Dark grey kitchen cabinets with black stainless steel appliances

So your kitchen features black stainless steel appliances—how sleek! The color black is becoming more and more popular in the kitchen as all-white rooms begin to fade away. That said, you may be wondering what color to paint your cabinets to best complement the black hue present.

As it turns out, there are a number of directions in which you can go, according to designers. If you love color, great—by all means, pick a bold hue and go to town. But if you prefer neutrals or are looking for something monochrome, that's A-OK, too.

Keep reading to hear the merits of interior designers' favorite cabinet hues.

Meet the Expert

  • Shelly Rosenberg is the founder of Acorn & Oak in Dallas, TX.
  • Cheri Etchelecu-Martin is the founder of Cheri Etchelecu Interior Design in Dallas, TX.
  • Linda Hayslett is the founder of LH Designs in Los Angeles, CA.

Think Saturated

Saturated blue and green hues look lovely paired with black kitchen appliances, designer Shelly Rosenberg says. "After two pivotal years, all-white clinical kitchens are a fading trend; we need warmer grounding spaces that soothe us," Rosenberg comments. "Black appliances offer us the opportunity to apply colors with a cocooning effect such as deep moss-green, rich Bordeaux, or slate blue.”

Designer Cheri Etchelecu-Martin agrees that saturated paint can be a wonderful route in which to go. "I suggest Indigo Batik by Sherwin Williams, which can create a cozy sitting room feel depending on the architecture of the home," she says. "In my opinion, black is a timeless color."

Green, in particular, continues to have a major moment, and designer Linda Hayslett is all for pairing it with black in the kitchen.

"Sherwin Williams Lucky Green would look beautiful with black stainless-steel appliances," she notes. "The green color would pop off of the black that they would complement each other very well."

Designer Tina Ramchandani expressed similar sentiments, noting, "The shimmer of the black stainless can enhance the depth of gem-like greens and blues to create a stunning kitchen."

Calimia Home

Brown

Designer Erica Evensen has a vision for a dramatic kitchen setup involving the color brown.

"For a moodier look, I would love to see black stainless appliances set against a dark stained cabinet with a tight grain, paying homage to a classic pairing of brown and black," she says. "Dark counters, such as soapstone, that would patina with age, paired with an unexpected backsplash, like antique mirrored tile, would create a truly unique space."

Designer Kathleen Walsh agrees that wood can look ultra-beautiful alongside black appliances. "Pair them with natural oak cabinetry and a Vermont Danby marble countertop," she suggests. "The clean, light veining of the marble would help to tie the appliances and cabinetry together nicely."

What's great about a natural finish is that it can be styled in a number of different ways. "Natural finished cabinets go great with black stainless-steel appliances," Hayslett says. "They can really make it feel like a modern or cozy cabin space, depending on the hue chosen and wood."

Devon Grace Interiors

Soft Black

Why not go for a bit of tone-on-tone action? Walsh is all for this concept of pairing black appliances with black cabinets.

“We like using Benjamin Moore Onyx, and I’d use white, marble countertops and backsplashes with either grey, lilac, or a pale green veining to help add just a touch of color and dimension to the look," she says.

Hayslett is also a fan of black paint in this type of scenario. "One color cabinet that is definitely sexy with black stainless steel appliances is Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black," she says. "Having everything in monochrome really can make a kitchen look clean and contemporary."

Kathleen Walsh

Blue/Gray

Designer Megan Molten plans to utilize a blue/gray hue from Sherwin Williams' Historic Charleston Color Collection in an upcoming client project. "Cooper's Basin and black stainless steel appliances would be a killer combo with black hardware and maybe a pop of brass in the light fixtures," she says. "I love this new trend."

Designer Molly Torres is also all for blue/gray. "We love to contrast black stainless steel appliances with cabinets in a soft, unexpected color, like Benjamin Moore Palace Pearl," she notes.

Whittney Parkinson Design

Is your family planning on remodeling your kitchen? If you have black stainless steel appliances, maybe you are wondering what color cabinets would best suit the style of your kitchen. We have done some research and have some great recommendations for you!

Disclosure: We may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Natural wood colors and dark oaks are especially great in matching with black stainless steel. However, it is okay to add a pop of color if you decide to paint your existing cabinets. Deep red, white, yellow, blue, and even black would match well. 

In this post, we'll go into further detail about each of these colors that go well with black stainless steel appliances. We'll also cover some other common questions when it comes to matching your black stainless steel appliances. So be sure to keep reading.

Dark grey kitchen cabinets with black stainless steel appliances

There are so many great cabinet color options to go with your black stainless steel appliances. Let's look at each one in more depth.

Natural Wood 

Natural wood cabinets have a lighter shade of color. These types of cabinets go with almost any style of the appliance. With the black stainless steel appliances, the natural wood does not overpower the kitchen. It also allows the stainless steel to shine and bring out its reflective qualities. The light to the dark provides a warm and balanced feel to your kitchen. 

Dark Oak

Darker woods look great with black stainless steel appliances. The dark contrast makes everything look updated and sleeker in your kitchen. If you started with lighter colored cabinets, you can stain them to bring them up to date. Be sure to have darker hardware on the cabinets to further bring out the depth of the dark oak. 

Deep Red

Red cabinets really make the kitchen stand out in your home, and they look great with black stainless steel appliances! You may even choose to have a black countertop as well. If you would like rustic red cabinets, distress them a bit. If rustic isn't your style, keep the look smooth and sleek for a more modern feel to your kitchen. Either way, your appliances will look amazing with red. 

If you are interested in distressing your kitchen cabinets, here is a great short tutorial you can view on YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/aTJrUbJkACM

White

Black and white is the perfect combination in a kitchen. White is a clean color and gives a bit of light to your dark stainless steel appliances. Whether it be a country white or a pure pearl white, you will not have to worry about your kitchen looking anything less than perfect. Add a beautiful black and white tiled floor and you have the feel of a bye-gone era. 

 Check out these great black and white tiles to add to your kitchen flooring to complete the vintage look:

Click here to view these black and white floor tiles on Amazon.

Yellow

Yellow and black are also wonderful colors to use together. It is almost like creating a sunflower in your kitchen. They pair well and really bring out each other. You can go with a lighter yellow for a farmhouse feel or go with a darker mustard color for a modern twist. Having black molding and windows will even help a bit more to make your appliances stand out! 

Blue

You may choose a light ocean blue or a dark navy blue for your kitchen cabinets. Either choice is a great idea to pair with your black stainless steel appliances. The lighter blue will make the kitchen brighter and allow your appliances to stand out while the darker navy blue will give a more regal and rich feel to your kitchen.

If the navy blue and black seem too dark, include an off-white island to provide the contrast you need. Using black hardware on your cabinets and drawers is also a way to pull together the black of the appliances. 

Click here to see this black stainless steel cabinet hardware on Amazon.

Black

You may think that black-on-black is going to be overboard in your kitchen. However, if you balance it with white or even lighter wood walls and floors, it can look amazing. Using lighter colored accessories, wall hangings, and even curtains really help to balance out the darkness of your kitchen. Installing some lighter colored chair rails and even a white farm sink is also a nice idea to add some character and brightness. 

Click here to see this porcelain farm sink on Amazon.

Two Colors

There are a lot of people who choose to have two different sets of cabinets in color. Black on the bottom and white on the top, or even a brightly colored island with oak cabinets. You cannot go wrong with having two colors with your stainless steel black appliances. Like the picture above, they used a lighter blue on the bottom and white cabinets at the top. This gives your kitchen a lot of character and still looks like it all belongs.

Is Black Stainless Steel The New Trend?

Black stainless steel appliances are right on trend right now! It gives you the feel of the new century with lots of great amenities. Many of these appliances are also smudge- and fingerprint-proof, making it easy to keep them clean and looking fresh.

Is Black Stainless Steel Durable?

Yes! It has the same components of iron, carbon, silicon, nickel, and chromium that are in regular stainless steel appliances. However, it does have a coating of protective polymers that allow for the matte finish.

Can You Mix Stainless Steel And Black Stainless Steel Appliances?

Dark grey kitchen cabinets with black stainless steel appliances

You can if you would like. Most regular stainless steel appliances have some black accessories or features to them, making them match the black stainless steel. Because they are both stainless steel, it is not a huge deal to mix and match. It is certainly a personal preference. 

In Closing

Black stainless steel appliances look great with any color cabinets you may choose for your kitchen. Using lighter natural woods or dark oaks are perfect. If you want to add color to your kitchen, or just brighten it up, use a yellow, white, red, black, or blue. To really mix it up a bit, go with a darker cabinet on the bottom and then a lighter color on the top. Use floor tiles, chair rails, or hardware to pull everything together. 

For more great home improvement articles, check these out below. 

11 Awesome Kitchen Color Schemes

7 White Cabinets With Black Countertops Ideas

11 Awesome Dining Room Decorating Ideas

What are the best color cabinets for black stainless steel appliances?

Dark oak is the ideal pairing for kitchens with black stainless steel appliances if you prefer natural wood cabinets. The rich brown oak with deep chocolate undertones will be a beautiful dark complement to your devices for a sleeker look along with an air of elegance.

Do black appliances go with gray cabinets?

Black appliances look great with painted gray cabinets. When you use a darker gray/charcoal you are creating a low contrast palette, making a space look more seamless and larger.

What color kitchen cabinets look best with black appliances?

The Kitchen Cabinets.
White cabinets always work well with black appliances. ... .
If you prefer a more traditional or warm kitchen appearance, then consider choosing dark cabinets and cupboards, such as those in cherry wood or any type of dark wood..
Black cabinets can give your kitchen a dark and sleek appearance..

Does black stainless steel go with dark cabinets?

Dark shaded wood types such as dark oak also look great with black stainless steel appliances. Even if the cabinets are darker compared to the typical lighter or natural colored woods, the appliances still strike an impressive contrast; making your kitchen look modern and sleek.