How to: Style your Kitchen with Dark Stainless Steel
Are you building a whole new kitchen or maybe you’re just upgrading your suite of appliances? Need a new colour trend to fall in love with? Move aside Stainless Steel, because there’s a new shade in town.
Above: Electrolux’s range of Dark Stainless Steel appliances encompasses refrigeration,
cooking and dishwashers.
How Do I Style Dark Stainless Steel in my Kitchen?
The key to styling Dark Stainless Steel in your kitchen is to either complement or contrast it with the rest of your kitchen’s design. Below, we’ll explain exactly how that works.
Styling with Dark Stainless Steel Appliances
1. Go Bold with Black-on-Black
- Pair your Dark Stainless Steel appliances with black cabinetry, lighting, and furniture to create a sleek, cohesive look.
- Add a touch of glamour by incorporating metallic accents like gold or brushed brass for cabinet handles, taps, or decor, such as a golden statement vase.
2. Create Contrast with Light Colours
- Contrast your Dark Stainless Steel appliances with white or cream cabinetry for a modern yet timeless aesthetic.
- Integrate wooden benchtops or light-coloured stone countertops to warm up the overall kitchen vibe while balancing the darker tones.
- Keep pendant lights and other fixtures minimal for a clean, uncluttered look.
3. Add Texture for Depth
- Incorporate textures like matte tiles or natural stone splashbacks to add depth to your design without overwhelming the Dark Stainless Steel features.
- Opt for textured paint finishes or panelled cabinetry to give the room character.
4. Choose Functional and Stylish Accessories
- Include smaller benchtop appliances (e.g., kettles, toasters) in Dark Stainless Steel to complement your larger appliances and create a cohesive theme.
- Add subtle pops of colour with accessories like indoor plants, cookbooks, or subtly patterned dishware.
5. Balance with Metallic Highlights
- Consider incorporating metallic tones like copper or silver for accent pieces like sink taps, bar stools, or light fixtures to add a sophisticated touch.
- Use polished or brushed metallic finishes to balance the matte look of Dark Stainless Steel.
6. Experiment with Glass Accents
- Include glass cabinet doors or see-through shelving to break up solid colour blocks and lighten up the overall design.
- Use frosted or backlit glass on overhead cabinets to bring a subtle, elegant glow to your kitchen.
Above: Westinghouse’s Dark Stainless Steel appliances are fit for any kitchen design.
What Dark Stainless Steel appliances are available?
In the kitchen, there are many appliances available in Dark Stainless Steel, including fridges, ovens, freestanding cookers, dishwashers and rangehoods.
Many home appliance brands now offer Dark Stainless Steel as a standard across their product range. Expect to select from a growing range of Dark Stainless Steel home appliances from brands like Westinghouse, Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel, Samsung, Hisense and Beko.
Smaller, benchtop appliances like kettles and toasters are also available in Dark Stainless Steel to complete your kitchen’s design.
Ready to make the change to Dark Stainless Steel?
Whether you’ve already made up your mind or you’re still exploring your options, click on the below link to view the Dark Stainless Steel range today.
FAQs
"Dark Stainless Steel" generally refers to stainless steel that has been given a darkened finish. Here's a breakdown:
- It's still stainless steel: Meaning it retains the base material's properties like corrosion resistance.
- The dark appearance: Is typically achieved through a surface treatment, often a protective polymer coating.
- Purpose: It's primarily for aesthetic purposes, offering a modern, sleek look, and often helps hide fingerprints and smudges.
Dark Stainless Steel generally hides fingerprints better than regular stainless steel due to its surface treatment. However, "fingerprint-resistant" Dark Stainless Steel is a specific feature offered by some manufacturers for enhanced smudge protection. So, while all Dark Stainless Steel is improved, truly fingerprint-resistant versions are a specialised product.
For cleaning Dark Stainless Steel, consider the below steps and equipment:
- Use a soft, microfiber cloth.
- Mild soap and water is usually sufficient.
- Avoid abrasive cleaners or harsh chemicals, which can damage the finish.
- Wipe in the direction of the grain, if visible.
- Dry thoroughly to prevent water spots.
The choice to buy Stainless Steel, Dark Stainless Steel or Black kitchen appliances will depend on your priorities and desired aesthetics in the kitchen:
- Stainless Steel: Classic, versatile, but shows fingerprints.
- Dark Stainless Steel: Modern, hides smudges better, but check for "fingerprint-resistant" for best results.
- Black: Bold, hides fingerprints well, but may show dust and can make a kitchen feel smaller.
Related Content:
Uncover other trending kitchen appliances, and tips and tricks for maintenance and longevity of use: