The kitchen is a focal point in any home. As well as serving a functional purpose, it serves an aesthetic purpose too, and what better way to make a strong style statement than with a dramatic monochrome kitchen? The monochromatic style is defined by its abundance of black and white, but don’t be fooled by its simplicity. With the right tones, materials and textures, this popular colour combo makes for a striking kitchen design trend that can work for a range of kitchen styles. Learn how to master the monochrome kitchen in your home.
Choose your colour palette
Just because you’ve decided to create a monochrome kitchen, that doesn’t mean the colour palette is automatically determined. The black and white kitchen trend requires you to carefully select precise and balanced colour tones. While the colour scheme is dominated by black and white, the better executed monochrome kitchen designs will incorporate subtle layering of shades. Think charcoal, dark grey and greige (grey-beige).
Different finishes can result in the same colour presenting differently – the exact same shade of black in a matte vs super glossy finish will give off variations in their tones. Remember that the spectrum of shades of white is huge, so choose carefully. Compare your shortlisted whites against your dominant darker colours to ensure they are complementary.
Select materials
Marble (or other stone-look materials) is a kitchen designer’s best friend when it comes to bringing a monochrome kitchen to life. The use of marble or quartzite for benchtops and splashbacks will create texture and interest, providing the perfect contrast against an abundance of black.
One of the less obvious choices of material to achieve the monochrome kitchen design trend is timber. More natural than other dominant materials, subtle incorporation of timber will add warmth and help to break up all the black.
Chrome finishes are popular with a black and white colour palette, so it’s no wonder stainless steel is another popular choice of material in monochrome kitchens. You can incorporate stainless steel in anything from your shelving to your handles and knobs to your appliances.
Add texture
To nail the monochrome kitchen design trend, mix textures for added depth. Texture can be achieved through a variety of different elements:
- Lines – The value of lines in design can’t be understated, especially when it comes to establishing the texture and overall depth of a space. Straight lines signify precision and structure, while curves evoke a sense of softness and fluidity. With careful curation, curved accents in a monochrome kitchen will help to soften the overall aesthetic while also creating a new dimension.
- Surfaces – From walls and doors to benchtops and cupboards, you can incorporate a combination of flat, ribbed, glossy, matte, sleek and rough surfaces for unique complexity.
- Light – Depending on how moody you want your monochrome kitchen to be, you can explore how light can be manipulated in your space with the use of glass and mirrors. The incorporation of mirrors, such as in the splashback, adds the illusion of more space in the kitchen and will accentuate whatever natural light you have available. Using glass in pendant lights or cabinetry will reflect natural light and add warmth to all the black and white.
Make a statement
However bold you want your monochrome kitchen to be, you should decide on what kind of statement you want to make and execute it with confidence. With this inherently dramatic kitchen design trend it can be easy second-guess your design choices and make adjustments hurt the overall impact of the kitchen.
For those wanting a minimalist monochrome kitchen, stick with a classic black and white colour scheme that is embellished with subtle details to complement the monochromatic canvas. Features such as chrome handles and downlights under wall cabinets are simple yet effective design details in a sleek monochrome kitchen.
If you’re striving for a more luxury boutique feel in your monochrome kitchen, go for a moody colour scheme and maximise on features that work together to deliver the wow factor. Details like pendant lighting, metallic finishes and leather or velvet seating will make for an eye-catching design.
Achieve the monochrome kitchen trend with Kit Kitchens
At Kit Kitchens, we have decades of experience in crafting kitchen designs that exude luxury, style and distinctive flair. If you want to master the perfect blend of style and functionality in the heart of your home, contact the team at Kit Kitchens to discuss how you can incorporate the monochrome kitchen design trend in your home.
