Dark, Moody Kitchens Are the Next Big Style

abstruse hues , warm woods , and rich texture define the cozy look .

Move over , all - white kitchens . Although these bright spaces stay a classic coloring choice , clothes designer say there ’s a definite shift toward darker , moodier kitchen . In fact , according to ajust - released 2023 trends reportby the National Kitchen and Bath Association ( NKBA ) , “ moody ” is expected to be one of the top three most - popular tones for kitchen excogitation in the straightaway future .

The cause of this kitchen color chemise is simple-minded — homeowner are ready for something different . “ The white kitchen has overlook the food market , at all price points , beyond its peak , ” say Ellen Lopez , founder and creative director atEL Design Studio . Incorporating colour is a trend expected to take off throughout the home , and the kitchen is at the center of it all . “ The kitchen stand for a property for everyone to gather , and theidea of dark and moodyto me also translates as warm , cozy , and togetherness , ” suppose Nureed Saeed , possessor and originative director ofNu Interiors . “ It ’s not surprising that people desire to palpate heat in the place they spend the most time . ”

dark kitchen with marble island and clear glass cabinets

Credit: Nate Sheets

We asked four NKBA - certified designer why this style is on the wage hike and how to nail the luxe feel .

How to Get a Moody Kitchen

“ Dark kitchens are all about luxury and quiet comfort , ” says Crystal Hackl , the designer behindInspired Haven Design . “ Think deep , richpainted cabinetry , natural stone countertop , luxe gold whole step , and clear horizontal line of products . ” fuse in warm forest and pot of grain , and you ’re set for a dreamy kitchen . Here ’s how to pull off the expression so your space feel fresh and inviting rather than low-spirited .

Inspired Haven Design

1. Dark Cabinets

Start with a black initiation , says Lauren Schulte , possessor ofMonarch Kitchen Design Studio . “ select a recondite color , whether it is a sound wood super C , moody navy , charcoal , or calamitous , ” says Schulte . Greens and blues are alreadypopular kitchen colour , and they make a rich , earthy choice when used in a darker chromaticity . The strong color should unquestionably beused on groundwork cabinets , but Schulte says applying dark shades to both bag and upper cabinets will have the braggart impact . Walls can use a similar tonicity for depth and play .

2. Natural Elements

Wood , Edward Durell Stone , andearthy colorsare a must for this look . “ A dark kitchen can feel very intimate and calming and grounding , particularly if it usescolors found in natureand plenty of natural elements , ” say Hackl . All the designers agree , identifying forest and stone askey raw elementscomplementing the warm , dour amobarbital sodium , greens , and Shirley Temple prominent in the moody aesthetic .

bet for ways to incorporate warm woods , like walnut and oak , through floating shelves , tables , barstools , roof , or other accents . lifelike Harlan Fisk Stone and Oliver Stone - smell countertops , flooring , and backsplashes are another option . Marble and quartzite are two popular suggestion , particularly because they offer “ motion and drama ” to a blank , accord to Hackl .

3. Light Surfaces

“ The cay to pulling off a dark kitchen is layer and balancing dark tones with lighter factor , ” says Hackl . How many easy surfaces are used in a kitchen varies ; the more dark surfaces , themoodier and more dramaticthe space . If you ’re commit to obscure cabinets and walls , try lightening up at least one of the other main surfaces . “ In most traditional dark moody kitchen , the countertops are calorie-free and airy , ” state Lopez . “ Since the surface is horizontal , the light countertop reflect the light ; this softens the mood . ”

4. Metallic Accents

“ Oftentimes when you see moody styled kitchens , the glamor in the way is in element of metallic element , ” says Schulte . Much like light countertops or other Earth’s surface , metallics offer visual relieffrom glum colour . " Since the expression is very productive , there call for to be a rest place for the eye , particularly in a monochrome blank space where the wall , cabinets , counters , and ceiling are well-nigh the same color , ” order Schulte . “ The beneficial way to play up it is through bold accent , whether it be the computer hardware or a heavy gold frame , light fixtures , a beautiful faucet , or even just the bowl that sit on the buffet . ” But these ground element do n’t have to be metal : clear wood emphasis , snowy apron - front sink , and other elements that pop against the blue backcloth can do the caper .

Nu Interiors

5. Varied Textures and Tones

“ The main affair with this look is to not confuse dark and dour with monochromatic or deficiency of point and interestingness , ” tell Saeed . Although temperamental kitchens are n’t exactly colorful , they ’re certainly not monotonic . Even if monochromic , the well dark , moody kitchens use varying shades and textures for profundity . “ choose shades or tones and grain within a color range is key to making the look body of work while not looking one - banker’s bill , ” read Saeed . If you ’re sticking with a dominant color , face for ways to vary it . “ Tile with 3D reliefs or texture also cultivate well to make dimension and avail bring interest to the space , ” says Saeed .

6. Hidden Appliances

“ This flavor is a clear-cut departure from the white kitchens that have had a prospicient moment in the spot . It ’s a reflexion of the kitchen ’s farm role as a live space , one that feels less like a kitchen and more like an extension of the societal space in the home , " says Hackl . Minimizing the bearing of appliances is one way this aesthetic is developing . According to Hackl , appliance should be concealed with paneled fronts , and the image hood camouflaged with something like stone , wood , or plaster so that it merge with the rest of the kitchen . Countertop appliances should betucked out inside cabinetsor located in a pantry .

EL Design Studio

7. Clean Lines

Although most of the design elements key to dark kitchen can be applied to any design vogue , the pros agree that the clean horizontal communication channel of modernistic and transitional style are an idealistic canvass . The rock and woodscommon in midcentury designare also perfect complements . You might discover that the color proportion in a saturnine kitchen is one agency to make this look list more contemporary or more traditional . “ I ’ve noticed that the modern kitchen is usually paired with darker countertops while the traditional and transitional kitchen is mate with the light , marble - like tops , ” enounce Lopez .

8. Good Lighting

Lighting is imperative for safety and functionality in every kitchen , but it ’s especially important in a kitchen with many dark surfaces . You ’ll require the usualartificial kitchen light , as well as an abundance of natural light , which provides the warm glow that supports the moody aesthetic . “ In addition to the instinctive light , I wish to incorporate a decorative mirror , ” says Lopez . “ The mirror visually expands the space and act to muse the Light Within and color . ”

kitchen dark cabinets marble backsplash