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 kitchen, navy or deep teal, dark kitchen schemes create a refined and atmospheric feel which 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.

The carbon powder coated finish on these contemporary cupboards creates a deeply pigmented black that changes in the light. Matt black walls make a seamless backdrop for the cupboards to almost disappear into. The room is anchored by a large, right-angled pale wooden breakfast bar, which adds a touch of industrial style. 

Power kitchen in Carbon, from £20,000+vat, Rotpunk

Funky industrial storage-cum-lighting and handleless doors give this matt black kitchen a masculine style perfect for apartment living. The cabinets along the rear wall have a textured wood grain that lifts the scheme and works well with the blond wood worktop to break up the black block colour. 

Pro-Line 128 kitchen, from around £18,000, Pronorm

You don't have to go pitch black to create a sophisticated and strong kitchen scheme. Here, the traditional cabinetry is painted in a dark blue-grey called 'Inchyra Blue' by Farrow & Ball. The shade is inspired by the naturally dramatic Scottish skies and when combined with a marble splashback the look is high quality, smart and stately. 

Arbor kitchen painted in Inchryra blue, from £18,000, Harvey Jones.

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

Tio kitchen, from £10,000, Rational

Curvacious lines increase the luxe look of this sleek and contemporary black kitchen. Glossy wall-hung cupboards and matching worktops are streamlined and polished creating a glamorous kitchen that's perfect for entertaining.

Onda kitchen, from £10,000, Rational

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.

Lano kitchen, from £10,000, Rational

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, marries the scheme together. Install warm, solid oak work-tops and choose rustic bar stools to keep the look firmly in the modern country camp.

Winchester kitchen from £2,708, Magnet Kitchens

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. 

Newbury kitchen, from £3,996, Magnet Kitchens

Zone your small kitchen area. A black painted splashback and matching appliances create a limited but structured kitchen area in this modern apartment. Usually, worktops are used to break up space but here the matching tone contours the one-wall kitchenette. It's the stainless steel open shelving that adds the interest. 

KUNGSBACKA kitchen drawer fronts from £35, IKEA

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. 

Newbury kitchen, from £3,996, Magnet Kitchens

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. 

Case study kitchen, similarly priced upon request, Brayer Design

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

Integra Meteor Grey kitchen, £2,882, Magnet Kitchens

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.

Isala Otto Gloss Cashmere And Dark Elm Finish, from £7500, Burbidge 

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. 

Cook & Lewis Raffello high gloss Anthracite slab kitchen, from £1,856, B&Q

Paint some drama into your kitchen. A navy blue feature wall looks bold and smart in this classic kitchen. The rich shade gives depth to what could otherwise have been bland space. Painting just one wall a brave tone won't overpower the space and complements the taupe cabinet colour well.

Cook & Lewis Caribrook taupe kitchen, from £2,157, B&Q

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

CTO Lighting Mezzo pendant light, €480 + international shipping, Nedgis

Grey kitchen base cupboards let luxurious copper leaf tiling gleam in this opulent scheme. A walnut and black leather dining set add to the warmth but it's the matching square handles that are a perfect example of stylish attention to detail.

Glassworks tiles Copper Leaf glass GW-CLF6030 landscape, £299.95, Original Style

Why stick to just one 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 backsplash and a connecting colour to tie the scheme together.

Mahlzeit Lava Grey Kitchen from £5,000, Rational

Different dark shades create an intimate atmosphere in this small and perfectly formed kitchen. The blue chimney breast and mid-century chair make it cosy but it's the charcoal metro tiles with contrasting grout that draw the eye. Need a few more ideas? We've got kitchen wall tile ideas for every style and budget.

Isoline charcoal gloss tiles, from £21.95 per sqm, Walls and Floors

Make a modern design statement with a striking grey and black kitchen with gold accents. The design uses wood panelling to zone the space which is then continued into the living area. Metalic strips as integrated handles add a touch of bling. The small space is smart, tailored and coherent.

Milano Elements Artisan Grey Kitchen, from £6,491, Wren Kitchens

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. 

Autograph Elements in Ocean Cyprus and Aubergine, from £5,175, Wren Kitchens

Even family kitchens are looking the part dressed in black. Glass storage 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? Here's how to give your IKEA kitchen a designer makeover.

LERHYTTAN doors, from £40, VADHOLMA kitchen island with rack, £410, all IKEA

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

Bespoke Shaker kitchen, painted in Flint, price upon request, DeVoL Kitchens

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

Bespoke Shaker kitchen painted in Pantry Blue,  DeVoL Kitchens

Classic navy blue cabinetry and warm wood, parque flooring captures a smart nautical feel in this highly polished and petite kitchen. The gleaming pale quartzite worktop on the worktops and peninsula contrasts beautifully with the ship-shape scheme. 

Bespoke, hand-painted in-frame kitchen, from £30,000,  Holloways of Ludlow

This large-scale kitchen with epic hob and extractor hood is an impressive example of a 'light versus dark' kitchen scheme. Glossy back units reflect back light from the white ceramic floor. The only colour in the room; the brilliant red bar stools are the cherry on the cake creating an eye-popping feature. Love this stool idea? Here are 29 easy kitchen updates that anyone can do.

Bespoke high gloss kitchen, from £30,000, Holloways of Ludlow

Tongue and groove panelling and a contrasting tideline painted through the glass cupboards gives this rustic kitchen a cool and quirky look. Copper taps and a reclined butler sink adds to the charming post-war character. Bold paint effects balanced by simple storage is what makes this kitchen beautiful.

Bespoke kitchen painted in Off Black and Old White by Farrow & Ball, price upon request; Iroko worktop, from £485, British Standard

Glossy grey units set against a beautiful exposed brick wall looks urban and sleek. The smooth surfaces do a great job of balancing out the busy texture behind and the mood lighting at kickboard level is a super swanky accent.

Sofia Graphite Kitchen, from £1,860, Wickes

Highly versatile black suits most schemes and when paired with natural wood this strong tone becomes warm and friendly, even in a minimalist modern room. The natural grain adds plenty of character and a stylish contrast against the smooth block colour cabinets and worktops. 

Design collection Nano kitchen, price upon request, Mark Schmidt

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. 

Mano Sera Kitchen, from €6,992 (£6,219), Kvik

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