Tell all your friends: Gray is out! Black is the new black! Personally, I adore this 10-year trend. Black is chic, elegant, and (barely) never goes out of style. It looks great as a small-scale accent or as a large focal point in the room. This color can be used in bathrooms, studies, or dining rooms; it’s incredibly versatile. And, my friends who are not into cleaning will be very happy to hear, black paint, wallpaper, or upholstery doesn’t show dirt (similar to black clothing)!
Where can you use this perennial color trend? Just about anywhere! I’ve outlined a few of my favorite designer tips and tricks for incorporating it into your decor. Whether you prefer a whisper or a shout, you can bring black back into your home decor and be elegant and on-trend doing so!
Where to Use Black in Interior Decorating
Black as a neutral will help hide things you don’t want to bring attention to, as if it’s hiding in plain sight. Sometimes, you’ll see the color and not even register that it’s there. Because of this, it makes a great backdrop for other colors and textures. But don’t think that’s all it’s good for. The black color trend can be classic, bold, and dramatic, too!
Paint
Black makes a great backdrop for every color and texture. Paint every wall and go all in. Yes, it will make your room feel smaller, but the room won’t feel like it’s closing in on you. Rather, black paint will add instance elegance to a smaller room. When you paint a small room a dark color, like black, it becomes intimate and enveloping.
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Another fantastic place for black paint is as an “accent.” I’m not talking about the mid-2000s accent wall trend though. Oh, dear, no! Try it on the ceiling to make a large room more intimate without adding more “stuff.” Because, really, we have enough stuff! You’ll know it’s there but you won’t notice it standing out as if you painted your ceiling hot pink. Few rooms (and designers) can pull off a hot pink ceiling. But a black ceiling will be here for a while. You won’t get sick of it. I promise!
Decorated Life
Unexpected Decor
Break up a monochromatic room with an unexpected pop of black, like an upholstered chair or large piece of furniture. This will add contrast and elegance to a mostly-light room. It’ll also ground a more whimsical room (maybe you really do have a hot pink room in your house!) to give it depth and anchor certain areas of your design.
Decorating a room entirely in black? Yes, please! Combine textiles, paint, and accents in one monochromatic look. Your room will feel luxurious and decadent, like biting into a truffle made with exceptionally good dark chocolate. Furthermore, adding dark colors onto dark colors will allow you to really play with texture and it brings lots of drama into your decor.
Window Treatments
Black window treatments will frame the view outside so elegantly. If you have a large picture window, treat it like an actual picture with a frame of dark curtains. The look will be bold enough to make the window pop but won’t overpower a striking view; if anything, you’ll add drama to the view! (And just imagine how stunning a vista view would be when you walk into a room decorated in mostly black and/or darker neutrals!)
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Decorpad
Think Outside Decor: Black Goes Everywhere
When I say black is incredibly versatile, I really do mean it! I can’t get enough. I’m fairly certain I’ve told you before how much I love decorating with black! If you’re like me and want to push the envelope on the elegance dark colors bring to your home, bring it into these places.
Fixtures
Where can’t black go? Just about every fixture can be part of the black color trend. Think: lighting, sinks and tubs, cabinetry, knobs… the list goes on! Personally, I love the look of dark cabinets and lots of black accents in a black and white bathroom. Talk about striking!
Appliances
When you’re considering the black color trend, consider your appliances. I know, stainless steel is and always will be popular. That said, give some serious thought to bringing black to your appliances, especially if they’re on the same plane (ie: if your lower cabinets are painted black, you could opt for a black range and oven, dishwasher, even a dark farmhouse sink).
House Beautiful
Flooring
Tiling or even painting floors are a great way to bring the black color trend into a room. It’s a classic look that won’t go out of style. Paint a black and white checkerboard in a dining room like a “rug” under the table. Tile a bathroom with a unique scrolled pattern or go classic with hexagons.
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Doors
I adore a dark door. It hides dirt, naturally, and like window treatments, it frames a view. It also picks up other black accents in your room (like in your decor I mentioned above) and makes everything feel cohesive.
Before you go all-in and paint your doors or hang new ones, consider a few things:
- Black doors (and even windows!) look great against lighter walls. That’s where they really pop!
- This is a modern look, but that isn’t to say dark doors won’t work in a traditional-style home.
- Try using an AR app to determine if you’d like the look before you invest time, money, and paint!
You may also like: Door Drama! Black Interior Doors!
When done with intention, the black color trend can be used as a dramatic, timeless, and elegant statement or it could be considered a neutral color that brings depth and richness to your decor. It’s all about how you use it and how much of it you use. You really can’t go wrong, especially if you use a classic combination like black and white! Above all, be confident and go for it!
Country Living