Millennial pink and clean cream colors aren’t for everyone. If your tastes are more unconventional and somewhat exotic, consider saying “Yes, chef!” to a dark kitchen. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of designing a dark kitchen and give you some handy tips and tricks to create a space that speaks to you.

Classic Dark Kitchen Colors

Some people may not consider a dark color palette to be particularly fun or exciting, but the truth is that you can do so much with colors at the bottom end of the color spectrum.

Paint it Black

This isn’t just the title of a classic Rolling Stones hit: It’s also excellent decorating advice for a modern kitchen. So naturally, black is a go-to hue when decorating a dark kitchen. It’s incredibly versatile, and you can pair it with almost any other color. Important to note, however, is that unless you’re purchasing Vantablack, no paint or material is truly black, as black is actually the absence of color.

Instead, you’ll find shades like onyx, charcoal, and jet. If any variant of black isn’t quite your speed, try charcoal, lead, or graphite gray. All three will help create a moody kitchen without it being too dark.

These ornate cabinets prove you can’t go wrong with black.

Lighten the Mood With Some Color

Should you oppose an entirely black kitchen, use a darker shade of a cool color. Navy blue or the aptly named midnight blue are well-suited for a more rustic vibe. Alternatively, emerald, dark sea-green, and hunter-green work beautifully to incorporate a touch of nature in your kitchen. Feeling like royalty? A deep purple like aubergine or plum will do the trick in a contemporary kitchen.

This dark blue creates just enough moodiness.

While you have many choices regarding color or lack thereof, it’s a good idea to stick to just one or two across your walls, cabinetry, and islands (think monochrome). You can mix a slightly brighter color with a dark gray or black or use two dark shades of the same color in your palette.

Remember that you can incorporate a touch of lighter color, such as white, almond, or cream, in your color scheme to create a delightfully stark contrast.

Matching Dark Materials

Now that you know what color combinations are most suitable for a dark kitchen, it’s time to implement that by choosing your materials.

Lay the Dark Kitchen Foundations

Light laminate wood or smooth slate tiling is ideal as these materials are easy to clean, which is all-important in a place where spillage is inevitable. Fairer floors are perfect if your walls are dark. Of course, you can go in the opposite direction with a dark floor if you want to use white cabinets and counters.

Concrete also works well as an easily maintained surface and a middle-of-the-road color, and it can add a modern, industrial edge to your kitchen. You can also pick a classic black-and-white checked tile, as this monochromatic pattern will complement the rest of your kitchen setup nicely.

No Backlash from Your Backsplash

Speaking of tiles, let’s discuss a dark kitchen’s backsplash. Stones like marble or granite, bare brick, and wood panels are all suitable to place above your sink and stove. Again, you’ll want a material that’s easy to clean. As with the floors, pick a hue on the opposite end of the color spectrum for your walls to produce a variation that adds depth and interest to your kitchen’s aesthetic.

A light gray and white backsplash pairs beautifully with black cabinets.

Kitchen Cabinets and Countertops

Naturally, your walls make up a fair portion of your kitchen’s color and overall aesthetic. But your cabinets, counters, and islands (if you have them) provide even more real estate for interior design.

Using Cabinets for Color

You likely have more than a handful of kitchen cabinets, from the pantry to storage space for cutlery and crockery. Obviously, the colors and materials you choose for them are of the utmost importance! So, let’s start with your cabinets.

Dark cabinets, especially black cabinets, are your best bet when designing a dark kitchen. You can match your cabinet color to your wall color to create a seamless appearance or use a darker shade of the same color you used on your walls to produce depth.

This second option is beneficial to avoid making the kitchen appear small, as a dark hue is sometimes wont to do. Finally, if you’re feeling adventurous, use a textured glass like frosted or fluted glass to add flair to a monochromatic palette.

Count on Countertops

Although this isn’t a rule set in stone, matching your cabinets with your counters and kitchen island is a good idea, even if that color differs from your walls. That being said, you have some freedom regarding your countertop. In general, it’s safest to play with lighter shades (in addition to your flooring) to create contrast. Ivory or white countertops pair incredibly well with dark wood cabinets.

These white marble countertops create a stark contrast against the dark cabinets.

You have a bunch of options when it comes to material selection. Stones – whether natural or imitation – are not only incredibly aesthetically pleasing but also very easy to clean. A marble countertop balances luxurious elegance with contemporary panache, and you can’t go wrong with a classic granite countertop.

But, if that feels too cold, add some warmth with a light blonde wood like ash, birch, or pine. Again, you can use a synthetic version or the real deal here.

Dark Furniture and Fixtures

You can focus on the finer details with your dark kitchen’s major components done and dusted.

Lift Spirits With Lighting

Although you’re jonesing for a brooding atmosphere, you don’t want to sit in total darkness in a depressing kitchen. That’s where your lighting comes in. Of course, you’ll want to keep your illumination to a minimum, but you still need to see the food and drinks you’re preparing!

Minimalist pendant lighting with naked bulbs adds a touch of modern flair and bite that suits dark design without brightening the kitchen space too much. Alternatively, a white ceiling with flat lights can help brighten a small kitchen and make it appear bigger and airier while keeping the space dim enough to set the right mood.

A Seat at the Table

If you want your kitchen counters or island to double as a tiny dining area, you’ll need some chairs. Like floors and countertops, lighter frames can help create dimension and visual interest in lieu of a rainbow color palette. Seats with metallic finishes are also a great option to spice up a dark kitchen with an Art Deco feel.

Get a Handle on Fittings

Like your seats, resplendent faucets and door handles add much-needed shine and glamor to a dark kitchen, especially if you’ve chosen matte finishes. However, it’s best practice to stick to one color, so choose between brass, copper, or silver and keep that consistent across your handles and spouts.

As you can see, a darker color palette for at least one of your home’s rooms isn’t reserved for goths or punks. Of course, anyone can enjoy a dark kitchen, but if you need a helping hand, you’re in luck! Michelle Jett Decorating Den Interiors boasts decorators with years of expertise in their field.

Contact us, and your assigned decorator will give you a call to kick-start your decorating journey. We’ll visit you to get an idea of your space, and then we’ll get to work on designing a custom plan. The real work will begin once you’re both happy with all the nitty-gritty details. And we’ll keep you updated and answer any questions you may have at every stage. Let’s work together to make your dream kitchen a reality!

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Boho and fantasy. Using a theme to take a child to another place is always fun. The boho room above left was designed for a free-spirited girl that loved music. The use of textured layers, varying patterns, and earthy tones creates a comfortable place of expression. The boys who venture into the pirate room indeed have a reason to never want to grow up. Their pirate boat mast and operational pirate wheel take them to any land they can imagine.

The room above left is a transformation from a young girl’s room full of color (pink, blue and purple) to one that suits an older teenage boy. The statement wall features an angle design with white and black. The masculine space even includes a gaming area with top-notch furnishings. The room above right is for a teenage girl who favored a soft, feminine, bohemian/eclectic style. The suspended “egg” swing provides a comfy lounge area and is a great design solution for a small space.

The goal above left was to create a gender-neutral fun and happy guest room for grandchildren. Yellow, bright orange and turquoise colors were inspired by animal print artwork. The room above right was designed for a growing family of young grandchildren and friends. Vivid artwork depicting sea creatures and ocean buoys and coral bedding add a fun factor. The emerald pouffs offer seating in the play area.

Ceilings often present a challenge. Using a pink hue and keeping the molding white enhanced the details of the huge ceiling above left. The spectacular chandelier adds a dramatic statement to the ceiling. The sloped ceiling on the right provided an opportunity for a custom paint treatment in hot pink with blue geometric lines that draw the eye to the bedding.

The 3D mural opposite the bed here adds glamour and combined with the pink walls takes attention away from asymmetrical sloped ceiling. Where else could you use colossal gold lips as wall art but in a glamorous conversion of an old library room into an oasis for a daughter.

If you have a children’s room you would like to have fun transforming, Michelle Jett – Decorating Den Interiors can help bring your vision to reality. Just click here and we’ll work on getting your appointment scheduled right away!

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The obvious choice is often the primary bedroom. Turning it into a luxurious suite like the one shown above is often the goal. The starting point here was a color scheme of calming gray, white and violet. The transitional, channel-tufted upholstered bed contrasted with a colorful, abstract rug. The true showstopper of the room. The marble tile fireplace and beaded wallpaper add dimensional elegance. Teal swivel accent chairs provide a second respite area in this warm and inviting primary bedroom. Who doesn’t love to read by a fire?

Let’s not forget the key function of the bedroom, however. If you’re not waking up feeling rested, refreshed, and restored, something is missing. Think about the environment you’re creating in terms of it putting you in a restful mood for the last part of the day and a revitalizing mood when waking up.

Most of us think of the bedroom as the place we want to be a relaxing respite. We want to wind down and prepare for a healthy night’s sleep and then wake up to an environment that inspires us for a new day. As you are re-evaluating your bedroom in light of that goal, here are some tips:

• Color is critical in promoting a space conducive to relaxation. Choose a calming color palette. Lighter shades of gray, blue, and green often promote calmness.
• Improve storage so there is no clutter in sight. Clutter can instill a sense of chaos instead of calm.
• Flowers and plants can be soothing visually and aromatically. Certain scents can have a calming effect.  White candles can add an air of serenity.  Natural sunlight does wonders for one’s attitude; let the sunshine in.
• Throw pillows and blankets can create a feeling of coziness. Contrast hard surface floors with area rugs to create softness and add some tranquil color.

If you have the space, create a reading or TV-watching nook with a comfy upholstered chair, a chaise lounge, or loveseat.

A soft serene color palette of soft ivory, creams, and taupe give this space a calming and classic appearance, ideal for both closing out the day and opening a new morning. A touch of glam and sparkle fills the room with the selection of custom fabrics in silk, satin and velvets. A custom-designed and built tete-a-tete transformed to be a bench with an open center allows the couple to share a seat while reading or watching TV, while not blocking the view.

This small landing was the perfect place to be transformed into an intimate reading room. The vibrant pumpkin orange studio loveseat adds some fun and is perfect for lounging. The glass-enclosed book cabinets make for a classic library display for keepsakes and photos to conjure up those sentimental memories. The oversized coffee table also is a place for resting the feet. The small accent chair finishes out the corner of the room and offers seating for a guest.

Yes, for some, exercising, especially yoga, is a relaxing respite. This was an add-on space adjacent to the mom and kid’s office/study space. There’s room for yoga mats and other equipment. The client loves gardening, so there is plenty of room for plants. It all makes for connecting with nature while keeping mentally and physically fit.

The wall art and wall covering behind the bookcase create an outdoor experience in this multi-functional space. It can be a solitary retreat, a quiet place for just two or three to converse, or a space for entertaining a larger group. It checks many boxes.

If you’re looking for advice on creating your new relaxing and respite space, click here to make an appointment with me!

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Home redesign projects are always a good idea in our book, but the moment a room makes you feel uncomfortable the second you walk in, there’s no doubt that the time to make improvements is now.

But before you can commit to the new adjustments, it’s important that you understand the do’s and don’t of bedroom redecorating. Placement and choice of color, furniture, and accessories can make a big impact on the way you feel when you enter the room, so you want to get it right the first time around.

Here are some of the most common bedroom design mistakes, and how to avoid them:

Mistake 1: Your area rug is too small
Adding an area rug to the bedroom is one of the easiest ways to bring the room together and add additional style and comfort to the floor space. But size matters and this can make a major difference in the look and feel of your bedroom according to interior designer Megna Gorelick.

“If you have an area carpet in a bedroom, it needs to cover the majority of the room,” Gorelick told Insider. “People often skimp on this because they feel it’s wasted under the bed, but your bedroom should feel super cozy.”

The solution: If you’re placing the area rug underneath the bed (which is what we highly recommend in the bedroom) then just make sure it extends out one to two feet on each side.

The right size area rug can make the space look and feel complete.

 

Mistake 2: Your walls are too bright
Choosing a bold color for your bedroom walls definitely creates that “wow” factor, but it can be detrimental to the vibe you want to achieve in the room. This is supposed to be a relaxation station, not a place to party.

The solution: Instead of using a bold wall color, save the bright hues for accents. Vivid shades can be used in bedding, window coverings, accessories, and pieces of art. The best part about shifting bright colors to the accents instead of the walls is the ease of mixing it up! Wall color is more concrete; changing your accents every few years can be much easier than painting your walls on a regular basis.

Keep the walls neutral and play around with colors in your accessories.

 

Mistake 3: It’s cluttered with decor
When it comes to bedroom redesign, it’s always important to reevaluate the sole purpose of the bedroom. It’s supposed to be a space for unwinding and relaxing. Unnecessary items and clutter can keep you from feeling this way, and this is something to be said about decor as well.

The solution: When it comes to bedroom decorations, keep things simple. A few staple accessories placed on surfaces can bring character to the room, and hanging decor can dress up the walls. Keep this in mind as you reconsider your design choices.

Keep your walls and surfaces free of clutter for a relaxing look.

Mistake 4: You didn’t call a personal decorator from Michelle Jett – Decorating Den Interiors
When you don’t have a lot of experience in design and decor, you might find it more difficult to get started or bring those dreamy bedroom visions to life. Taking on a task as big as bedroom redesign, especially on your own, can result in a mess of a project that doesn’t turn out as you planned in the first place. Many of the prior common mistakes occur because of inexperience, and all of them can be avoided with professional assistance.

The solution: Contact a personal decorator from Michelle Jett – Decorating Den Interiors! One of our design experts will come to your home to conduct a complimentary consultation to go over your ideas and evaluate your living space. He or she will provide you with stylistic preferences and suggestions based on design and decor expertise.

During this consultation, you are encouraged to share your thoughts, style, and personal wants and needs for your bedroom, but the designer will take the lead to help you avoid all common bedroom design mistakes. This will make for a happy and satisfactory experience and ensure the style longevity of your new living space.

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