15+ Best Black Paint Colors For Kitchen Cabinets in 2023

As an expert in paint color selection, I understand the profound impact of hues on interior spaces. Black, a versatile and timeless neutral, offers an exceptional choice when it comes to adding a touch of sophistication and modernity to your kitchen cabinets.

Allow me to delve into the realm of black paint options, unveiling a selection of my favored shades for transforming your cabinets into elegant focal points.

Are black cabinets in style for 2023?

Whether you’re embarking on a kitchen or bathroom design project, your choice of cabinet color plays a pivotal role in shaping the overall aesthetic. Fortunately, cabinets are one of the more accessible and budget-friendly elements to modify, allowing you to keep your space up-to-date with current trends.

Black, when used strategically, can be a dramatic and modern addition to your interior. Personally, I find a black kitchen island juxtaposed with lighter or wood-toned cabinets to be particularly appealing.

Nevertheless, the world of black paint is brimming with myriad shades, presenting you with the challenge of making the perfect selection.

Let’s embark on a journey to discover the finest black cabinet paints available.

Is Black an Ideal Choice for Kitchen Cabinets?

Black, a splendid and versatile color, finds a natural home in kitchen and bathroom cabinetry.

It exudes modernity, luxury, and striking contrast, making it a compelling choice for these spaces. Nevertheless, it’s essential to address some common concerns associated with black cabinets:

• Potential Overwhelming Effect: When used excessively, black paint can engulf a space, resulting in a visually heavy atmosphere. Consider employing it for accent cabinets, such as an island or lower cabinets, to strike a harmonious balance.
• Contrast Considerations: The combination of black cabinets with light or white walls can create a high-contrast look. While this can be visually striking, it’s important to bear your desired aesthetic in mind.
• Maintenance Considerations: Black cabinets, while visually captivating, are not the most forgiving when it comes to maintenance. They are prone to showcasing food stains, such as sauces or flour, which might be more discreetly concealed by certain other colors. Additionally, black cabinets readily reveal fingerprint marks and dust, demanding regular cleaning and upkeep. Furthermore, any damage, such as a chip or ding on the cabinet face, is more likely to expose the underlying material due to the stark contrast with black paint.
• Light and Space Dynamics: It’s essential to recognize that black can exert a dominant presence within a room and potentially diminish the influx of natural light. To counteract this, achieving a sense of balance within the space is key. This can be achieved by pairing black cabinets with light or white walls and flooring, fostering a harmonious atmosphere that mitigates the potential darkness associated with black.
• Compatibility with Overall Design: The suitability of black cabinets largely depends on the broader context of your kitchen’s design and decor. It’s imperative to consider how black integrates with other elements in your space. For those with the courage to fully embrace the boldness of black paint, there are opportunities for creating a striking statement or a captivating backdrop for other colors to shine.

Harmonizing Colors for Black Cabinets

Black, as a neutral color, harmonizes gracefully with a wide spectrum of accent colors. To create a harmonious composition, pay attention to the undertones present in your chosen black shade, whether warm or cool, and pair it with complementary colors.

Black kitchen cabinet paint complements:

• White
• Lighter Colors
• Natural Wood Tones
• Gold and Metallic Accents

Selecting the Perfect Black Paint for Your Cabinets

Choosing the right black paint for your cabinets involves several considerations:

• Color Family: Given your inclination towards black, you’re off to a great start. Now, delve deeper into this family to decide whether you prefer a lighter or darker shade, a brighter or more muted one, and the undertones you desire.
• Testing: Acquire paint samples to examine the potential options. I recommend obtaining at least three samples if you intend to paint walls. Apply these samples in multiple spots on your walls, ensuring that some are near permanent fixtures like trim, carpet, flooring, or existing cabinets.
• Observation: Allow the paint samples to dry, applying a second coat if necessary, and observe them over a period of at least two days. Assess how the color appears in morning, daytime, and evening lighting conditions, both with the lights on and off.

The Temperature of Paint Colors

Paint colors can be categorized as warm-toned or cool-toned, each with distinct characteristics.

• Warm-Toned Blacks: These exhibit a hint of brown in their composition.
• Cool-Toned Blacks: These feature icy undertones, often with elements of navy blue or cool gray.

Selecting the appropriate temperature of black depends on the existing elements in your space, such as flooring, trim colors, or furniture. These elements typically exhibit either warm or cool characteristics. Strive to maintain consistency within the same family to achieve a cohesive and harmonious aesthetic.

I’m thrilled to guide you through an exploration of some of the most popular black cabinet paint colors, helping you make a well-informed decision for your upcoming project.

Best Black colors for kitchen Cabinet

When it comes to selecting the perfect black paint for your cabinets, a world of possibilities awaits. As a seasoned color expert, I’ve meticulously curated a selection of my preferred black paint colors to elevate your space’s aesthetic. Let’s delve into these exceptional choices:

Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 2.45
• Undertones: Slightly warm

Tricorn Black stands out as an incredibly neutral, true black paint color. What distinguishes it is its minimal undertones, making it resilient in various lighting conditions. The absence of strong undertones renders it an ideal choice for those seeking a genuinely black paint color. It’s a popular option for trim work, doors, and accent walls. However, it’s worth noting that in well-lit spaces, it may appear somewhat lighter, making it suitable for smaller homes to avoid a cavernous effect.

Sherwin Williams Iron Ore

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 6.0
• Undertones: Cool toned, dark gray, and blue undertones

Iron Ore, when juxtaposed with true blacks, exudes a deep, charcoal gray appearance. This subtle contrast, combined with lighter colors (as opposed to blacks), gives it a black visual impression. Its slightly lighter nature imparts a softer, less harsh aesthetic, ideal for those who prefer to avoid an overly dark look. The color’s perception may vary with lighting conditions, appearing more gray in well-lit rooms and more black in dimly lit spaces.

Sherwin Williams Caviar

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 3.00
• Undertones: Warm, brown

Caviar is an exceptionally dark black paint color, almost akin to Tricorn Black. It boasts remarkable neutrality, though it can lean ever so slightly towards brown when placed next to a pure black. For spaces bathed in warm, south-facing natural light, it may accentuate the brown undertones. I recommend swatching both Caviar and Tricorn Black to determine the ideal fit for your specific lighting conditions.

Sherwin Williams Black Magic

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 3.0
• Undertones: Warm, red

Black Magic shares the same depth of black as Caviar with an LRV of 3.0. However, it veers slightly towards warm undertones, exhibiting a subtle touch of red. This warmth can seamlessly complement spaces adorned with warm-toned colors and materials. Conversely, in cooler-toned settings, the warmth of Black Magic might be more pronounced, necessitating careful consideration.

Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 6.16
• Undertones: Cool, Charcoal gray

Wrought Iron represents another instance of a deep charcoal gray color that perceptually appears black. Its shade, lighter than true black, imparts a softer, more muted quality, making it an excellent choice for decorating with creamy light accents. Keep in mind that well-lit spaces may accentuate its gray undertones, while darker rooms emphasize its black appearance. This color is a popular choice for doors and windows.

Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 6.89
• Undertones: Cool, blue gray

Cheating Heart embodies a deep charcoal gray that can oscillate between black and almost navy blue. In darker environments, it exudes a truer black, while brighter rooms reveal its gray and blue undertones. This versatile shade seamlessly integrates into cooler color schemes, making it an excellent option for spaces with blue-toned decor.

Benjamin Moore French Beret

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 7.11
• Undertones: Cool gray, blue

French Beret, a deep charcoal gray, tends towards black under appropriate lighting conditions. This soft black paint color is exceptionally versatile, making it an easier choice for decorating while retaining its elegance. Despite its cool undertones, it does not appear overly blue.

Behr Beluga

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 5
• Undertones: Warm greige undertones

Beluga is a deep charcoal gray paint color with warm-toned greige undertones, offering a captivating blend of gray and warm tones with a hint of brown. It warms up beautifully in natural light and retains its black character in dimmer spaces, striking a balance between darkness and softness.

Behr Black Suede

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 6
• Undertones: Warm, green

Black Suede, an off-black hue, exhibits soft, warm undertones, occasionally featuring a touch of green. This makes it an excellent choice for boho or nature-inspired spaces adorned with green accents.

Behr Totally Black

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 5
• Undertones: Cool, blue

Totally Black, a deep charcoal gray color with blue undertones, reads as navy blue when paired with true black. It’s an ideal choice for spaces featuring blue or cool-toned accents. However, if your decor incorporates warm-toned elements, be cautious, as it may appear slightly more blue-toned.

Valspar Dark Kettle Black

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 2.328
• Undertones: Cool, blue

Dark Kettle Black presents a very dark black paint color with subtle cool gray undertones. Under specific lighting, it may exhibit deep navy blue hues. Notably, Valspar offers two similar colors, Kettle Black and Dark Kettle Black, with the latter being considerably darker and closer to true gray.

Farrow & Ball Off-Black

• Light Reflectance Value (LRV): 3.3
• Undertones: Warm gray

Off-Black, with its slight softness, offers a less stark alternative to true black, making it a versatile choice for decorating. While it retains a black appearance in most settings, it lacks the blue undertones of some comparable black shades. It exudes a warm, rich, cozy, and inviting ambiance.

Onyx by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore aptly characterizes Onyx as an integral member of a captivating spectrum of vivid, deeply saturated hues that breathe life into interiors, offering an opportunity to infuse your environment with the pure, extraordinary essence of color.

This particular shade stands as one of the more subdued selections within the realm of black paint options. It exudes a smooth, refined charcoal black, gracefully avoiding any hints of grey. The versatile allure of Onyx can truly work wonders when thoughtfully integrated into the right space.

Wrought Iron

Introducing the inaugural kitchen paint color of 2023, a hue that exudes a “gentle, adaptable persona.” This distinctive characteristic makes Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore the quintessential black paint for those seeking a touch of subdued charisma without the starkness of a pure black.

Wrought Iron pairs harmoniously with warmer whites and the subtly soothing natural blues and greens, which have emerged as prevailing paint colors in 2023.

When employed on kitchen or bathroom cabinetry, the inclusion of brass hardware, faucets, and mirror frames creates a stunning visual contrast against the backdrop of this beloved black paint.

Flint

Flint by Benjamin Moore emerges as a cooler-toned charcoal, heralding a contemporary reinterpretation of neutral shades for your living space.

Slightly lighter than its 2023 black paint counterparts, Flint effortlessly introduces a touch of drama into your kitchen.

Furthermore, it embraces a versatile quality that extends to bathroom applications, where it effortlessly pairs with brushed nickel faucets and hardware, culminating in a modern, sleek, and utterly contemporary design, harmonized by a sophisticated tile floor.

Kendall Charcoal

Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal stands as a testament to the captivating world of dark neutrals, boasting rich and multifaceted undertones that harmonize seamlessly with a broad spectrum of colors.

The versatility of this shade becomes evident when one explores the diverse interplay of light and shadow that defines its presence, a phenomenon highlighted on the paint creator’s website.

Kendall Charcoal gracefully metamorphoses throughout the day and under various artificial lighting conditions, creating a truly dynamic visual experience.

This very dynamism that lends Kendall Charcoal its allure can be both a blessing and a potential challenge, especially in a kitchen setting. Its chameleon-like nature allows it to adapt to diverse color schemes and lighting scenarios, but this same adaptability might require careful consideration if you’re not prepared for its ever-evolving character.

As an indispensable practice in paint color selection, I strongly recommend the tried-and-true method of testing your space with paint samples. This hands-on approach ensures that Kendall Charcoal, or any other paint color, is the ideal choice for your kitchen, aligning seamlessly with your unique preferences and the specific nuances of your living space.

The closing words

In the realm of paint color selection, the nuanced variations in black paint colors can significantly impact the atmosphere of your space. With this curated selection, you’re equipped to make an informed choice that aligns with your vision and lighting conditions.