Each year, dark kitchen cabinetry grows in popularity when compared to traditional light tones and standard white cabinets. These dark elements and design styles can produce a dramatic effect with a modern look that’s sure to impress.

To help you design your dream kitchen and flip traditional kitchens on their head, take a look at the most inspiring dark kitchen cabinet ideas below.

Pair Dark Wood Flooring With Dark Cabinets and Matching Walls Against White Countertops

If you’re looking to fully embrace the dark side, this kitchen design is for you. Dark wood flooring and matching dark cabinetry and walls come together to create a dramatic space. Open shelves flank a black stove and the white countertops add depth, providing contrast to the darkness.

All of the hardware is in matching polished gold, the perfect combination for these dark cabinets.

Photographed by Ozolappa, styled by Yngfalk for Historiska Hem

Fill the Kitchen With Dark Brown Tones By Pairing Wood Cabinets and Flooring With Two-Tone Walls

Anyone who would prefer that their darker cabinets have a bit of texture is sure to love this next idea. Warm tones and a white backsplash result in timeless elegance and an inviting atmosphere in this kitchen design.

Two-tone walls and light wood flooring beautifully complement the dark cabinetry, while the black finish of the appliances helps them discretely fade into the backdrop.

Styling by Grey Deco, photographed by Fredrik J Karlsson for Alvhem

Make a Bold Statement With Black Cabinets in a Light-Toned Kitchen

Matte black kitchen cabinets set against lighter tones and a blend of visual textures create a breathtaking impression upon entering the space. The black cabinet hardware helps to create a seamless look, solidly positioning the marble island as the focal point of the room.

Brown bar stools echo the brown tones of the hardwood floor which, alongside the gray walls, acts as a stepping stone between the bright white island and ceiling and the stark black cabinetry.

Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Fredrik J Karlsson for Alvhem

Combine Dark Brown Wood Cabinets and Dark Gray Paint With a Much Lighter Shade of Wood Flooring

Installing two-tone cabinets is yet another way to make the trend of using darker colors more personalized to your home and personality.

The wood grain on the base cabinets and decorative items situated throughout the mixed shelving unit on the wall provide a lot of visual interest to this space. The lighter flooring continuing through the doorway into the next room also helps to tie the rest of the home together.

via Nordiska Kök

Create a Truly Dramatic Kitchen With All-Over Black Cabinets, Shelves, Countertops, and Appliances

Matte black cabinets paired with black countertops are among the boldest dark kitchen cabinet ideas. The resulting kitchen design is an edgy showstopper perfect for those with a flair for the dramatic.

A black, geometric open shelving unit is the best fit for this blank wall space, and the black range hood and faucet keep the theme going. Overall, this kitchen is one of the moodiest examples we’ve seen and is truly stunning.

Styled by Nouvel Interior, photographed by Alen Cordic, for sale via Entrance Makleri

Use Dark Kitchen Cabinets in an Open-Plan Space to Better Divide the Kitchen and Living Room

Open-plan homes can pose a unique challenge when it comes to the color palette and decor. Oftentimes, these layouts need a visual division of space, but that can be difficult in itself in a compact setting.

These dark gray cabinets with a navy undertone are an excellent example of how you can make this type of area work well together. The bold color makes it clear that the kitchen is a separate space, but the similar tones in the furniture and artwork of the living and dining spaces tie the entire room together.

via Historiska Hem

Paint Your Cabinets With a Vibrant Blue Hue in an All-White Kitchen for a Sleek, Stunning Appearance

If you’re in search of a striking contrast, go for light-colored countertops, walls, and floors paired with a bold pop of color on the cabinets.

Where many dark kitchen cabinet ideas focus on creating a fully dark space, this styling is a breath of fresh air. The white throughout the space reflects the natural light pouring through the window, allowing the coloring of the dark kitchen cabinets to truly shine.

via Nordiska Kök

Pair Dark Cabinets With Sandy Brown Tones and White Countertops for an Old World Traditional Feel

As mentioned before, lower and upper cabinets in complementary paint colors can be a fun and visually appealing way to experiment with dark kitchen cabinets. Additionally, glass front cabinets can also bring an extra element of personality to the space.

This kitchen in particular blends all of these touches together into a unique design that just screams vintage class and elegance. The warm coppery tones specifically create a very inviting and welcoming air.

via DeVol kitchens

Use Dark Wood Cabinets in a Kitchen With Dramatic Textured Walls and Patterned Flooring

Another way that you can play with blending dark cabinets with other deep colors is to pair natural wood cabinetry and striking textured black walls. The lower cabinets provide the space with a rustic feel, especially when set against the hardwood floor.

Where other cabinet ideas pair them with smooth-finished walls, this example takes the counter material and continues it to the ceiling for a dramatic effect.

via Nordiska Kök

Combine Black Cabinets, White Marble Countertops, and Gold Hardware for Timeless Appeal

As we’ve seen, dark kitchen cabinets come in a wide variety of materials, finishes, and designs. One easy DIY way of transforming your cabinets into a darker and more bold version of themselves is by applying wood stain.

Stained cabinets can provide any kitchen with a one-of-a-kind appearance without requiring a whole kitchen remodel. These black kitchen cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and gold hardware all work together to create a sophisticated kitchen that’s still down-to-earth.

via Historiska Hem

Use Muted Brown Cabinets in a Galley-Style Kitchen With Unique Wallpaper and Painted Shiplap

A kitchen with earthy tones and loads of natural light is the perfect environment for dark kitchen cabinets. This kitchen pairs them with intricate wallpaper, light brown shiplap, and bronze hardware.

With just a few minor adjustments to the styling, you could also use a muted green backsplash or exposed brick for a more vintage design.

photographed by Henrik Linden, for sale via Alvhem

Create the Ultimate Industrial-Style Modern Kitchen With Dark Kitchen Cabinets and Stainless Steel Countertops

Dark cabinets are an excellent choice for those looking for a more industrial touch to their kitchen. These modern, smooth-faced kitchen cabinets are a great match for the stainless steel counters and backsplash.

A discrete row of under-cabinet lighting helps to bring additional lighting into the sink area, while small, sleek pendant lights do the same over the cooktop. This futuristic kitchen is ideal for those who like to stay on the cutting edge of interior design.

via Himlekök

Offset Neutrals With Deep Blue Paint Set Against Bright White Walls

A subway tile backsplash and dark cabinets are a tried and true kitchen design. Subway tiles are a versatile and trendy, yet classic, material that won’t soon go out of style, meaning your kitchen is sure to stand the test of time.

The dark blue cabinets here are balanced well by the light wood tones and white backsplash and walls. This helps keep the space from feeling too dim, which is an excellent compromise for those who want color but are concerned about lighting.

Photography by Andres Bergstedt for Entrance Makleri

Make Your Cabinets the Center of Attention With Dark Green Paint in a Beige Kitchen

Dark green cabinets in a kitchen filled with off-white and beige tones are the perfect color palette for wowing guesting and placing your kitchen center stage. Emerald, forest green, dark olive green, and hunter green, as seen below, are all fantastic choices for this approach.

The lighter elements paired with the large window add brightness to the room, highlighting the dark green cabinets even more.

via Stadshem

Paint Smooth-Faced Cabinets With Dark Gray to Complement a Gray Backsplash and Black Appliances

For a more modern kitchen style, choose dark cabinets with a flat panel for the front instead of a designed door. Both the lower and upper cabinets here feature the same smooth face and are separated by a gray tile backsplash, resulting in a chic kitchen that’s complemented by the chosen decor.

via Ballingslōv

Use Dramatic Navy Paint in a White Kitchen With Open Shelving and a Wood Floor

These dark cabinets combine a lot of the design ideas we’ve seen before into a fresh and exciting kitchen. The dark blue, nearly black, kitchen cabinets are paired with white walls, open shelving, and a wood herringbone floor. White marble counters and natural decor complete the look.

via Alvhem

Make the Most Out of a Compact Kitchen By Pairing Dark Kitchen Cabinets With Visually Textured Finishes

For the last entry in our list of dark kitchen cabinet ideas, black cabinetry is used in a setting we haven’t seen before. A kitchen with a sloped ceiling can pose unique design challenges, all of which this example kitchen handles well.

Small black light fixtures are mounted right above the cooking area to ensure adequate lighting and the visual textures of the painted walls and backsplash create a welcome contrast to the dark lower cabinets.

Photographed by Axelsson for Historiska Hem