Black kitchen cabinets have started to rise in popularity thanks to their elegance and high-end look, which most homeowners prefer.
For many years, white cabinets have dominated kitchen interior design. They are praised for their simplicity, cleanliness, and brightness. Yet, white kitchen cabinets can also require constant maintenance, and anything that doesn’t belong there sticks out like a sore thumb.
In 2019, we are moving away from the white kitchen and toward incorporating more colors. Two-tone kitchen cabinets have been trending this year in interior design.
However, we are starting to see what happens when exploring the opposite of the all-white kitchen trend.
The Black Kitchen Cabinets Rising Popularity
Black kitchen cabinets are modern and sophisticated and buck against trending white kitchens that have been influential for so long.
But are black kitchens popular just to be rebellious against the fashion? I would say that black kitchens have more to offer than defiance since these are investments, not fads:
1. Black kitchen cabinets look great without high maintenance
While white kitchen cabinets have been dominant for many years, there is a difference between looking at one and owning one. As a true testament to this statement, Mashed, a food lovers’ website, explored the homes of several celebrity chefs. Not a single kitchen was all-white because it would be impractical for them.
The kitchen is the most functional room in the house. However, it is only a matter of time before a wine or marinara sauce spill makes it less pristine. This is especially true if your kitchen is white because it does not hide dirt or stains.
Black is more forgiving if you don’t have a habitual cleaning routine. If a company comes over, you won’t need to scrub thoroughly to prepare for a visit.
While this color isn’t immune to dust and fingerprints, it can be cleaned with an easy wipe.
2. Makes your metallic details stand out more
Black cabinets need somewhere to indicate how to open the cabinet doors and drawers. In dim lighting, even a black-painted framed cabinet will be challenging to figure out where to open it.
This means that your black cabinets generally have handles, and that detail becomes very important.
Metallic fixtures such as handles and hinges become prominent against the dark background. Adding period brass or modern stainless steel pulls or knobs will influence the overall look of the kitchen.
Many appliances are offered in silver or black, especially refrigerators, stove ovens, and dishwashers. Black is an easy way to incorporate most existing appliances without needing to customize appliances to fit your look.
3. Black is a psychologically compelling color
Black is a sophisticated color in many interior designs because it is bold and a little mysterious. We associate this color with powerful cars, expensive tuxedo suits, and even “the little black dress.”
By association, black reads as high-quality and luxurious, and it will bring that dramatic flair to your kitchen.
In contrast, white kitchens can come off as sterile as a hospital. It does not feel as inviting to use such a kitchen, while a black kitchen is always inviting—it’s almost even seductively inviting to be in such a place.
4. Want to avoid the shiny look? Bet on black.
Matte black is one of the most popular versions of the black kitchen cabinet. Black absorbs light, and a matte finish cools the room from excess brightness.
White kitchens are known to be incredibly shiny, and the sheen is even more pronounced if the surfaces are glossy. Since white reflects light, even a satin-finish surface will have some ambient reflection.
While there are many articles on “how to brighten your kitchen,” it is not an aesthetic everyone subscribes to. Matte black kitchens feel calm, and many people who are inspired by a “goth kitchen” in their homes experience this tranquility.
5. Need to fix the surface? Black is the easiest color to maintain.
One huge advantage of having black kitchen cabinets is that touch-ups are easier with black than any other color.
The darkness is more forgiving when you touch up with dark paint without being an exact match. This is especially true if that cabinet area is not exposed to direct light.
The touch-up is noticeable if the paint is not an exact match to any other color, especially white. Many places dealing with lighter colors keep a small can of touch-ups of that exact color for this purpose.
The other advantage of black is that it suffers less discoloration than any other color. Lighter colors are prone to stains from smoke and cooking grease beside vents.
In fact, it is a known issue for the white paint to turn yellow over time with repeated exposure to these. That is why Antique white looks like it has a bit of yellow in it. Black-painted cabinets do not have this issue, even with age.
6. Two-tone kitchens with black cabinets offer new possibilities
Two-tone kitchen cabinets have been trending in the past couple of years, offering more variety and depth to your home.
However, the usual pattern has been white or cream cabinets on top and darker or color cabinets as the base. Lighter cabinets highlighted by the lights in the room are enhanced by grounding the kitchen with darker base cabinets.
But let’s say that we used black kitchen cabinets as your base in a two-tone cabinet pattern. That means ANY color will be lighter than black and can serve as the color for the wall cabinets.
While you can stick with the traditional cream or white, you can go bolder than sticking with neutrals. You can select daring colors like red wine or seafoam green as long as black anchors your bold choice.
Not just cabinets but all the lighter spaces in your kitchen will feel balanced when adding black cabinets.
