Dark green kitchens are the new gray – here's how to bring this sophisticated moody shade into your home

Dark green is one of the most sophisticated colors, and what better room in the home to channel this timeless hue than the kitchen? The heart of the home – whether small and cozy or bright and spacious – any kitchen can benefit from the timeless appeal of dark green. 

A dark green kitchen creates an instantly moody, statement look, while it is also known for being calming due to its strong association with the natural world.

From emerald green to forest green, there are many interpretations of this popular kitchen color idea, and there are endless ways to channel it into your kitchen ideas, depending on how much of a statement you wish to make. 

7 dark green kitchen ideas

Here, we've rounded up some of our favorite dark green kitchens. If you're considering decorating with green in this social yet hardworking space, the following examples are bound to spark some inspiration.

'Choosing a green inspired by nature for your kitchen brings a breath of fresh air into the heart of your home, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere,' says interior designer Marie Flanigan. 

1. Create a moody, statement look

With the right choice of materials, a dark green kitchen can feel dramatic and sophisticated, as proven by this modern kitchen featuring statement green marble across the kitchen island. Designed by Studio Duggan, the space feels inspired by Art Deco decor and shows how effective dark green can be. 

Founder of the design studio Tiffany Duggan tells us why dark green marble was chosen instead of paint ideas:

'I wanted the kitchen island to feel almost otherworldly, appearing as if it was one huge block of marble. We clad the island structure in Verde Guatemala stone, which brings a huge amount of color depth and vibrancy – far superior to that of a painted finish.'

'For practicality’s sake, we left the working side in reeded black oak,' continues Tiffany. 'There are lots of hidden details that make this a hard-working kitchen as well as a beautiful one – larders, a coffee station, and a whopping four ovens are all behind retractable doors allowing it to transform into a hive of activity at the drop of a hat.'

2. Match the wall and cabinetry color

For added impact with your dark green kitchen, choose to paint both the kitchen cabinet ideas and the walls in a matching shade. This is demonstrated in the above deVOL kitchen with dark olive green paint for a cohesive and striking look.

'Using the same color on your walls and your cupboards always seems to make a room feel more cohesive, but mostly it softens the edges of the view, making it somehow easier on the eye,' explains Helen Parker, Creative Director of deVOL.  'Architectural and decorative details become less obvious, and you tend to notice them in a much subtler way. Playing down grandeur is often a clever way of neatening up a busy or smaller-sized room.' 

3. Pair dark green with brass fixtures

When choosing the best color of metal fixtures for your dark green kitchen, designers say that warm tones such as brass create a flattering look.

Marie Flanigan incorporated plenty of warm metals alongside the dark green cabinets in this minimalist kitchen. She explains why she chose warm metals to complement the statement green cabinets:

'The natural green tones evoke a sense of tranquility and connection to the outdoors, making your kitchen a rejuvenating space. When paired with living finishes like brass and polished nickel, the color palette not only adds vibrancy but also seamlessly blends with the warmth and sophistication of these metallic accents, resulting in a visually appealing and harmonious kitchen design.'

4. Balance dark green cabinets with natural countertops

If overdone, dark green cabinets can appear intense, so to balance the use of this rich color, experts say it's always a good idea to choose natural kitchen countertop ideas.

This is demonstrated in this Brooklyn kitchen by Plain English Design, which channels dark green cabinets (Little Greene's Invisible Green) and natural countertops made from oak wood and honed Carrara marble. 

Marie Flanigan also recommends pairing dark green cabinets with natural stone surfaces, explaining that it can help provide much-needed balance: 'When paired with beautiful natural stone surfaces, such as marble or quartzite countertops, the dark green color finds harmony, allowing the richness of the stone to shine while maintaining a sophisticated and well-coordinated aesthetic in your kitchen.'

5. Decorate with dark green tiles

A dark green kitchen isn't just about painting the walls or cabinets. Opting for dark green kitchen tile ideas is an alternative option that can create an equally striking result. One way to decorate with tiles in the kitchen is to extend them across one wall in place of kitchen backsplash ideas, as shown above in the otherwise neutral kitchen designed by Audrey Scheck Design.

This is a decor idea that interior designer Betsy Wentz also recommends for dark green kitchens, adding that you can continue them to the ceiling: 'Green tile from counter to ceiling adds a lot of visual interest to an otherwise white kitchen.'

6. Embrace emerald green

Within the realm of dark green, the variations of shades are vast. From bottle green to dark sage, there are green tones to suit all interior design styles. One type of dark green that feels particularly on trend right now is jewel-toned greens, perfect for capturing an opulent look and a fresh take on more commonly used forest green.

This look is captured in the deVOL kitchen above. Helen Parker explains why the dark green paint worked in the space alongside other design elements: 'The paint on the cupboards is a cross between emerald and racing green, a great contrast to the deVOL brass door furniture, it is quite a change from the soft muted colors our customers usually choose, but it creates a fabulously dramatic and atmospheric kitchen.'

7. Bring the outdoors in

In any dark green kitchen, designers say you should find inspiration in the natural world to create a calming space. Alexandra Kaehler designed the green kitchen above, and explains that the color was chosen to reflect the outdoors: 'We really wanted to use the color of the kitchen to bring the outside in.'

Beyond the shade of green paint, you can further nod to the natural world by incorporating natural materials. Interior designer Melanie Coddington of Coddington Design explains: 'Use natural materials like light wood for cabinetry or open shelving to add warmth and prevent the space from feeling too heavy.'

The kitchen accessories and decor items below all have a natural feel to them and can make for the perfect finishing touch in your dark green kitchen. 

Dark green kitchens feel both moody and sophisticated, making it a great color choice if you're looking to add some drama to the heart of your home. Whether you decorate with dark green tiles or color drench the space in your favorite dark green paint, these ideas are equally timeless.