The first thing you need to know about colors is that they have the propensity to make a room appear bigger or smaller. The second thing you need to know is that light colors make a room appear larger and dark colors make a room appear smaller.
So, to answer your question, yes, dark colors make a kitchen look smaller. The contrast and intensity of dark colors make it easier to identify angles, corners, distance, and shapes with the naked eye.
Despite this observation about dark colors, the effect or illusion of less space isn’t significant.
No amount of color can ever trick someone into believing that a space is way larger or smaller than it actually is. It just provides noticeable results that help the overall appearance of the kitchen.
There are other things you can do to make a kitchen appear larger or smaller. For example, dark cabinets and appliances with light wall colors will make the kitchen appear smaller.
Why?
Because of the drastic contrast between colors.
Complementary light colors for the cabinets, appliances, and walls will amplify the appearance of space because all colors bleed into each other seamlessly.
More furniture and accessories occupy more space. As a result, the kitchen will appear smaller.
Conversely, a minimalist kitchen with the bare necessities appears larger because less space is occupied and there’s a lack of clutter.
Examples Of Dark Colors

In general, all dark colors have the propensity to make a kitchen look smaller but they also offer other attributes.
Black, green, gray, blue, and brown are dark colors that are synonymous with modernity, sophistication, intimacy, and elegance.
These colors complement most appliances and cabinets. It’s easy to create a cohesive and structured kitchen using these dark colors.
Red, purple, and orange are dark colors that are known for being hot, exciting, bold, quirky, and loud.
It’s a little harder to furnish a kitchen with these colors without them being the focal point that stands out among the appliances and furniture.
Pros Of Dark Colors In The Kitchen
- They conceal dirt and stains more effectively.
- They look more modern and sophisticated.
- It’s easy to create visual zones within the kitchen using dark colors.
- Furnishing a kitchen is easier since most appliances are silver or black.
- You can create a warm and cozy ambience with lighting.
- It can make a large and minimalistic kitchen appear smaller and more intimate.
Cons Of Dark Colors In The Kitchen
- It’s harder to spot stains and liquids in a kitchen with dark colors.
- It can make a kitchen appear too small or cramped.
- At no point will the kitchen feel open or airy since dark colors do not reflect or enhance lighting.
- Fingerprints and dust appear more visible in dark colors.
- It has the potential to make a space feel more dull, boring, or gloomy.
- The color palette for other elements or zones in the kitchen is limited due to compatibility issues.
Best Examples Of Dark Colors In A Kitchen






What Color Floors Go With Dark Walls In A Kitchen?
Whenever you are trying to style multiple elements of a room, find a color palette and stick with it.
Color palettes are a selection of colors that compliment each other and enhance a specific style.
For example, a dark modern gray color palette may utilize different shades of gray along with black.
Similarly, a dark and hot color palette may utilize colors like black, yellow, orange, and red since these colors compliment each other and enhance the strong emotive energy emitted from them.
To avoid an overly dark and gloomy kitchen, you could use light-colored floors to balance the energy and brightness that are reflected from artificial and natural lighting.
White floors are versatile, neutral, and bright.
They can be paired with most wall colors, especially black, making them an ideal choice. If you were to change the wall colors, white floors wouldn’t be a problem at all since they work with all colors.
Light wood floors that have a washed-out brown, gray, and white to them look good with dark walls as well.
Similarly, dark colors that match each other are a good option. Black, charcoal gray, and dark brown are popular floor colors that are easy to find.
What Color Backsplash Looks Good With Dark Walls?
Whenever you want to highlight a specific feature in a room through color, more often than not, you should select a color that contrasts the primary color in the room. This is a great way to add some color, vibrancy, and character to the kitchen without being outlandish.
The key is to select a contrasting color with the same level of intensity and boldness as the walls. We do this to maintain a sense of cohesiveness and uniformity while adding a touch of contrast.
So, even if you were to use the same color for both items, you could create a contrasting effect by playing around with a light and dark shade.
Here’s a list of the best backsplash colors for a dark kitchen:
- Gold
- White
- Silver
- Yellow
- Red
- Pink
- Green
- Blue
- Gray
I’ve excluded colors like orange, mink, and others because they are difficult to pair with other elements of the kitchen.
Remember, all elements of a kitchen should complement each other. Even if they utilize vastly different colors and tones, they shouldn’t conflict. Conflicting colors draw too much attention to the disparity between them rather than to the design elements that are attractive.
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