Home Design & Decorating Room Design Kitchen Design

24 Kitchens With Beautiful Black Cabinets

By
Deirdre Sullivan
Me-head-shot
Deirdre Sullivan
Deirdre Sullivan is an interior design expert and features writer who specializes in home improvement as well as design. She began her career as an assistant editor at Elle magazine and has more than a decade of experience. Deirdre contributes content for brands including The Spruce and Realtor.com, and has been a featured speaker at various conferences.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 02/01/24
Kitchen with black cabinets and white island with natural woven chairs

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Black kitchen cabinets can completely transform your space. Going bold with dark cabinetry will add instant drama and definition to an all-black kitchen, or complement styles ranging from modern, contemporary, modern farmhouse, traditional, eclectic, and more. 

Pair neutral black cabinets with white for a minimalist feel, or with any color paint, wallpaper, or floor tile for a more personalized look. Black cabinets can work with any kitchen hardware finish, from silver to brass, bronze, copper, or black metal for a monochromatic effect.

Check out these kitchens with black cabinets for ideas and inspiration. 

  • 01 of 24

    Try Black Base Cabinets

    black base cabinets
    Texas Construction Company

    In this spacious and light-filled kitchen from Texas Construction Company, black Shaker-style base cabinets are topped off with a Carrara marble waterfall countertop. What keeps this cooking space feeling light and airy are the walls covered in white subway tile, which offset the dark cabinetry. 

    Continue to 2 of 24 below
  • 02 of 24

    Pair With Stainless Steel

    midcentury modern kitchen with black cabinets

    Louis Duncan-He Designs / Eymeric Wildling Photography

    Pair a wall of black cabinetry with integrated stainless steel appliances for a sleek, cool-toned feel, like this remodeled midcentury modern kitchen from Louis Duncan-He Designs.

    Continue to 3 of 24 below
  • 03 of 24

    Mix In Open Shelving

    Sleek modern kitchen with black cabinets and open air wood shelves
    Design Shop Interiors

    Natural wood accents and a fish scale tile backsplash adds warmth and personality to this small kitchen from Design Shop Interiors. Combining the black cabinets with open wood shelves keeps the cooking space from feeling top heavy.

    24 Ideas for Kitchens With Open Shelving
    Continue to 4 of 24 below
  • 04 of 24

    Pair With Traditional Brick

    traditional black kitchen cabinets

    Mary Patton Design

    Black cabinetry works well in both modern and traditional kitchens. Mary Patton Design contrasted white walls and countertops with painted black cabinets in this traditional U-shaped kitchen that has an aged arched brick opening and abundant natural light.

    Continue to 5 of 24 below
  • 05 of 24

    Mix Matte and Shiny

    matte black kitchen cabinets

    Louis Duncan-He Designs / Eymeric Wildling Photography

    Pair matte black cabinetry with a shiny black stone or tile backsplash to create dimension in an all-black kitchen, like this space from Louis Duncan-He Designs.

    Continue to 6 of 24 below
  • 06 of 24

    Match the Backasplash

    black kitchen cabinets with visible wood grain

    Fantastic Frank

    Create a simple modern look in a small space with a one-wall kitchen that is finished with all-black cabinetry and a matching backsplash, like this Scandinavian space from Fantastic Frank. The wood grain is horizontal for cabinets, with a vertical layout for the backsplash to add some subtle variation to the all-over look.

    Continue to 7 of 24 below
  • 07 of 24

    Add a Modern Backsplash

    Black kitchen cabinets in white neutral kitchen with hexagonal tile patches
    Nicolaj Bo

    In this cooking space by interior designer Nicolaj Bo, a wall of black upper and lower cabinets is complemented with a freeform deconstructed hex backsplash and white walls for a contemporary look.

    Continue to 8 of 24 below
  • 08 of 24

    Pair With Black Tile

    Black tile kitchen with black cabinets and silver and gold accents
    April Tomlin Interiors

    This onyx cooking space from April Tomlin Interiors combines jet black Shaker cabinets with moody marble herringbone tile. Metallic accents from the chrome cabinet knobs to brass light fixtures brighten the room.

    Continue to 9 of 24 below
  • 09 of 24

    Try Blue-Black Cabinets

    blue-black kitchen cabinets

    Becca Interiors

    Toughen up a country kitchen with blue-black cabinets painted in a semi-gloss finish. Becca Interiors complemented the dark cabinets with with black countertops that add contrast against white shiplap walls, and rustic wood floors and ceiling beams.

    Continue to 10 of 24 below
  • 10 of 24

    Pair With Butcher Block

    Simple black, white, and wood boho kitchen
    Maison de Pax

    This DIY modern farmhouse cooking space featured on Maison de Pax combines white shiplap walls, open shelving, and butcher block countertops with midnight black base cabinets. Keeping the walls white makes the compact space feel bigger and brighter.

    Continue to 11 of 24 below
  • 11 of 24

    Add a Gallery Wall

    Black kitchen cabinets in black and white country-esque kitchen with wood accents
    Beatriz da Costa

    Inject some old-world flavor into your kitchen with ideas from this cooking space from Beatriz da Costa. Black beadboard cabinets give the kitchen a charming country feel. Black paint in the adjacent breakfast nook becomes the backdrop for a homey gallery wall. 

    Continue to 12 of 24 below
  • 12 of 24

    Try a Moody Farmhouse Feel

    black farmhouse kitchen cabinets

    Ashley Montgomery Design

    Create a moody farmhouse feel with black cabinetry. Ashley Montgomery Design paired black cabinets, window trim, open shelving, and a textured ceiling with a natural wood paneled backsplash and flagstone flooring for a rustic farmhouse kitchen with some edge.

    Continue to 13 of 24 below
  • 13 of 24

    Hang Black Metal Pendants

    matte black kitchen cabinets
    Martha O'Hara Interiors

    Black upper cabinets and black metal pendant lights anchoring the island draw the eyes upward, adding visual depth and height to this black-and-white kitchen from Martha O'Hara Interiors. 

    Continue to 14 of 24 below
  • 14 of 24

    Accent With Brass

    Black and white kitchen cabinets with white tile, wood accents, and metallic hardware
    Lat Lawton Interiors

    Two-tone cabinetry with shiny brass hardware adds lots of visual interest to this black and white tuxedo-inspired kitchen by Lat Lawton Interiors. The black cabinets against the wall anchor the cooking space. 

    Continue to 15 of 24 below
  • 15 of 24

    Vary Black Cabinet Heights

    modern black kitchen cabinets

    Michelle Berwick Design

    Mix black base cabinets with a floor-to-ceiling block of cabinets to define space in an open-plan room like this modern space from Michelle Berwick Design. Pair with plenty of white and natural wood for an airy feel.

    Continue to 16 of 24 below
  • 16 of 24

    Pair With Warm Wood

    Wood and black cabinet kitchen
    Dichotomy Interiors

    Black cabinets and a warm wood countertop give this tiny cooking space by Dichotomy Interiors a rich and luxurious look.

    Continue to 17 of 24 below
  • 17 of 24

    Take Them to the Ceiling

    chic black kitchen cabinet ideas

    Becca Interiors

    Build a floor-to-ceiling wall of black cabinetry in your kitchen for a dramatic feel. Becca Interiors embedded double black ovens in the cabinetry wall of this New York City kitchen for a seamless look.

    Continue to 18 of 24 below
  • 18 of 24

    Pair With Patterned Tile

    Black and blue kitchen with black and white tiled walls
    Jasmin Reese Interiors

    What we love best about black kitchen cabinets is that they can be mixed and matched with practically anything. In this cooking space by Jasmin Reese Interiors patterned tile is paired with midnight black cabinetry. A bright blue kitchen island lends a pop of bold color.

    Continue to 19 of 24 below
  • 19 of 24

    Mix Decor Styles

    Black kitchen cabinets with brick
    M2 Project

    Traditional black cabinets can work with a broad range of decorating styles. In this kitchen by M2 Project, they feel downright bohemian against a brick and white subway tile wall in an artist loft. 

    Continue to 20 of 24 below
  • 20 of 24

    Try a Black Accent Cabinet

    black kitchen china cabinet

    Whittney Parkinson Design

    Dip your toe into the world of dark cabinetry with a black china cabinet. Whittney Parkinson Design paired a black glass-front china cabinet with gold-tone hardware to echo strong black accents throughout this spacious kitchen and dining room

    Continue to 21 of 24 below
  • 21 of 24

    Go Black in a Small Kitchen

    small kitchen with black cabinets

    Brexton Cole Interiors

    Black cabinets can help you to create depth in a small semi-open kitchen, like this space from Brexton Cole Interiors. Black metal bar stools, accessories, and artwork on and around the peninsula create a coordinated look.

    Continue to 22 of 24 below
  • 22 of 24

    Add a Matching Island

    modern black kitchen cabinets

    Michelle Boudreau Design

    Mix solid black black cabinets with a dramatic black waterfall edge island for a contemporary feel. Michelle Boudreau Design paired the cabinetry with a black-and-white patterned tile on the backsplash and terrazzo floor tiles in this renovated Palm Springs home.

    Continue to 23 of 24 below
  • 23 of 24

    Include Standalone Cabinets

    black kitchen dining room cabinets

    Mary Patton Design

    Carry black kitchen cabinets into an adjacent dining room for a cohesive feel. Mary Patton Design flanked the arched brick opening of this kitchen and dining space with standalone cabinets that almost reach the ceiling. One houses a home bar, while the other provides extra storage to keep the space clutter-free.

    Continue to 24 of 24 below
  • 24 of 24

    Mix With White

    kitchen with black and white cabinets

    Alvin Wayne

    Mix matte black cabinetry with high-gloss white cabinets and countertops for a bold color block effect, like this New York City apartment kitchen from interior designer Alvin Wayne.

Are black kitchen cabinets a good idea?

Black kitchen cabinets are a good idea if you want to add a bold look to your kitchen or contrast with white walls. If you are considering black cabinets for a small space, be sure it has adequate access to natural light. Otherwise, pay special attention to lighting so that it is well lit for cooking and meal prep, and includes ambient light to make it feel cozy after dark.

Are black kitchen cabinets still in style?

Black kitchens are still in style. Black is a classic and timeless neutral that will never go out of style, whether or not it is currently on-trend. 

What color countertops go with black cabinets? 

You can pair black cabinets with any color countertops that you like. Black is a neutral color that works with any other color, depending on your taste. From natural wood butcher block countertops to white, gray, or black stone finishes from marble to quartz to soapstone or granite, the choice is yours.

14 Black Paint Color Ideas to Add Drama to Any Room