3 top tips for designing a striking black kitchen

Unfortunately, black won't look right in every space. You'll want to carefully consider your kitchen's size, shape and the amount of light it gets each day, before deciding. Being very dark, black will make a room appear smaller, so if your kitchen's already a bit pushed for space you should use black sparingly.

An eye-catching black kitchen island is a great way of creating a striking centrepiece, which can be contrasted against light walls and cabinets, as a singular black feature.

As we've mentioned, black can dominate a décor scheme, but there are ways to avoid this. It's all about getting the balance right - use enough to make a statement, whilst also ensuring the room remains light and airy. Two-tone cabinets are a great way to achieve this look. Try including a run of black cabinets along the back wall of your kitchen and contrast these against another softer shade, for the perfect black kitchen design.

Remember that dark colours draw your eye into them, so useless you have a large kitchen, you should avoid using them on any tall or wall hung cabinets as this will close in the space (take note small kitchens!).

Choosing the right finish for your kitchen is really important, as it has a big impact on the overall design, which is especially significant when decorating with darker shades. If you're worried about how you will get enough light into the space, a gloss finish is a great choice. Gloss will reflect the light, creating a mirror like surface and making the room appear more spacious. Gloss finishes are often used in modern designs and will give your kitchen a glamorous feel.

Matt, on the other hand, looks great in a more traditional or country styled kitchen. Although it won't do much for reflecting the light, a dark matt finish looks charming with wood accessories and will give the space a contemporary twist.

Ultimately, black kitchen décor can look chic and sophisticated, but you need to make sure you strike the perfect balance between light and dark. If you want to truly transform your kitchen, book an appointment to visit your nearest Wren showroom.