Black kitchen worktops are an expedient home renovation approach a bold and stylish design statement, and finding colour schemes to match this statement piece can be challenging when remodelling or creating a brand-new space.
Designing the perfect kitchen is an exciting yet challenging endeavour, especially when it comes to choosing the right colour combinations. Our article about kitchen countertops is dedicated to helping various homeowners and interior enthusiasts in the UK make practical, stylish choices for their kitchen spaces.
Black worktops have become a popular choice for their sleek, modern look and ability to add a touch of elegance to any kitchen. However, selecting the right colour for your kitchen units to complement these worktops can be daunting. Our blog provides a wealth of ideas, tips, and inspiration to guide you in creating a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing kitchen design.
From classic to contemporary, rustic to ultra-modern, we explore a wide range of colour palettes that work beautifully with black worktops. Our coverage includes a wide range of colour palettes, from bold and bright hues to soft and subtle shades and timeless neutrals. Our blog features expert advice, design trends, and real-life examples to inspire your choices.
We also delve into the practical aspects of kitchen design, considering factors such as lighting, kitchen size, and layout, which play a crucial role in how colours interact and complement each other. In addition, we stay updated on the latest kitchen design trends in the UK, ensuring our readers are always well-informed.
Join us as we explore the exciting world of kitchen design, helping you to create a space that’s not only functional but also a true reflection of your personal style. Let’s discover the perfect colour combinations to make your black worktops shine!
Understanding Kitchen Worktops: The Essential Surface
Kitchen worktops, also commonly referred to as countertops, are horizontal surfaces used in kitchens for food preparation and other tasks. They are pivotal in kitchen design, both functionally and aesthetically. Worktops can be made from a variety of materials, including laminate, granite, quartz, wood, and stainless steel, each offering different benefits in terms of durability, maintenance, and appearance. The choice of worktop material can significantly impact the kitchen’s overall look and feel, as well as its practicality. Typically, worktops are installed above kitchen cabinets and can vary in thickness and finish to cater to specific design preferences and culinary needs.
This table provides a variety of colour options for kitchen units that complement black worktops, each offering a unique style and aesthetic suitable for various kitchen designs prevalent in the UK.
| Kitchen Unit Colour | Description | Why It Works With Black Worktops | Style Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | clean, classic, and timeless. | creates a striking contrast with black, offering a modern, sleek look. | Perfect for minimalistic or contemporary kitchens, it enhances natural light. |
| Grey | Offers a range of shades from light to dark. | complements black worktops for a sophisticated, neutral palette. | Versatile for both traditional and modern designs, it pairs well with metallic accents. |
| Wood Tones | Natural wood or wood-effect units | adds warmth and texture, balancing the coolness of black worktops. | ideal for creating a rustic or Scandinavian-inspired kitchen. |
| Cream or Beige | Soft, warm, and inviting hues | provides a subtle contrast and a cosy feel against black surfaces. | It works well in classic, country, or shabby chic-style kitchens. |
| Bold colours (e.g., red, blue) | vibrant and eye-catching. | It makes a statement and adds personality; black worktops ground the boldness. | It is best for those who enjoy a lively, eclectic kitchen environment. |
| Pastels (e.g., mint, pale blue) | gentle and soothing shades. | offers a playful yet understated contrast with black worktops. | Great for vintage or retro-themed kitchens, it pairs well with white accents. |
| Metallic finishes (e.g., copper, brass) | luxurious and modern. | adds a touch of glamour and sophistication, complementing black’s elegance. | Suitable for high-end, contemporary kitchens; often used in accents. |
| Charcoal or Dark Grey | deep, muted tones. | creates a monochromatic look for a bold, cohesive appearance. | Ideal for ultra-modern or industrial-style kitchens, consider texture variation. |
| Green (olive, sage) | earthy and calming. | It contrasts subtly with black and adds a natural, organic feel. | It works well in both traditional and contemporary settings and pairs well with wooden elements. |
White
White kitchens have long been considered timeless spaces, and paired with black worktops, they create an iconic appearance. No matter if it is full-wall units or just an island, white makes any space feel airy and fresh. If full white seems clinical for your tastes, consider using different hues of it in accents like handles and edges for texture and interest. Teal is often seen adding energy and sophistication; muted olive or jade hues might have more of an understated impact.
Black walls can make an eye-catching statement in your kitchen design, offering striking contrast against an array of cabinet colours and features. But be careful not to overdo the black; too much can make it feel heavy and depressing; opt for adding just small accents of it for character and contrast in the room.
Grey can also make for an effective kitchen colour choice to complement black worktops, providing a subtler take on monochrome. Grey lends itself to creating an ultra-modern finish while still giving you enough freedom to incorporate other colourful features, like a statement feature wall. Use Bungalow G500 wall colour on your walls for optimal effect when pairing this shade with black worktops.
If you want to add some drama and interest to your kitchen, try incorporating vibrant accent colors. Bright reds and purples work wonderfully with black surfaces, while wood grain finishes work great, as do metallic finishes such as chrome or stainless steel. Daring kitchen designers may consider going bold by adding navy hues that give an elegant and sophisticated aesthetic that stands out.
Grey
Grey is an ideal neutral that can adapt to any kitchen style. As such, it makes an excellent base colour palette, as it brings warmth and cosiness into any room while making bolder hues more refined and sophisticated.
Grey shades pair beautifully with wood textures to create a contemporary kitchen design. Light wood tones such as beech and oak work well in conjunction with light grey tones, while darker woods such as walnut and cherry add depth and contrast. However, too much brown or dark wood may overwhelm a grey kitchen, so be mindful when using these elements.
When selecting the ideal shade of grey for your kitchen, it is crucial that you take into account whether you prefer warm or cool undertones. Warm greys feature yellow or brown undertones that create an inviting atmosphere; on the other hand, cool shades like blue or green undertones create an air of modern sophistication.
As another way of adding some colour to a grey kitchen, consider installing colourful hardware such as knobs and handles in various hues. This simple step can add just the right touch without overpowering the space; they look great against various worktop finishes like granite, quartz, wood, or marble!
If you want a dramatic look, deep greys can be mixed with vibrant yellow and teal blue pops of colour for an eye-catching design that really stands out against black worktops. Metallic accents or strongly-hued furniture pieces will also bring energy and personality to your kitchen design scheme.
Green
Green kitchen ideas make an excellent partner to black worktops, creating an airy and inviting feel in the room. Choose between bright or pastel tones to complete the look against a dark backdrop, easily accented by metallic finishes or wood flooring ideas!
Before making your final choice for a paint colour, it’s always advisable to test as many sample swatches in your kitchen before making a definitive choice. This will provide an accurate representation of how the shade will change throughout the day as well as different lighting conditions.
Sage green can make an eye-catching statement in a kitchen when combined with Shaker-style cabinetry and rustic wooden worktops, while darker emerald green works wonderfully for contemporary settings with black appliances and polished stone flooring ideas.
Darker shades of green can create an eye-catching visual contrast against your worktop’s darkness, providing a great way to brighten the room without making it feel oppressively dim and depressing. In less well-lit kitchens, lighter hues may work best so as not to make the room seem too dim and depressing.
If you’re not quite ready to commit to an all-green kitchen scheme, another effective way of adding this beloved hue can be through painting the cupboards in neutral tones, such as Snowdrift and Winter from Farrow & Ball or Bungalow G500 from Tikkurila, which will still add this popular hue to the mix.
Natural
Black worktops are an iconic kitchen feature, making a dramatic statement and providing a practical work surface for food preparation. However, choosing an aesthetic complementing colour scheme can be difficult. Luckily, many colours pair nicely with these worktops; all it takes to find your match is knowing what to look out for!
White is one of the go-to colours when pairing dark counters. This neutral shade makes an eye-catching statement against its dark surroundings and works in most kitchen styles, from modern to country; it is also ideal for small spaces with limited natural lighting.
Oak wood cabinets add an earthy and natural vibe that complements black kitchen counters beautifully. Their natural hue adds warmth, while their wood grain texture complements their deep hue. Oak cabinets work especially well when combined with black woodwork and stainless-steel appliances in farmhouse kitchens.
If you’re in search of an eye-catching light kitchen colour scheme to accompany black kitchen worktops, opt for a soft grey shade with blue and lilac undertones. This colour combination offers a timeless yet modern aesthetic when complemented with brass or copper accents in the room.
For an effortless look, opt for a plain white colour on the walls above your black worktops. A shade like Tuft H495 provides a soft veneer of white with delicate blue and lilac undertones that complement both your black countertop and other kitchen elements perfectly. Or go brighter by opting for Glacier Y435, an icy blue shade with subtle grey undertones that offers a clean aesthetic.
Texture
Black kitchen units make a stylish contrast with your worktops, adding texture to bring them to life and boost visual appeal. Wooden worktops used to be popular but require lots of care and maintenance, making stone an economical yet chic alternative. Choose natural finishes or opt for more contemporary patterns with patterns or swirls for the best result.
Block colours of pure white work well to lighten a space when used with dark countertops, while grey offers an equally effective option that’s easier for some people to select than the perfect hue—try Bungalow G500 or Claystone V486—which both provide warm earthy tones that complement black worktops nicely.
Darker shades of grey can also be combined with lighter timber to create an inviting and rustic kitchen aesthetic, rather than the sleek, modern appeal of an all-white kitchen. In this kitchen idea, charcoal grey cabinets have been combined with lighter oak herringbone flooring and knotted wooden bench tops for a balanced and welcoming effect.
Your dark worktop should be the focal point of your kitchen, so to prevent overcrowding, be sure to keep other elements simple and unobtrusive. Keep walls and ceilings white to maintain an airy atmosphere; add black accents for visual interest at the counters. Black appliances with stainless steel sinks, mixer taps, and cabinet handles are a classic choice, though burnished brass has also become increasingly popular over time.