Kitchen decorating is turning over a new leaf, with trends moving away from classic white and soft grey towards the other end of the colour spectrum. Whether it's a black, navy or deep green, dark kitchen schemes create a refined and atmospheric feel that, with the right light, looks far from gloomy. Inject some striking character into the heart of your home with these dark and dramatic kitchen ideas.

Avoid your dark kitchen looking drab by installing a stylish statement floor that doesn't break up the black colour scheme. This marble-effect hexagon tile flooring is actually practical vinyl. Jet black tiles with gold grouting create an opulent vibe that is complimented by gold cabinet handles and taps. 

Bring pattern into a black kitchen with a striking window treatment. Pick a pattern that is colourful by contrast, but which includes a touch of black for continuity. We love how this Orla Kiely Apple print retro kitchen blind with golden tones brightens and livens up the minimalist kitchen cupboards beneath. 

Freshen up a black kitchen with a hint of pink. A pretty pale pink on the walls will offset charcoal black kitchen cabinets to create a striking yet soothing look. A table with black legs set up against a bench carved out of the worktop can add more contrast and is clever way to squeeze in an eating space. 

As dark kitchens are a fairly new trend, we will forgive you for thinking the shady schemes look best in contemporary spaces. However, this incredible traditional kitchen begs to differ with its woodsy colour palette. The kitchen features a dark seaweed tone chosen for the kitchen island, but the look is lifted with a beautiful botanical splashback surrounded by olive green painted wooden cabinetry. 

It's not a secret that modern Scandi decorating schemes often use black and white to create stylish drama. This black kitchen with matching painted splashback is the innovation of Greta-Mae Interior Design. Owner Holly used the effect to skilfully zone this compact, open-plan cabin kitchen. 'The cabins have been designed to have a minimal impact whilst also taking advantage of the views' says Holly. The small corner kitchen has all the mod cons which seamlessly melt into the backdrop. 

You don't have to go pitch black to create a sophisticated and strong kitchen scheme. Here, contemporary cabinetry is painted in a bottle green tone. When combined with a feature block of caramel-coloured cabinets and leather bar stools, the look is high quality, smart and modern. 

A bold monochrome kitchen scheme will never go out of style and is an ideal combination if all-black seems like a daunting choice. Clean white metro tiles make an 'easy to live with' splashback option and add a vintage feel. Why not add a pop of contrast with coloured grout?

A dark kitchen can be made even more dramatic by suspending opulent lighting fixtures to highlight features. Exposed wires draped above an impressive kitchen island add an industrial edge to the elegant aesthetic. 

In a dark space, the right kitchen lighting can make or break the scheme. Under-cabinet task lighting can gently illuminate the worktops for food preparation without flooding the space with stark brightness and diminishing the moody effect. If additional lighting is needed, suspend a low-hung pendant light or two over the island or dining table. 

Make your dark kitchen at one with nature by choosing a forest green colour scheme. The rich choice creates a modern twist that's warm and welcoming as well as dark and dramatic. Continue the woodland feel with a natural wood floor. 

This large-scale kitchen diner is an impressive example of a 'light versus dark' kitchen scheme. Smooth units reflect back light from the white ceiling which extends down the wall to meet the grey cupboards. 

Avoid a black kitchen looking one-dimensional by adding pattern as a feature. These hexagon-shaped kitchen wall tiles add elegant visual interest, while the floating shelf frames the look and is pulled into the scheme with warm wooden accessories and a brass faucet. 

Strong lines increase the luxe look of this sleek and contemporary black kitchen. The contemporary galley-style complete with grey concrete-effect worktop is streamlined and polished, creating a glamorous yet masculine kitchen that's perfect for entertaining.

The carbon powder-coated finish on these contemporary cupboards creates a deeply pigmented black that changes in the light, while matte black walls make a seamless backdrop into which the cupboards almost disappear. The room is anchored by a large, right-angled breakfast bar which adds a striking contrast.

Give a traditional kitchen stately drama by fully immersing the space in dark tones. Colour matching the walls and ceiling to the same shade of Baltic green creates rich elegance and wow factor in this sea-hued kitchen, while brushed brass handles bring in metallic balance to harmonise the high-end style.

Get an opulent feel with gold-effect materials. Talk about a showstopping kitchen island, this impressive bronze unit with a dark concrete-effect worktop takes centre stage in this modern kitchen. Behind, matte lacquered cupboards and open shelving pull the metallic finishes together. 

Classic navy-blue cabinetry and warm blonde wood flooring topped with a striped rug gives a smart, nautical feel to this highly polished and spacious kitchen. The gleaming white quartzite worktops and kitchen island contrast beautifully with the ship-shape scheme. 

Different dark shades create an intimate atmosphere in this small but expertly styled kitchen. The charcoal metro tiles with black grout draw the eye and give the kitchen a sense of depth when juxtaposed against smooth cabinets. 

Add a touch of spice to a dark blue kitchen with warming accent colours and finishes. Honey-hued walls add comfort to cupboards that might otherwise seem cold. Gold-toned pendant lights and handles help inject a touch of opulence that shimmers in the light.

Take a cherry wood kitchen to the dark side by surrounding the cabinetry with shades of black. Here, a black wrap-around worktop is fitted with a black sink and black painted walls encase the small kitchen. To finish off the space, a chic copper-toned feature faucet pulls the two tones together. 

For those who shy away from super dark tones, green is always a good option. Here, traditional shaker cabinetry is painted in a dark grey-green hue called 'Hunter', a colour described as joyful, uplifting and rich with earthiness. When combined with a dark wood worktop, the look is high quality, smart and stately. 

For an ultra-contemporary dark kitchen look, choose slab-style black cabinetry for a streamlined, minimalist flow. A matte black finish reflects very little light, so will add a touch of drama and boldness. Plus, it's highly practical, as it does an excellent job of hiding fingerprints, unlike its glossy alternative.

If you are new to dark and moody colour schemes, break yourself in gently with a sensible balance by placing black kitchen cabinets against a light and bright backdrop. Keep upper cabinets to a minimum, or break up the block colour with a selection of glass-fronted cupboards. If more storage is needed, try adding extra solutions to the kitchen island. 

Funky orb-style lighting and black appliances give this rich dark wood kitchen a masculine style, perfect for apartment living. The cabinets have a textured wood grain that lifts the scheme and works well with a complementary worktop to break up the block colour. 

Paint some drama into your kitchen. A navy-blue feature wall looks bold and smart in this contemporary kitchen and complements the pale wood cabinet colour well. Painting just one wall with a brave tone won't overpower the space and a rich shade can give depth to what could otherwise be a bland room. 

Get an urban feel with industrial materials. Stainless steel appliances and sleek modern light fixtures immediately draw the eye in this enormous kitchen, while a mix of contrasting steel blue and white cupboards pull the metallic finishes together. Light wood flooring and an exposed brick wall keep the space warm. 

Split-level marble worktops work with this textured wood-finish kitchen to create a stylish contrast. Enhanced by marble tiling, the smart galley layout becomes a sophisticated space that doesn't feel dark and dingy. Atmospheric LED pendant lighting sets a mood and partners the kitchen island perfectly.

Make a modern statement in a classic backdrop with charcoal cabinets. Arched beams outline this space and window frames, painted in the same smoky shade, marry the scheme together. Install warm, solid oak worktops and choose rustic bar stools to keep the look firmly in the modern country camp.

Intense midnight blue jumps out of this open-plan kitchen surrounded by glass and light. Ice-blue cabinets are a refreshing accent colour and a contemporary stainless steel 'sea-shell' extractor-fan adds a fabulous focal point. A masterclass in how to design a perfect open-plan space, this scheme is wonderfully dark but certainly not dim. 

A two-tone kitchen is a great way of tapping into the dark kitchen trend without going over the top. This well-planned layout has lots of elements to keep it spacious and airy. Pale grey cupboards, marble-effect worktops, white tiling and blond wood parquet flooring all complement each other well, but it's the smart navy-blue base units that give the room depth. 

A dark, grey-black choice of cabinet gives this expansive open-plan kitchen plenty of character. The sturdy and stylish floor-to-ceiling cupboards work well to anchor a host of eclectic homely extras, including vintage furniture, a wooden wine rack and emerald green pendant lighting. 

Modern meteor-grey cupboards have double the darkness with concrete-look wraparound worktops. This minimalist kitchen makes a big statement with a gleaming gold splashback and pendant lighting, which lifts the look from muddy to moody. What in intimate space for entertaining with cocktails!

A walnut finish with strong grain detail makes a confident statement in this dark and streamlined kitchen. The wrap-over black breakfast bar is a nice detail, while the horizontal lines draw the eye outwards, making the space feel bigger. On the rear wall, low-lit, putty-coloured cabinets break up the uniformity of the design.

A clean, glossy finish makes this gunmetal-grey kitchen modern and sleek. High-shine, flush panels stand out against a white frame, while integrated handles and appliances add strong, straight lines. Need a helping hand? We've listed 30 kitchen design mistakes people make all the time. 

Large black cupboards provide a minimalist backdrop in this contemporary kitchen. The island, painted grey, adds a stylish two-toned effect, but the standout element is the trio of elegant brass pendant lights that give the dark kitchen an art deco twist.

Why stick to just one colour palette when you can create something so much more interesting by using three beautifully matched finishes together? This small kitchen has created a feature out of the wall-hung cabinets, with gradients of grey from silver oak to lava arranged in a 'building blocks' design. A dark grey stripe at worktop height acts as a splashback and a connecting colour to tie the scheme together.

Imitating the patterns and tones of natural wood makes an eye-catching statement and focal point in this dramatic kitchen. Surrounded by modern appliances and furniture, this kitchen island blurs the boundaries between contemporary and rustic living. Daring damson-coloured cabinetry in the background is a fabulous finish to this stunning scheme. 

Even family kitchens are looking the part dressed in black. Glass-fronted cabinetry is practical and keeps the vast amount of dark cabinetry refined and counterbalanced. The kitchen island with rack adds to the traditional scullery-chic. Looking for something a bit different? 

Create a marvellously moody atmosphere by painting walls, shelves and cabinetry in the same rich shade. The pale marble worktops and matching splashback make a subtle yet perfect break for a high-end, flawless finish.

If you dare to take risks the results can be jaw-dropping, as demonstrated in this scheme, which uses navy and black together. In this unique country kitchen, walls, cabinetry and even the ceiling are painted a dramatic midnight blue, which contrasts with the statement black kitchen island. However, the look is lifted by rich wood tones and copper finishes and the results are warm and inviting rather than intimidating and scary. 

Tongue and groove panelling and a contrasting tideline painted through the glass cupboards give this rustic kitchen a cool and quirky look. Copper taps and a reclined butler sink add to the charming post-war character and bold paint effects balanced by simple storage make this kitchen beautiful.

Scandinavian kitchens should be all white, right? Wrong! Danish company Kvik has broken from tradition by introducing jet black into the mix. Of course, clean lines, minimalist style and natural accessories are still very apparent, making the complete kitchen typically Scandi chic. 

If modern kitchen looks are your style, go for a forest green decorating scheme to darken the mood. A dark stone worktop adds chic continuity that remains muted. Hone in on the modern woodland vibe by framing a galley-style layout with a slat wall to add structural interest that is on trend. 

Need a new kitchen? These sure-fire kitchen trends won't date in a hurry