Why a Black and White Kitchen is a Great Idea

Because the kitchen is such a functional space, we sometimes need to pay more attention to it when we think about decorating our homes. But for many of us, kitchens are the heart of the home, and as such, they deserve just as much care and thought as the rest of the house.

Black and white kitchens are a design staple because they are truly timeless. They complement almost any style, so you’re just as likely to find black and white used in a traditional kitchen as an ultra-modern one.

So, if you’re looking for black and white kitchen ideas, you’ve come to the right place.

Keeping your black and white kitchen’s character

Image credit: Citrine Living

A black and white kitchen can be sleek and stylish. However, finding the right balance between sophisticated and industrial can be tricky. A black and white color palette, especially with silver or metallic appliances, will strip your kitchen of its character. It should be a warm and welcoming room that still feels authentically you.

You can implement a few simple tricks to keep your kitchen personal rather than professional.

Onyx? Sable? Midnight? Finding the right black and white

You’ve set your heart on black and white for the kitchen, but have you considered the tones you plan on using?

There’s no doubting the impact of obsidian and bright white but they can make the room feel cold and industrial. For the black, there are plenty of more muted options that are the perfect foundation for the kitchen without taking away from its character. Explore charcoal or Charleston green as alternative shades of black.

When it comes to white, we know it’s difficult to look past the standard, crisp choice. However, alternative shades often have subtle undertones of blue, green or yellow and are perfect if you plan on accenting your kitchen with another color. Alabaster, for example, keeps that almost mineral-like quality of white but its yellow and green undertones add warmth and character.

Using natural materials to complement the black and white

Adding natural materials is one of the most successful ways we’ve seen of warming up a black and white kitchen. Wooden furniture contrasts the industrial feel that black and white can sometimes bring.

Image credit: House Beautiful

Wooden chairs, display cabinets, and shelving units are all great choices and will beautifully complement the black and white without taking away from its sophistication. Or, if you’d prefer a more subtle approach, something as simple as a wooden chopping board or fruit bowl can break up the clean, angular lines and add character.

Plants, flowers and herbs are all fantastic additions to a black and white kitchen. Think tiny pumpkins in October and fresh flowers in the spring to bring the outside into your kitchen. They’ll stand out beautifully against the black and white while adding a natural feel to the room.

Complement these finishing touches with a nature-themed wallpaper to bring the outdoors into your home. There’s no better way of adding charm and character to your space than with a forest wallpaper or animal wall mural.

Our Land of the Jungle collection has a range of beautiful wallpapers that would bring life, energy and vibrancy to your kitchen. Silent Jungle Movie is a vintage-style wallpaper that would suit a black and white theme. The jungle scene adds depth and dimension to your kitchen, making it feel larger, while the natural setting evokes vitality and energy - perfect for the heart of your home.

Silent Jungle Movie wallpaper mural

Choosing the perfect accent colors

Which colors work best with a black and white kitchen?

Thankfully, this is an easy one - all of them!

There really isn’t a wrong answer when choosing the accent colors for your kitchen. We’ve seen red, pink, blue, green and yellow all pop when used in a black and white kitchen. A black and white foundation allows you to be bold and exciting with your color choices. Be adventurous and express yourself, safe in the knowledge that no matter the color, black and white will complement it beautifully.

For a splash of color to contrast the black and white, something like the Tropical Conservatory wall mural. Its tones don’t pull focus too significantly, while the green of the leaves is the perfect accent of color.

Tropical Conservatory wall mural

Choose neutral tones like beige and brown for a more subtle and understated approach. They can make the kitchen feel less cold and more cosy. Neutral shades of grey and brown will also help tone down the severity of the black and white without taking away from the room's overall style.

Will the walls be black and white too?

If the oven, the cabinets, the countertops, the appliances and the floor are black and white in your kitchen, then doing something a little different with the walls can add the contrast and character the room needs.

A dark grey wall will add to the room’s feeling of class and style. Or, if the kitchen is too one-note in terms of texture and surface, then a textured wall will add much-needed depth and dimension. We already know just how on-trend texture in kitchens is at the moment!

Patterns and texture will prevent the kitchen from feeling too cold and impersonal. A marble backsplash or countertop is a grand way of accomplishing this, although you’ll find the project no longer comes under budget. Wall murals are an effective way of achieving the same thing but without breaking the bank.

Our Texture of Marble wallpaper gives the look and feel of natural marble for a fraction of the cost. It transforms what would otherwise be a plain wall into one that adds character and timeless class to the kitchen.

Texture of Marble wall mural

For a more loft-style kitchen, again, you can convert an ordinary backsplash into one that adds character and depth to your room with an exposed brick wall mural. You can achieve the impressive effect of a brick wall without having to go to the trouble of tearing your kitchen apart.

Pastel Tones Brick wall mural

From stunning landscapes to faux luxury marble, you can choose from a wide range of kitchen wallpapers at Wallsauce. All our wall murals are made to measure, so no matter the size or layout of your kitchen, you’ll receive wallpaper that fits around every corner and cabinet perfectly.

Black and white kitchens are always on-trend because they’re just so versatile. You’re just as likely to find a black and white kitchen in an English stately home as in an ultra-modern New York loft. They aren’t ever going to go out of style and give you the foundation to tweak and edit to suit changing trends and your personal preferences.

For more ideas on how to transform your kitchen, make sure to subscribe to our free newsletter.