Kitchen Trends: Black is the New White

For nearly two decades, white cabinetry has dominated the kitchen design scene. Nearly every client wanted a white kitchen. From cabinets to appliances to tiles, the color white saw a huge sales push across the design industry. While most kitchen design trends are on a pendulum, the follow-up trends aren’t usually quite so drastic. That being said, nothing can be more opposite than what is trending now: black kitchens. You might even say that black is the new white of kitchen design.

Here’s the good news: black is a color that easily mixes in with white. In fact, there are a variety of changes you can make within your all-white kitchen to stay on top of the latest trends.

Black Appliances

We all have a need for appliances. From the ever-popular range to our refrigerators to our microwaves, appliances are kitchen staples. Whether your appliances are older or just plain out of date, having an all-white kitchen with black appliances looks incredibly sleek and trendy. Best of all, appliances are fairly easy to replace and don’t have to cost a lot of money.  

Black Accent Wall

Another excellent way to keep your kitchen trendy is by painting a wall in your kitchen black. This can be a small part of your wall–say the space between your upper and lower cabinets. It’s enough of a statement to draw the eye, but it’s not so drastic that it totally darkens your otherwise bright kitchen.

Black Countertops

There are a variety of materials we can use for our countertops. From granite to marble to soapstone to laminate, there’s certainly something for everyone–and for every budget. Whether you want to spend a lot or a little, a black countertop or a white countertop with black elements is the perfect addition to any kitchen.

Backsplashes and Mosaics

Looking to make a smaller change to your kitchen while still wanting to stay on trend? Consider an all-black or a black and white tile for behind your range or sink. A backsplash or mosaic is not only trendy, but it will also draw the eye of your guests as well making it the perfect addition to your kitchen.

Cabinets

Let’s say you want to make the big move with this black trend. Black cabinets or even just a black island is the way to go. A bold statement, black cabinets look excellent when placed against lighter flooring. They also allow you to make strongly stated design choices such as gold lighting and hardware and also contrast well with marble countertops.

In 2017, we couldn’t be more opposite from the white-hot kitchen design trends of the past two decades. The good news is that you can stay on trend with a few small tweaks, even if you just recently made changes to your kitchen design. And hopefully, next year, we WON’T be saying, “orange is the new black?”!