When it comes to cabinet color palettes, it's hard to beat the versatility, drama, and elegance of a dark gray kitchen.
Like other deep tones like navy and bottle green, dark grey kitchen ideas offer the perfect balance of elegance and modernity, making larger kitchen designs feel cozy and, contrary to conventional thinking, making smaller rooms appear bigger, deeper and taller.
“Dark grey is an effortlessly chic colour that feels glamorous and relaxed at the same time,” says Katie Bennett of renowned kitchen designer Tom Howley. “Its neutral tones act as the perfect canvas to complement the other elements of your kitchen.”
“What's more, its timeless design will ensure your kitchen remains stylish for years to come, whether you're looking for a traditional or contemporary look. Its understated elegance creates a particularly inviting atmosphere when combined with the right lighting.”
10 Dark Gray Kitchen Ideas for a Classic Color Choice
The great thing about combining a grey kitchen with other colours and materials is that you can use almost anything: dark grey shades go well with deep walnut, pale Scandinavian oak, deep burnt orange, fresh greens and pastel pinks.
Accessorizing can be fun, too. Black, bronze, copper, and brass hardware can all liven up dark gray cabinets. But as with any decorating with gray, there are some tips for success. Our panel of experts explain.
1. Dark grey cabinets with a mirror-finished splashback
(Image courtesy of Neptune)
Dark grey kitchens can feel gloomy and claustrophobic, especially in small spaces. Counter this with a light backsplash that reflects light and creates a feeling of openness. This Neptune kitchen exudes elegance with its beautiful dark grey cabinets, antique glass backsplash and gold strip lighting.
“Charcoal gray conveys modernity and sophistication, making it a useful color for kitchen cabinets,” says Simon Temprel, interior design lead at Neptune, who likes to pair the dark cabinetry with “bright white granite for a cleaner, more sophisticated look.”
2. Add texture with grooved cabinets
(Image courtesy of The Workroom/Open Homes Photography)
The vertical grooves seen in this San Francisco kitchen project designed by The Workroom are a way to introduce a dynamic, eye-catching detail into a gray kitchen. The sharp lines give a fresh finish to a contemporary slab design while also evoking a more rustic tongue and groove look.
3. Soften cool grays with brown tones
(Image courtesy of Shannon Tate Interiors)
Grey is often seen as a cold colour, but this soft-feeling kitchen proves that with the right wood and tile treatments grey can be a warmer shade.
“This kitchen was designed for a young family who were struggling with whether to stay in the home or quickly resell as their family grew,” explains designer Shannon Tate of Shannon Tate Interiors, “so the goal was to create something that represented them and their style, but also appealed to a broad range of people.”
“I thought gray would be a great color choice for not only the homeowner, but also when it comes time to resell. It happens to be a very warm gray that I love, and I paired it with a variety of other warm tones, including walnut accents on the range hood and handles, a peach-colored zellige backsplash, and warm-colored quartz kitchen countertops.”
4. Decorate with gold
(Image courtesy of Roundhouse)
To add glamour and sophistication to your dark grey kitchen, incorporate chic metallic finishes throughout the space. Opt for stainless steel appliances, pendant lights with metallic accents and brass fixtures to add a touch of subtle sparkle and glamour. These metallic elements will not only complement the cool tones of the dark grey, but they'll also infuse your kitchen with a sense of luxury and sophistication.
“I think dark gray is versatile, balancing the depth of black with the subtlety of lighter shades,” says Paul Welburn, senior designer at Roundhouse, who designed this stunning kitchen.
“Plus, dark grey serves as an excellent canvas for highlighting details by adding brass, chrome or copper accents or introducing complementary colors such as greenery, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the space.”
Here, the fashionable metal brass is used to frame the on-trend fluted glass fronts of the wall cabinets and is featured again in the splashback, while the use of pale worktops and flooring keeps the overall design light and fresh.
5. Create contrast with your floor
(Image courtesy of Tom Howley)
“When it comes to kitchen flooring, choose materials that offer contrast and texture,” says Katie Barrett. “Light-colored hardwood floors and warm-colored tiles will add visual interest while offsetting dark cabinetry.”
“For worktops, consider sophisticated options such as marble-look quartz designs in lighter hues. These materials not only complement dark greys but also offer durability and elegance. When it comes to cabinetry options, Shaker kitchen designs suit contemporary and traditional spaces alike.”
Simon Temprel of Neptune agrees. “Dark greys often need to be warmed up, and wood is the ideal complement,” he says. “Consider using walnut, as its deep colour will enhance the drama of your cabinetry.”
Bar stools can ruin all the careful design of your kitchen, so choose wisely. These upholstered designs are playful yet complement the monochrome look.
6. Choose your tiles freely
(Image courtesy of Ca'Pietra)
“Grey, even dark grey, is considered a neutral colour, so it can be paired with almost any colour tile,” explains Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca' Pietra. “Grey can easily be enlivened with bright accents or kept neutral with more muted colours. You can also be adventurous and choose kitchen tiles with bold patterns to add depth and texture to your kitchen.”
“There aren't really any colours or tiles to avoid in grey, so it's really about adding your own personal style and choices.”
7. Use grey as an accent for wood
(Image courtesy of Morrison Interiors)
Wood is a popular choice for cabinetry because it's warm, tactile and generally timeless, but placing it against a dark gray background really adds to its appeal.
“Incorporating dark grey hues into a wooden kitchen creates a sleek, modern look,” says Denise Morrison of Morrison Interiors. “These deep hues provide a sophisticated contrast to the lighter elements of your kitchen, creating a contemporary, inviting and dynamic feel.”
The trick here is to pair the right shade of gray with the right wood. At the cool end of the gray spectrum are bluish undertones that pair well with “cool” woods like ash and pine. On the other end of the spectrum, grays with yellow and red undertones pair well with unstained woods like hickory, oak, mahogany, and maple. If you're not sure, neutral walnut pairs well with just about any gray.
8. Go natural with grey stained wood veneer
(Image courtesy of Roundhouse)
Another way to modernize dark grey without making it seem cold is to use grey-stained wood veneer. This real wood veneer kitchen by Roundhouse is a triumph of texture, further enhanced by a backsplash clad in richly patinated antique bronze and striking African Fusion quartzite countertops that extend to the floor on either end of the kitchen island.
9. Choose your surfaces wisely
(Image courtesy of Caesarstone/Humphrey Munson)
“When designing a dark grey kitchen, it's best to choose light, natural yet sophisticated colours for your worktops, such as beige, grey or white,” says Mol Krischer, head of product design at Caesarstone. “These timeless hues blend beautifully with darker colours, bringing a sense of calm and tranquility to the space while still providing a tranquil impression through subtle details.”
“Inspired by classic marble, our White Attica design features deep blue-grey veining for a timeless, multi-faceted design that complements the dark grey aesthetic. You can also opt for a tonal surface, such as our light grey concrete look design, which adds a striking textural element and balances the space.”
10. Try a two-tone color scheme
(Image courtesy of Neptune)
The right colour combination can make all the difference for a truly luxurious and opulent dark grey kitchen. The Neptune kitchen in this London villa is relatively small but a very attractive entertaining space.
The cabinets are painted in Zoffany's Bone Black (“a gorgeous off-black with red-pink undertones,” according to the owner), while the walls and tongue-and-groove paneling are finished in Zoffany's warm Tuscan Pink. Other colours that go well with the dark grey include saffron yellow, ochre, deep petrol blue and emerald green.
“The beauty of dark gray is its neutral, minimalist character, making it extremely versatile,” says Helen Shaw, international marketing director for Benjamin Moore. “Its rich jewel tones are enhanced when paired with the perfect neutral gray, creating a sophisticated and classic color scheme. This combination of gray and saturated tones is perfect for the kitchen, creating a dramatic and striking atmosphere, but also a cozy and atmospheric setting when hosting guests.”
“Grays that are close to perfect black offer a highly adaptable, nearly neutral tone,” she adds. These deeper grays are popular with people looking for a more dramatic hue in their kitchen.
