If you’re in love with the color black, this year may be the right time to bring this moody hue into the kitchen. Interior design experts see black taking hold in our kitchens in 2021 because the color acts as a framing element in open plan homes and creates a sense of glamour. Whether it’s black cabinets, fixtures or backsplash, you’re sure to make a polished, modern statement, but don’t let your color choice get lost in the shadows. Celebrate it with plenty of natural light and contrasting design elements.
Here are four tips to ensure your kitchen noir stays light, airy and inviting.
Add natural light.
One of the biggest fears of adding black to your decor is that it will overwhelm the space, making it feel dark and small. Without proper lighting, that is certainly the case.
Skylights with blinds add natural light from above to brighten the room throughout the day and help dark colors make a powerful design statement.
Homeowner Vivian Mize added skylights to her self-designed kitchen renovation that included black cabinets and Prussian blue tile backsplash. Having natural light stream in from above brightens the space, while the dark colors give it a cozy feel. And by adding skylights that open, her kitchen stays fresh, making it the perfect gathering space.
With the click of a remote or tap of a smartphone app, Mize can easily VELUX Solar Powered “Fresh Air” Skylights easily open her skylights to bring fresh air inside, ridding the kitchen of polluted indoor air that can build up from cooking and cleaning.
Think natural materials.
A black kitchen is chic and modern. To add warmth, bring in natural materials.
Wood is a great way to balance the sleek, clean lines of black cabinets, appliances and fixtures. Try incorporating it into open shelving or a kitchen island.
Interior designer Carmeon Hamilton added butcher block countertops to her galley kitchen. Their deep luster forms a counterpoint to the painted black lower cabinets, and serves a practical purpose as a cutting surface. And with sunlight from two skylights, the wood’s beauty really shines through.
Using natural materials doesn't have to stop there. Hardwood floors and dining room tables and chairs are prime options for wood to serve as a contrast to sleek black cabinets.
Add texture
Area rugs in the kitchen? Hamilton says yes with a runner that has an ornate rust, black and cream pattern. Design blogger Jess McGurn, the creative mind behind Bright Green Door, used a vintage area rug to introduce a pop of color and texture to the kitchen. Without the skylights above the rug used to get lost in the shadows.
Patterns add personality
Hamilton and McGurn both use geometric patterns for a touch of whimsy and sophistication in their kitchens.
Hamilton added a monochromatic white tile backsplash that forms a unique pattern with H-shaped tiles.
McGurn used a diamond patterned tile for her backsplash that connects the color story in her cabinets and island.
Speaking of color accents, VELUX Skylights can be equipped with solar-powered blinds, available in over 50 colors, that will add the perfect pop to your fifth wall. Mize selected gold blinds to connect with the brass cabinet pulls, lighting fixtures and faucet hardware below.
Ready for some dark hues in your kitchen? Schedule a virtual design consultation with a VELUX daylight designer who can answer questions about sizes, models and placement. Or, if you’re ready to install, find a skylight installer near you.
