Black Kitchen Decor
WERNER STRAUBE
A custom range hood such as this black and gold one is an excellent way to elevate your kitchen. It adds character, creates an instant focal point, introduces an interesting shape, continues a color scheme, and is a great way to give a builder-grade kitchen a more high-end appearance.
Contemporary Black Home Decor
JULIE SOEFER PHOTOGRAPHY
Black velvet curtain panels add a luxuriously bold finishing touch and emphasize the room’s tall ceiling for an open and spacious feel. They give the space an updated yet timeless feel, especially when paired with classic parquet floors and contemporary style black window frames.
Paint a Black Accent Wall
EDMUND BARR
Worried that all-black walls will make your space feel dark and cramped? Start with an accent wall. "Using black paint as an accent wall or on millwork keeps things restrained," says Amy Forshew of Proximity Interiors. "If you are layering in lots of color and fabrics, it does make a great backdrop," Black is a true neutral just like white or gray, so don't be afraid to mix in some color and texture.
Some of Forshew's favorite black paint colors include Sherwin-Williams' Tricorn Black, which she calls a "simple, straightforward" hue, and Farrow and Ball's Pitch Black 256, which has "a lot of depth and warm tones and is a little more moody."
Black Bedroom Accent Wall
CHRISTINA SCHMIDHOFER PHOTOGRAPHY
A black accent wall featuring a stunning herringbone pattern sets a moody tone in this bedroom. White furniture and bedding stand out against the deep wall color, creating contrast and brightening the room without blocking the statement wall. A brown area rug adds a layer of coziness and warms up the black and white color scheme, while pops of green liven up the space and gold accents add a stylish touch.
Choose the Right Undertones
BRIE WILLIAMS
Unlike other neutrals like white or tan, black isn't an earth tone, explains Tara Dennis, cofounder and director of Archie Bolden. "Black is not a naturally occurring color—it's man-made, so it will always look severe if it's in a space that has natural tones or materials," she says.
If you do want to use black in a room with browns, tans, or other earth tones, Dennis suggests going with a black paint with brown undertones. "It will be softer aesthetically and tie in better with the natural tones and materials, reducing its severity," she says. While the range and hood in this kitchen are a true black, the gloss sets off some of the severity and the dark kitchen cabinets have a warm undertone that looks at home next to the wood island.
Black Wall Paneling
JAY WILDE
Add interest to even the tiniest office nook with black wall paneling. In this modern interior, it defines the small space, elongates the wall thanks to its vertical lines, creates contrast with white walls, and serves as a cool counterpart to warm-toned elements such as a floating wood desk and a cognac leather swivel chair.
Black and White Bathroom
JAY WILDE
An elegant black vanity contrasts a white shiplap wall in this black and white bathroom. A patterned floor tile ties the two colors together and brass wall sconces and hardware dress up the monochrome color scheme and add a shiny element into the mix.
Black Mudroom Door and Built-Ins
JOYELLE WEST
A black paint color is a great choice for a mudroom door and built-in shelves. Not only does it look stylish and classic, it’s highly practical as it hides dirt and scuff marks, which is key in a hard-working space such as a mudroom!
Black Kitchen Ideas
LINCOLN BARBOUR
Black kitchen cabinets may be a bold choice, but it’s also a classic look that will never go out of style. In a kitchen with black cabinets and white walls and subway tile, break up the monochrome color scheme and inject warmth with butcher-block countertops. They maintain the neutral aesthetic while introducing a new material and giving the space an inherently welcoming feel.
Black Bathroom Decor
Ground a space with one strong black component—like the painted vanity here—then layer in smaller black accents, such as this bathroom's shower door, black mirror, and patterned floor tile.
"If the rest of the space has lighter-toned elements, then it's best that black accents are used as details and trims, such as edging on pillows and black frames on artwork," Dennis says. "In this sense, it's an accent and a shadow to the rest of the space, not a dominant feature."
Black Staircase
ROBERT PETERSON
A statement staircase presents the perfect opportunity to add character to your home, and not just with a fun gallery wall. Paint the railing, risers, and wall under the stairs black for contrast, an updated look, and to highlight decorative millwork and trim.
Black Wall Paneling
"Black will always look good when used in the proper proportion," says Noelle Isbell of Noelle Interiors. She explains that using contrasting colors or three-dimensional texture can balance black decor and add lightness when featuring black tile, fabrics, or rugs. For example, the texture of black wainscoting against penny tiles in this bathroom isn't quite as heavy as a plain black wall might appear.
Black Bathtub
DAVID LAND
A black freestanding bathtub adds a luxurious touch to this light-filled bathroom nook. The dark color contrasts the white walls and large windows, allowing the tub’s clean and contemporary design to stand out. Continue the elegant aesthetic with polished chrome hardware and liven up the bathroom with potted plants that add height, color, and an organic element.
Black Home Decor Inspiration
ELLIE LILLSTROM
A favorite way to add pops of black is to incorporate the rich color into your home' via stone or tile surfaces. Here, a black marble backsplash paired with jet-black countertops gives the space a moody yet welcoming feel. The cream-colored veining in the stone paired with brushed gold accents keeps the monochromatic pairing from looking too harsh.
Black and White Pattern
NATHAN SCHRODER PHOTOGRAPHY
While furniture is typically a great vehicle for adding a solid color to a room, wallpaper and window treatments provide an opportunity to incorporate a fun pattern. Don’t feel like you need to use matching patterns, in fact, opt for mixed patterns to create a more interesting, layered design.
Modern Black Fireplace
ROBERT PETERSON
Update a traditional brick fireplace by painting both the brick and the mantel black. The deep color is an unexpected choice and gives the fireplace a modern edge while creating contrast and highlighting it as the room’s focal point.
Black Front Porch Inspiration
JULIE SOEFER
Update your porch with a coat of black paint. Black and white exteriors have been trending since the emergence of modern farmhouse style and set a neutral backdrop for potted plants, wooden outdoor furniture, and patterned textiles.
Black Walls and Trim
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
Up the drama and extend a black paint color from walls to baseboards, crown molding, doors, and other room features such as a fireplace. It makes for a more immersive experience, highlights unique architectural details, and helps visually enclose the space for a cozy ambience.
Black Wet Bar
WERNER STRAUBE
This black wet bar sets a stylish tone for entertaining and packs a big design punch in a compact space. A bold paint color is a clever trick for adding instant character, creating a focal point, and updating an old wet bar. Add some fun cabinet hardware and a new backsplash, corral essentials in a pretty tray, and hang artwork to personalize the nook.
Black Ceiling Ideas
DAVID A. LAND
If you're unsure about black walls, go for the ceiling instead. Painting a ceiling black can feel daunting, but it's an effective way to pull a room together. It adds an unexpected pop of color and can make the ceilings look higher than they really are, especially in a small space.
Here, a black ceiling complements black accessories, including a glossy apothecary cabinet, mirror, and hardware. The black decor pops against sparkling white walls, tying the pieces together without overwhelming the small space. "To incorporate black in a room, I recommend lacquering an old piece of furniture and trying a gallery wall of art and photos all framed in different black frames," Forshew suggests.
Black Wallpaper Ideas
KIM CORNELISON
Create double the drama in a small powder room with a black wallpaper featuring an oversized floral pattern. Pair the statement-making wallpaper with a chic console vanity and brass accents for a glamorous space that’s both fresh and classic.
Black Bedroom Walls
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
Take inspiration from this midcentury modern bedroom and use black walls as a moody backdrop for warm accents like wood furniture, a rattan pendant light, and a faded vintage-style area rug. A dark paint color is a surprisingly cozy choice for bedroom walls and helps give the space a warm and inviting feel.
Black Built-Ins
BRIE WILLIAMS
Don't shy away from making a statement. Go beyond a charcoal accent wall and paint your built-ins black. "A black wall steals all the attention in a space as it's very bold and heavy, so the only way to decorate it is to meet its intensity," Dennis says, adding that embracing other colors, textures, and materials will only add to the effect. Style black shelves with softer colors and textures to create a focal point without overwhelming the space. Here, brushed gold frames, artwork, and various wood and metal elements effectively break up the dark shelves.
Black Kitchen Backsplash
ADAM ALBRIGHT
A black marble backsplash with dramatic white veining makes a stunning statement in this modern kitchen. When using a dark backsplash with heavy details and contrast, keep the cabinets and hardware simple and streamlined to prevent an overly busy look.
Black Headboard
JOHN BESSLER
Turn your bed into a stunning focal point with an oversized black headboard. In this modern bedroom, a floor-to-ceiling headboard with vertical stripes makes a dramatic statement and adds an additional layer of pattern to the wallpapered walls. To seamlessly integrate it with the rest of the room, evenly distribute pops of black throughout the space, whether through light fixtures, a wall mirror, or an ottoman at the foot of the bed.
Contemporary Kitchen
EDMUND BARR
Give your kitchen a sophisticated makeover and paint the cabinets black. Create contrast with white countertops, walls, and backsplash, then elevate the space with polished brass pendant lights and hardware for a touch of warmth and luxury.
Black and White Living Room
NATHAN SCHRODER PHOTOGRAPHY
Create a contemporary living room design with a black and white color scheme. To prevent it from looking boring, use the two colors in a variety of ways: through furniture, different textures and materials, and both solid and patterned surfaces.
Black Wall Colors
JOHN MERKL
Don't be hesitant to use black in a smaller space. While you might be worried it'll be too intense for a confined area, the color actually can make a space appear more grand. "Dark colors work best for small spaces, especially those you pass through to another larger, brighter room, like a hallway or foyer," says Bethany Adams of Bethany Adams Interiors. "It's a common trick used in architecture and design—the 'squeeze' into small dark places makes the 'release' into larger, lighter spaces that much more awe-inspiring."
Black and White Kitchen
STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG
A black and white kitchen is timeless and the classic color scheme works with any design style, from transitional to modern farmhouse. Add depth and contrast to white cabinets and walls with black accents. You can do so through permanent features such as black window frames and countertops, or non-permanent elements like pendant lights or counter stools which can easily be switched out.
Black Bathroom Tile
EDMUND BARR
Use wall and floor tile to add visual interest to a monochrome bathroom. Here, the hexagon shape of the black floor tile is highlighted with white grout for a more defined look. The black floor tile ties in a black vanity, wall mirror, industrial-style sconces, and door hardware, while contrasting the large white surfaces in the space.