Mel Carpenter
A powerful shade, black can be a daunting color to decorate with, but with the right treatment it can look effortlessly chic and stylish. However, being a neutral shade which pairs with nearly every hue, black also makes a great accent color for bringing structure and interest to more muted schemes. Used with white, or an array of grey tones, black can play a transformative role in chic monochrome schemes, yet as a pure pigment it can equally be paired with other colors and materials to create myriad different looks for both traditional and contemporary interiors. They can be basic or sophisticated, daring or elegant, industrial or classic, traditional or modern,' explains Caesarstone’s (opens in new tab) head of design, Mor Krisher. They create a gorgeous, ambient environment that acts as a moody backdrop for rough brown woods and metal finishes,' says Michael Del Piero (opens in new tab). In this kitchen, for example, the wood elements, the bronze mortar and pestle, and the bright emerald green of the fern look rich and beautiful against the black surfaces.
Use the dark charcoal ‘Kohl' as a grounded shade on a central kitchen island with surrounding cabinets in ‘Opus’, a muted purple-grey, for a deeply refined color scheme. In his stunning black living room by interior designer Sean Anderson, a woven rug and a white living room sofa are teamed with warm accent colors and large, light artworks to temper the bold wall color, resulting a beautifully balanced space. If you love entertaining then dark colors can be a great way to bring a sense of occasion and drama to dining rooms.
While they may not be obvious dining room color ideas, black can bring an intimate feeling perfect for dinner parties. Oversized bedroom lighting brings sculptural interest in place of bold colors and wooden furniture helps add warmth. Black can make for a stylish and sophisticated bathroom, but t's important to introduce texture, especially if you're looking to create a more traditional bath room feel.
In this scheme by Cave Interiors (opens in new tab), handmade zellige tiles in myriad warm neutrals bring beautiful texture as does he rich wood vintage table. The combination of hexagonal and square bathroom tiles brings subtle decorative interest while the brass fixtures make a beautiful contrast. 'While I am so happy with how the whole renovation turned out, the boldness and distinct personality of each bathroom makes them my favorite rooms in the house. Introducing the earthy colors of nature like beige, tan and ochre is an easy way to temper the power of black as demonstrated in this beautiful bathroom by Neptune. If you're thinking of black for your kitchen cabinet ideas then pairing them with light, textured worksurfaces and soft neutral tones is a great way to create a laid-back, balanced look. In this neutral kitchen, black units are teamed with worktops from the Pebbles collection at Caeserstone (opens in new tab) warm, off white walls and a light wood floor to create a light yet layered and sophisticated space full of subtle decorative interest.
To make a black room look good, think about introducing lighter tones and warm accent colors to balance the scheme. If you're looking for a sophisticated, contemporary scheme think about pairing pure black with white as part of a high-contrast look, alternatively, adding in soft neutrals and earthy colors like beige, stone, tan and mustard is a good way to bring warmth to a black room.
'Hardware in brass or nickel always looks exceptional against a darker color,' explains Louisa Eggleston, creative director of Humphrey Munson (opens in new tab) kitchens. As with any room design, having a well-planned lighting scheme can transform the space, helping to make it instantly more warm and welcoming.
'Black is a classic tone that can be easily brought into an interior scheme and used alongside existing pieces already inside the home. Black cupboards work surprisingly well with soft muted pastels and deliver a calmer take on this dramatic trend,' says Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown.
'A neutral color drench accessorised with statement use of black and charcoal looks very welcoming, serene, and indulgent,' suggests Annie Sloan (opens in new tab).
