When it comes to cabinet color palettes, it's hard to trump the versatility, drama and elegance of a dark gray kitchen.
Like other deeper tones such as navy and bottle green, kitchen ideas in dark gray offer a perfect balance of elegance and modernity, making larger kitchen designs feel cozy and – contrary to traditional thinking – smaller rooms look bigger, deeper and taller.
'Dark gray is an effortlessly chic colour, simultaneously glamorous and relaxed,' says Katie Bennett, of renowned kitchen designers Tom Howley. 'Its neutral tone serves as a perfect canvas, allowing other elements in the kitchen to shine.
'Moreover, it's timeless, ensuring your kitchen remains stylish for years to come, whether it has a traditional design or a contemporary look. Its understated elegance creates a welcoming atmosphere, especially when paired with the right lighting.'
10 dark gray kitchen ideas for a classic color choice
In terms of complementing a gray kitchen with other colors and materials, the good news is that almost anything goes. You'll find a shade of dark gray that works with a rich walnut, pale Scandi oak, deep burnt oranges, fresh green or pastel pink.
Accessorizing, too, is a joy – hardware in black, bronze, copper and brass can all bring dark gray cabinets to life. But as always when decorating with gray, there are some secrets to success, as our panel of experts explains.
1. Lift dark gray cabinetry with a mirrored splashback
Dark gray kitchens can sometimes feel somber or enclosed, especially in smaller spaces. Combat this by incorporating luminous backsplashes that reflect light and create a sense of airiness. With its stunning dark gray cabinetry, this Neptune kitchen exudes elegance due to the additional combination of an antiqued-glass backsplash and golden-toned strip lighting.
'Charcoal gray is a useful color for kitchen cabinetry as it speaks of modernity and sophistication,' says Simon Temprell, Neptune's interior design lead, who likes to pair this dark cabinetry choice with 'crisp white granite for a cleaner, more streamlined look.'
2. Add texture with grooved cabinets
Vertical grooves, as seen in this San Francisco kitchen project designed by The Workroom, provide a dynamic, eye-catching way of introducing detail to your gray kitchen. The sharp lines to provide a fresh finish to a contemporary slab design, while nodding to a more rustic tongue and groove.
3. Soften cooler grays with brown tones
Gray is often seen as a cold color but this soft hug of a kitchen proves that gray can be a warm tone when used with the right timbers and tile treatment.
'This kitchen was designed for a young family who were torn between staying in the home or reselling soon for their expanding family,' explains its designer, Shannon Tate of Shannon Tate Interiors. 'So, the goal was to have something that represented them and their style, but would also be desirable to a wide variety of people.'
'Gray felt like the perfect color choice – not only for the homeowners but for when it came time for resale. This happens to be a very warm gray which I love, that we paired with a variety of other warm tones, including the walnut accents on the range hood and handles, the peachy-toned zellige backsplash and the warm colored quartz kitchen countertops.'
4. Trim with gold
To add a touch of glamour and sophistication to your dark gray kitchen, incorporate chic metallic finishes throughout the space. Opt for stainless steel appliances, pendant lights with metallic accents, or brass fixtures to introduce subtle hints of shine and glamour. These metallic elements not only complement the cool tones of dark gray but also infuse the kitchen with a sense of luxury and refinement.
'I think dark gray offers versatility, striking a balance between the richness of black and the subtlety of lighter shades,' says Paul Welburn, Senior Designer at Roundhouse, designers of this stunning kitchen.
'Moreover, dark gray serves as an excellent canvas for accentuating details, whether it's through the addition of brass, chrome, or copper accents, or the introduction of complementary colors like green, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the space.'
Here, the metallic of the moment – brass – has been used to frame the wall cabinets' on-trend fluted glass fronts, and is referenced again in the splashback, while the use of pale worktops and flooring ensures the overall scheme is bright and fresh.
5. Create contrast with your floor
'When it comes to kitchen flooring, opt for materials that provide contrast and texture,' says Katie Barrett. 'Lighter hardwood floors or tiles with warm undertones can offset the darkness of the cabinetry while adding visual interest.'
'For the worktop, consider sleek options such as marble-inspired quartz designs in lighter shades. These materials not only complement dark gray but also offer durability and elegance. As for cabinet options, a Shaker kitchen design suits contemporary and traditional spaces alike.'
Neptune's Simon Temprell agrees. 'Dark gray often needs warming up and timber can be the ideal foil,' he tells us. 'Consider using walnut as its depth of color complements the drama of the cabinetry.'
Bar stools can let down an otherwise carefully considered kitchen design, so pick yours thoughtfully. These upholstered designs are playful but in keeping with the monochrome look.
6. Be free with tile choices
'Gray, even dark gray, is considered a neutral color and because of that, just about any color tile will go with it,' explains Grazzie Wilson, Head of Creative at Ca’ Pietra. 'Gray is easy to liven up with pops of bright color or keep neutral with understated colors. There is also the option to be adventurous and choose a kitchen tile in a bold pattern that will bring depth and textural interest to a kitchen.
'There isn’t actually a color or tile to avoid with gray, so it really is about adding your own personal style and choice.'
7. Make gray a foil to timber
Timber is a classic cabinet material with good reason – it's warm, tactile and – in the main – timeless. That said, setting wood against a dark gray backdrop can up the ante.
'Incorporating dark gray tones into a timber kitchen helps lend a sleek and modern look,' Denise Morrison of Morrison Interiors . 'These deeper hues offer a sophisticated contrast against lighter elements in a kitchen, creating a dynamic that feels both contemporary and inviting.'
The trick here is to use the right shade of gray with the right wood. The cool end of the gray spectrum has blue undertones, which can work better with a 'cooler' wood such as ash or pine. At the other end of the spectrum, grays with yellow or red bases suit timbers such as unstained hickory, oak, mahogany and maple. Unsure? Neutral walnut works with almost any gray.
8. Go natural with a gray-stained wood veneer
Another way to use dark gray that doesn't feel cold, but is contemporary, is by way of a grey-stained wood veneer. This real timber veneer kitchen by Roundhouse is a triumph of texture, enhanced by its backsplash clad in richly patinated Antique Bronze, and a striking African Fusion Quartzite counter that wraps down to the floor at either end of the kitchen island.
9. Select surfaces wisely
'When it comes to designing a dark gray kitchen, it is best to opt for natural yet sophisticated, lighter colors for the worktops, such as beiges, grays, and whites,' states Mor Krisher, head of product design at Caesarstone. 'Utterly timeless, these hues pair beautifully with darker colors and can make a quiet statement on their own through subtle detailing, whilst bringing calm and serenity to the space.'
'Inspired by classic marble, our White Attica design is patterned with deep, blue-gray veining that provides a truly timeless and multi-faceted design and complements the dark gray aesthetic. You could also opt for a tonal surface such as a concrete-inspired design in a lighter gray, which will add a striking, textural element whilst giving the space balance.'
10. Try two tone
For a truly rich and indulgent dark-grey kitchen, the right color pairing can make all the difference. And while the Neptune kitchen in this London pied-à-terre is relatively small, it's a supremely inviting entertaining space.
The single run of cabinetry has been painted in Zoffany’s Bone Black (‘a gorgeous off-black with a red-pink base’ according to its owner) and the walls and tongue-and-groove paneling are finished in Zoffany’s warm Tuscan Pink. Other colors that go with dark gray to consider include saffron yellow or ochre, deep petrol blue and emerald green.
'The beauty of dark grays are found in their neutral, minimal characteristics, which make them extremely versatile,' says Helen Shaw, international director of marketing at Benjamin Moore. 'Rich, jewel-inspired tones can be married with the perfect mid-gray to enhance their glamorous characteristics and create a sophisticated, classic scheme. This combination of gray and saturated tones is great for a kitchen, as it creates a dramatic, statement setting as well as something that is inviting and atmospheric when hosting.'
'Grays nearing total black offer an adaptable and almost neutral tone,' she adds. These deeper grays are a popular choice for those seeking a more dramatic hue for their kitchens.
