decorating with black kitchen cabinets for a warm minimalist look

Black kitchens aren’t for everyone.  Having said that, when done right, kitchens with black cabinets can look striking.  You can create a super warm and minimal look and they aren’t actually as hard to pull off as you may think.

While I wouldn’t recommend an all black kitchen, black kitchen cabinets are a great idea especially if you’re drawn to black.  Many of us are tempted but it can feel a bit scary going for black cabinets so we go down the safer route.   The beauty of black cabinets is that they can be toned down with a paler colour or combined with wooden tones for warmth.  You could also go bold and opt for a purely monochrome look or pair with stainless steel for a more industrial look.

There are several ways to decorate with black kitchen cabinets that will create warm minimalist look that is striking and sophisticated.  So if you’re leaning towards black cabinets, these ideas will give you plenty of inspiration for your own black kitchen.  And if you weren’t considering a black kitchen, well you might just be tempted now!

decorating with black kitchen cabinets for a warm minimalist look

How simple yet stunning is this black and wood kitchen?  Made by Nordiska Kok, they’ve kept the look pure black including things like the sink, tap, window frames and light switches.  This gives the kitchen a very clean and minimal look but all that wood brings instant warmth to the space.  Even though this isn’t a particularly big kitchen, the all black cabinets don’t look heavy or imposing because of the abundance of wood.  The minimal concrete floor is the perfect contrast to all the wood and it works so well with the black kitchen cabinets.

Combining black kitchen cabinets with wood is the easiest way to add warmth to your space.  You can opt for wooden floors or countertops or get creative with wood like in the kitchen above.  Darker woods would work well in a black kitchen too but if you want a contrast and a lighter look, go for pale wood tones.

Black kitchen cabinets and stone worktops are such a perfect combination.  Whether you go for marble, limestone or a composite like quartz, you can’t go wrong.  Stones come in a range of different colours and patterns but it’s the more subtle ones like the marble used in the kitchen above that work the best for a minimal look.  In the kitchen above, made by Ask og Eng, the subtle pattern of the marble really stands out against the black kitchen cabinets.

The black cabinets are also paired with wooden plinths and other wooden furniture in the room once again adding warmth.  The cool concrete floors are warmed up with a simple rug and the aged brass accents soften the look further for a warm minimalist kitchen.

This combination of black cabinets and soft beige stone worktops, designed by Pella Hedeby, is another winner.  There is a wonderful warm and cosy vibe about this kitchen which again goes to show that kitchens with black cabinets can be minimal, stylish and anything but cold!  Wooden accents like the furniture in this kitchen adds more warmth while contrasting with the cool concrete floor.

For those of you who want a bit of ‘colour’, a sandy beige is a great option with black kitchen cabinets.  I use the term ‘colour’ loosely because any bright or bold colours with black cabinets would look way too much especially if you’re after a warm minimalist look.

This kitchen probably feels the blackest of all on the list but still doesn’t look cold in anyway.  While the black cabinets dominate, they are balanced with a white marble worktop, warm wooden floors and soft linen curtains.  The walls are painted a soft grey to match the curtains.  The wall cabinets are deliberately white – this is worth mentioning as I think black wall cabinets would have been a bit too much.

This kitchen is striking in it’s simplicity.  If you prefer a a bolder black look then this kind of decor works well with black kitchen cabinets.  But it’s worth noting that there’s plenty of light in this room so the kitchen doesn’t look heavy.

This is the most minimalist black kitchen on my list,  designed by Edward Collinson (as is the top image), but it still doesn’t lack warmth.  As you can probably tell these cabinets are made of oak which has been stained black.  You can just see the grain in the wood which immediately adds warmth to a space.  And of course if you’re lucky enough to have exposed beams, even better!  In addition we have a few wooden accessories on display which finishes the look perfectly.

When you want that truly minimal feel, there really isn’t any need for much embellishment like this kitchen shows us.  And having black wooden cabinets is an easy way to create a minimalist kitchen that has warmth.

If you’re loving the look of these kitchens but thinking you might have to rob a bank to recreate it, you would be so wrong.  Here’s a way you can hack Ikea kitchen cabinets to create similar looks to nearly all these kitchens.

Which of these black kitchens is your favourite?