flooring and the wood tones in the furniture.
Styled by Nouvel Interior, photographed by Alen Cordic for Bjurfors
Minimal white cabinets with black countertops and a grey backsplash
This gorgeous contemporary kitchen fills the entire wall of this open-plan living space with light wood flooring. The black countertops are combined with a cement tile backsplash for a modest look enhanced by the minimal white cabinets with integrated handles.
The appliances have been fitted in on either side of the kitchen, leaving the middle element clean and elegant with only the sink and stovetop cut out of the black countertops.
via Stadshem
A small white kitchen with a black countertop and lots of storage
The white subway tile backsplash in this kitchen with white cabinets and black countertops goes all the way up to the ceiling, which gives it a very finished look with an industrial touch that is enhanced by the stainless steel range hood.
The white cabinets are limited to lower modules on the back and side wall, combined with open shelving to give this niche kitchen a spacious look. The other wall, however, has been filled with ceiling-high cupboards that offer ample storage space.
via Historiska Hem
A minimal kitchen design with white cabinets, black countertops, and a white marble backsplash
The combination of the white cabinets with the black countertops in this small yet minimal kitchen is strengthened by the black tones in the elegant bar cart with gold details and the dining chairs at the dining table.
The chrome hardware, faucet, and sink add a subtle industrial touch to the look, while the white marble backsplash gives the kitchen design a certain elegance.
Photographed by Jonas Berg for Stadshem
A characterful white kitchen with a black countertop and a green subway tile backsplash
The contrast between the white cabinets and black countertops provides a perfect monochrome basis for the green subway tile backsplash combined with the light blue walls and the brass peg rail above the counter.
The black countertop matches so nicely with the different colors in the materials and the white porcelain sink gives the space a subtle farmhouse kitchen look.
Styled by Linnéa H. Manaberi for Kvarteret Makleri
Minimal white shaker cabinets with black granite countertops and chrome hardware
The minimal white shaker cabinets in this kitchen are planned perfectly in the room, with a niche space above the stove with a subtle grey tile backsplash with a farmhouse touch. The white cabinets are enhanced with black granite countertops and the chrome hardware adds elegant detailing.
The L-shaped layout of the white shaker cabinets is planned around the window with lower cabinets only, however, on the opposite side of the kitchen you can find tall cupboards that make up for any lost storage space.
via Kvänum
U-shaped white kitchen cabinets with black countertops and open shelving
This living space has dark grey walls, which really benefit from a contrasting kitchen with white cabinets and black countertops. The contrast has been enhanced by using a white subway tile backsplash and black open shelving, which enhance the look of this rather basic kitchen a lot.
via Sjöman Frisk
Off-white cabinets with black marble countertops and a stainless steel hood
These off-white cabinets go in the direction of light grey depending on the angle from which you look at them, yet the contrast is just as strong as with other white cabinets and black countertop combinations, which is what it’s all about in this list.
The kitchen cabinets have been fitted in between two walls, which looks very nice and the black countertop has been extended into a low backsplash, which gives the kitchen a bright and clean look. The stainless steel hood, black wall lamp, peg rail, and single open shelf are the perfect details for this simple kitchen design.
via Entrance Makleri
An older white kitchen with black countertops and light blue walls
This kitchen is rather dated, yet the contrasting look between the white cabinets and the darker countertops is so timeless it still works. The kitchen look has been updated by adding a light blue wall color and subtle open shelving to the space.
via Stadshem
Black granite countertops and classic white cabinets paired with a dark wall
The classic white kitchen cabinets fill the entire left wall of the kitchen space, with the black granite countertop standing out of the white backdrop in a contrasting way. The glossy white tiles on the kitchen backsplash leave the room feeling bright and elegant, while the dark wall color in the rest of the space enhances the contrast of the black countertop.
On the other side of the space, the vintage white dining table stands out against the contrasting dark wall. The antique painting and the classic wall lamp tie the design of this kitchen together in a lovely way.
Styled by Olivia Lind, photographed by Mia Borgelin for Historiska Hem
Work with a White Brick Backsplash to bring Merge Contrast with a Rustic Touch
The neutral color palette in this small kitchen complements the rustic effect the white-painted brick backsplash adds to the space. The dark countertops and black appliances stand out powerfully in this kitchen with white cabinets.
The wood accessories on the countertop and the white floating kitchen shelf add a focal point and a beautiful warmth to the space.
Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Frederik Karlsson for Alvhem
