Everyone Said Black Kitchen Cabinets Were Too Bold. I’d Choose Them Again in a Heartbeat

This was maybe the boldest design choice I’ve ever made. I don’t regret it for a second.

My wife and I must have gone back and forth 100 times trying to narrow down every design element in our kitchen renovation. What countertop to go with, backsplash, flooring, hardware, lighting, appliances, and, of course… what color should the cabinets be?

We eventually landed on black shaker cabinets that were not either of our first choices, but grew on us the more we looked at different options. Dark cabinets are not for everyone, or every kitchen, but they worked perfectly in our home, and I’d absolutely choose them again in a future renovation.

Here are some of the things we considered, the pros and cons of dark cabinets, and why I would do it again.

Pros and Cons of Black Kitchen Cabinets

When researching black kitchen cabinets, it was clear immediately that very few designers had mild opinions about them. Many love them, others loathe them. Few are indifferent.

Black cabinets can add contrast, make standard cabinetry look more custom, and pair well with everything from light countertops to wood tones and colorful finishes. It can also work with a surprisingly wide range of design styles.

As for the cons? They can also make a kitchen feel darker, particularly if there isn’t a lot of natural light. And for parents like ourselves, the concerns about constantly cleaning fingerprint marks off of them is real. Dark cabinets show every little bit of dirt and grime.

Why I Chose Black Kitchen Cabinets (And Would Again)

I’m currently working on my fourth fixer upper in six years, so I think it’s fair to assume my current home isn’t my forever home. I will be working on another kitchen design at some point.

While I do love our black cabinets, and definitely would choose them again, that doesn’t mean I’m 100% certain they would be the next choice. It would depend on a number of variables, like how they fit with the rest of the home’s style, how much natural light the kitchen gets, and what other finishes I plan to use. But I’m not ruling them out, either.

I wrote recently for Family Handyman that a big part of my design choices won’t be for future buyers, but rather what works best for my family. While I still think about resale when making major or expensive changes, I’ve realized that trying to predict exactly what a future buyer might want can come at the expense of enjoying the home we have today.

I would choose black cabinets again for all of the pros I listed before.

So even if it’s a bit bold, if you think you’d enjoy it, I say go for it. At the end of the day, one of the best parts of being a homeowner is being able to try new things in your home and experiment with your style.

And if you end up hating it, maybe you can practice your painting skills next.

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