A matt-black tap, silver knurled handles, and black marble worktop on a white backboard to show a dramatic kitchen trend.

Kitchen Trends

Dark Drama Kitchen Trend

The Dark Drama kitchen trend harnesses sultry shades of black, navy, and deep grey to create a powerful and expressive adaptation on classic interiors. Combined with authentic materials of stone, glass, and timber, it has a sensory appeal that is rich with texture and visual interest. High-tech features ensure the design is highly functional, while considered details maintain a premium effect for homes that want to make a statement.

Dark drama kitchen doors, worktops and floors

Daring dark tones

A palette rich with dark colours is central to this look with charcoal, navy, and dark grey being the primary choice, especially in larger layouts. For a softer variation, switch to mid-grey or blue tones, which will create a sophisticated and sultry effect when styled with other dark features. Within rooms with little natural light, glass-fronted units can be used to break up banks of colour.

Explore black kitchens

Collection of kitchen surfaces in a selection of colours and designs including marble, tile-effect, concrete, and stone.

Stone surfaces

Dark stone counters offer a polished texture that adds to the sensory feel of this look with laminate offering a more budget-friendly alternative to solid stone. Double up on style points by using marble in an ashen tone. It will provide a subtle patterned detail through its veined appearance adding visual interest and a premium feature to a room.

View textured worktops

A variety of matt-black and brass products showcasing a dramatic kitchen trend. Features a tap, trims, and knurled handles.

Bright aged metals

To punctuate the dark aesthetic, choose metallic accents in a warm or bright hue, such as brass or chrome. Apply this finish through handgrips and faucets, or with profiles in a handle-free design. Aged metals will also play on the senses, adding a heritage feature that is characteristic of classic interiors. For an engineered twist, explore knurled handgrips.

See statement cabinet handles

Hardwearing features

Features that adopt robust and hardwearing materials, like granite composite or stainless-steel sinks, help to make a Dark Drama kitchen highly functional and authentic. Choose black finishes to tie the design together, with under-mount options offering a discreet feature that will keep surfaces seamless and uninterrupted.

View under-mount sinks

Hockley Super Matt Charcoal Handleless cooking area

High tech equipment

Invest in equipment with smart features to ensure the space is human-centred, high tech and designed for modern living. Black appliances remain on trend and will blend effortlessly within this dark interior. Flush-fitting styles ensure the focus remains on dark cabinetry, with induction offering a high-end look that is both functional and fashionable.

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Clerkenwell Super Matt Charcoal Tenacity Flooring

Textured floors

Floors of slate or oak will add depth and detail to a room, enhancing the heavily-textured style of the Dark Drama look. These options will also add authenticity by incorporating organic elements within the design. For an urban-inspired update, concrete effect or engineered stone floors will look right at home and will dial up an industrial take on this classic interior.

Explore engineered stone flooring

Dark Drama in Howdens Homes

Black shaker style kitchen design with silver bar handles, integrated double ovens, white metro tiles and an oak worktop.

Warm with wood

Authentic materials are at the heart of the Dark Drama trend, as they harness warm tones that will add a new dimension to a deep palette. @rickwood_kitchens has created this decadent charcoal scheme with a grained oak worktop that adds an organic look to the design.

See solid wood worktops

Charcoal single wall kitchen design, showing matt integrated handle cupboards, integrated double ovens and a white worktop.

Simplify a space

Allow dark cabinetry to take centre stage by opting for integrated handle doors. This look will complement contemporary decors and will introduce linear lines that will elongate a design. @naomi_littlefair has used our Clerkenwell collection in charcoal to achieve this handle-free look.

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Charcoal grey kitchen design on one wall, with integrated handle matt cupboards, light grey quartz worktop and a brass tap.

Make it matt

Emphasise the sensory appeal of this trend with matt finishes just like @lustliving. Muted textures will make this trend simple to incorporate in smaller layouts, as it creates a calming canvas that is easy on the eye. It is also easy to wipe down, making it a great addition for busy family homes.

See matt kitchens

Charcoal kitchen design with matt integrated handles and an island in the centre, with a white quartz worktop.

Create a centrepiece

Go bold in a Dark Drama space by adding an island layout. @n.w.living has created a sophisticated design with a slate-grey island, that forms a striking focal point for cooking, dining, and socialising. This is topped with a solid stone counter, providing a hardwearing surface that will stand up to daily tasks.

Explore island worktops