Black and brown are two popular colors in interior design, often used individually but not as often combined. While black and brown are typically dark, they can create a warm, inviting space when used thoughtfully. Deep browns are rich, enveloping, and dramatic, making them ideal for decorating with multiple browns of the same temperature but different tones.
There are several ways to incorporate black and brown fabrics into your home decor. One way is to choose a beautiful blue, green, white, orange, pink, or beige. Brown is best for engineered materials, while brown works great for textures. Browns and other natural colors will feel more calming and won’t clash. Most interior designers try to have at least five spaces be black, as they are perfect for masculine design but can also be glamorous.
Pairing black and brown in your room’s color palette is acceptable and can bring beautiful outcomes. Rich warm browns are classic partners for black, perfect for masculine design but can also be glamorous. To create a timeless, balanced, and livable interior, mix grays and blacks together with pillows and accessories.
In the overwhelming majority of instances, black and brown clash when worn together, but it takes a bit of skill and knowledge to avoid this issue. Mixing black and brown in interior design can result in a timeless, balanced, and livable interior.
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What is the fashion rule for black and brown?
When pairing black and brown clothing, focus on a neutral outfit, avoiding bold or bright colors. Focus on the dressiness of the black/brown pieces rather than the color combination. For dressy black bags, choose a dressier brown jacket, while for casual black shoes, choose a casual brown bag. If you’re nervous about pairing these colors, start with a subtle shade of brown like nude or beige. For men, shoes and belts should match, while women can do nude or colored pumps with a brown or black belt. Bags don’t have to match, and finding a print with both colors, like leopard, can make the color combination seamless. This helps you feel more confident about wearing black and brown together.
What wood pairs well with black?
Black interiors are chic and minimalist due to their commitment to one color scheme. Key focal points should be black, such as the bedroom bed or living room couch. Neutrals like white and light wood pieces can contrast with black decor, while green, leafy plants can add a pop of color. Modern black interiors are about looking sleek and sophisticated, so many elements should match this aesthetic. Black metal elements, such as light fixtures and chairs, can create an industrial look.
For bedding, opt for smooth, even textures instead of quilted duvet sets. Smooth flooring, such as polished concrete or smooth floor tiles, can balance out the black decor. White and grays can lean towards an industrial-style look, while white or light wood floors can give a modern contemporary vibe. Incorporating different textures in the space will add interest and interest to the space.
Can I put brown with black?
Mixing black and brown together is a common style, with options including checkered, plaid, and tweed. Layer a blazer or jacket over a black base and add a chunky boot for a foolproof fall look. Matching plaid sets can also help with color mixing. Caroline Vazzana suggests that bold statement colors can make mixing black and brown more playful and less intimidating. Overall, plaid is a versatile and versatile way to wear black and brown together.
Are black and brown clashing colors?
Black and brown have been traditionally confined to opposite corners of the color wheel, but with the rise of trendsetting It girls like Bella Hadid, Alexa Chung, and Zendaya, the combo is now in style. Fashion rules were meant to be broken, so if you’re unsure of how to wear black and brown together, fashion experts have compiled some approachable ideas. Cindy Conroy, a celebrity stylist and TV host, suggests starting with accessories like a spiced brown top handle, leather tote, crossbody, or slim belt bag to add a healthy amount of brown hues to your outfit.
Can you mix black and brown decor?
The combination of black and brown in interior design is a challenge that has persisted throughout time. Although it is permissible to combine black belts with brown shoes, it is of the utmost importance to adhere to a set of established guidelines. While brown and black interiors can result in aesthetically pleasing outcomes, it is imperative to adhere to the requisite techniques to achieve this effect. The following section presents a series of examples and inspirational ideas for combining brown and black interiors. It also includes an image of Shea’s closet.
What colors don’t go with brown?
Brown, a popular fall color trend, is known for its cozy, cocooning, and warm qualities. However, it can be challenging to pair with other colors. Experts have identified five shades that should be avoided when decorating with brown. Yellow, vivid red, green, pure white, and orange are some of the colors that should be avoided. Yellow is a versatile shade that can be used alone or mixed in a neutral scheme, but it can be difficult to pair with other colors. To avoid these pairings, it is essential to go with your heart when redecorating a room, but it is important to be aware of what color combinations won’t work with brown.
Why do people say brown and black don’t go together?
The old fashion rule against pairing black and brown together was outdated, as black and brown are now popular this season. To pair black and brown together, keep it simple by eliminating other colors. Black and brown look chicest when there is no competition from other colors. Camel and black are hard to beat. For example, a camel turtleneck, Birdies Starling flats, and an old J Crew calf hair belt can be paired with black and brown pants from Lysee. The pants are cropped and hit the perfect point above the ankle. The combination is chic and chic, making it a great choice for any outfit.
What color walls go with black and brown furniture?
Dark brown furniture can be complemented with mid-tone walls, such as warm golden yellow, soft medium blues, grayish-greens, creamy tans, or soothing greys. Benjamin Moore’s Historical Colors palette can be a helpful resource for inspiration. To create a cozy atmosphere, choose wall colors a few shades deeper, such as Hale Navy or Knoxville Gray, which create a balance against a camel-colored sofa or walnut coffee table. Avoid vivid or stark colors.
For those who prefer a naturalist aesthetic, brown furniture can create a space inspired by nature. Mother Nature used brown as the grounding color for soil and trees, and earth tones can be used to create an inviting color scheme. Burnt umber and warm peach can be used for a southwestern palette, rich terracotta and mustard yellow for a Tuscan landscape, green for a verdant jungle vibe, and a mix of grays and ivories for a river rock mosaic. Sky blue can be a brilliant contrast to bark brown.
What colors don’t go with black?
Designer Mollie Ranize suggests that the color combination with black depends on the items and space. She advises against pairing bright and saturated colors like red and orange with black, as they may feel overly bright. Wood tones and earth tones are best for black, and can be combined with orangey woods and tones for a retro look. For a dark look, black on black is recommended. However, it is important to avoid navy blue when pairing with black, as it may appear overly bright.
Does dark brown wood go with black?
In order to create a rustic or organic aesthetic, it is recommended to pair black furniture with natural wood tones, which will result in a warm and welcoming ambience. The use of earthy tones, such as deep browns, rich burgundies, and warm terracotta, can effectively create a warm ambience. The introduction of jewel tones, such as emerald green, sapphire blue, and amethyst purple, can imbue a space with a sense of sophistication. The use of neutral colors, such as beige, cream, or taupe, provides an aesthetically pleasing contrast against the backdrop of black furniture.
Does black or white go better with brown?
Brown is a neutral color that pairs well with other neutrals and earth tones, such as black, cream, white, and olive green. It balances out brighter statement colors and can be flattered by certain shade combinations. For example, vibrant oranges and reds complement deep chocolate and copper-esque brown hues. Brown complements blue and cool gray, and when combined with black, it creates a classic moody effect. To complement brown clothing, consider pairing it with a brown shirt, pants, or a brown leather jacket, as they are more wearable than black options.
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Hi, Julie! Oh, dear, have added black!! Haha, we are finishing our new house and designed a black kitchen, all black bed room with light beiges and wood accents and several black walls around the house (including our home offices). My only regret? Not having done it earlier!! 🙂 amazing article, thanks for sharing. Hugs from Prague :*
We are buiding our New house and will have black window trim and black door. My husband and the contractor dont really into it that impacted me a little bit. But, this article really convinced me to realize them. Finger cross this will work. Shared them this article so far they agree. Wiss me luck, Julie. Thank you for the enlighting article. 👍👍💚💚
I have black accents in almost every room. I have black frames, lamps, baskets, furniture, curtain rods and lighting. A little in each room goes a long way. One thing i kinda regret, is getting a black rug. Although, i love the black and cream rug i have in my dining area, it shows every speck of dirt and fur. Having 3 cats and a dog makes it challenging to keep it clean. I love this article Julie. After perusal this, i know I’m on the right track with my decor.
Boom 💥 there it is, Black always been my go favorite color and now I know why,at first I thought it’s so rich then oh no folks are to think I am so weird 🤔! Thanks for affirming my style. Julie you are total Boss ❤ still working bedroom I need to get you photo of my bed I nerd your magic if only I could afford you as a client I would be over moon just for day! Stay Golden!
Thanks for this very informative and well curated article. Already using hints of black in our new home but this article made me confident in my choice so far while giving many additional tips. The picture references make it so easy to understand your vision. I often save them for my reference. Lots of Love.
You don’t have to get me excited about black accents in interior decor, since I use black and off-white as a foundation on which to decorate the rooms. In my bedroom, I have black fishbowl planters rimmed in gold with mountains, water, and flora, a 43″x32″ B&W canvas poster of my husband and me from 2018 in my home office, and art framed in black and gold in these rooms and others around the house. I also used black in the kitchen, but not on the cabinets (wanted to keep things lighter on this SW-facing side of the house. There’s the Black Galaxy granite countertop to compliment my off-white Shaker cabinets, gray subway-tiled backsplash that looks like stone, and Le Creuset cookware in Flame (orange) as accents on off-white open shelves on one side of my box bay window and a plant wall on the other side.
When I got divorced 4.5yrs ago after being married 31yrs, I decided I was gonna do everything I always wanted to! Couldn’t control my marriage but I could control my new condo! I call my style “Modern French w a touch of Southern Charm”(from Chas SC) & I just love it. It’s mostly b/w w pops of color throughout. Painted my windows, walls, kitchen island & so on black before it was popular. My daughter didn’t like it at 1st but now she loves it! It’s actually more cozy than one would expect. If u’re thinking abt it, go for it! It’s only paint. If u like, then add to it. Thxs & enjoyed the article a lot!🖤
Hi Julie. I like this article. It’s an affirmation that I did the right thing in choosing black back splash for my all white kitchen. Also, my husband really wanted to paint our doors black against white walls to add drama. I think I will finally approve his idea 💡Thank you for your vlogs and more power to you. 👍 you’re so awesome 👏
Julie love ur posts so fresh, so informative. I had hoped u would touch on this but u didn’t. I. Am having a 480 SQ foot tinish house built just 4 myself (im 50 n use a scooter) my contractor freaked when i told him i wanted the window frames done in black. Next i added black grout to slate in the bathroom, black light fixtures n faucets thru out. I also am looking to source a lower slum longer media cabinet that is black to use as a divide between my living room n bedroom. I also have other subtle black decorative touches. So here is what i am wondering- id like to gave the slanted (but tall) ceilings done in black. Id really like to know what u think about this. I feel it would make them recede while coordinating them.with the rest if the house. Ur opinion means a lot to me. The walls are primarily black n the colors throughout are neutral. Please let me know ur opinion. I hope i gave u enough info for u to visualize my upcoming home I’ve always liked black n so far love the black that i have added.
I like this article as im about to do a black framed industriel mirror. Also thinking about a white n black decor for my office space. Could u please do one article for red? While red is my favorite color with black, i find red decor to be agressive (at least the ones i see on my google search). Too much red can feel too much and while i do want it to be visible i dont want the color to take all the attention
Me looking up to my matte black living room focal walls with glossy black art frames and a gifted mirror that I spray painted black, thinking about my freshly ordered glossy black kitchen tile stickers and my newly laid graphite gray bathroom tiles: YES, GIRL, YES! 🖤🖤 Pro tip: If you don’t want your black furniture to dominate the room or to look too heavy, stay away from bulky pieces and go for airy, delicate ones (e. g. out of thin metal or black rattan or glass) instead. 👍
This was a great article. Julie one quick question..is it possible to paint aluminium black? I have sliding doors as a windows in my room and the frames are aluminum..I really really want to paint it black.. but ppl keep telling me aluminium once painted cant be redone and sliding doors are hard to repaint
Can I add a black oak dining room table with a california coastal style home? I have a white cloud sofa, gray rug and bleached gray oak coffee table that is within view of dining room. I have dark walnut floors. My dining chairs that I want to keep are RH white high back chairs on casters . I don’t know what color rug to use if I do the black table. My walls are stonington gray with pure white trim. I have lots of windows.
Fantastic article Julie! I love black and use it a lot in my decor. I have never seen black window trim/casings…love it! I have a question about it though. i have a fairly large house….if you paint the window trim/casings do you have to do the whole house? If it is just one room or an open space what do you suggest? Thank you Julie! : )
Julie, this article is one of my favorites and I saved it so I can watch it again. So many great ideas and fabulous examples that you shared. I added a black grass cloth focal wall in my breakfast room and it really made the space look bigger ( and I was expecting it to look smaller!). I also just purchased a round mirror with a black distressed frame to put over my fireplace. I’d love to hear more of your ideas…especially in the kitchen where there are already so many black touches with stainless steal appliances, black ceramic cooktops. As always, your articles are my favorites and my go to for ideas. Thank you!!!
I’m a designer and there are many easy and less expensive ways to add a chic touch of black to most interiors. Start with a black lamp shade or art and photos framed in black. Perhaps a black throw blanket . Use black velvet pillow covers or accent pillows trimmed with black cording or fringe. Look for vintage style black and gold accent tables or black accent chairs to elevate and add a sophisticated element to a room. Group a few pieces of black pottery on a shelf or built in. Black hardware on wood or painted cabinets look chic as do black faucets and wall sconces. There are many small ways to add a big impact to a room and there are so many great interior images to view on the Internet. Let your imagination go and have fun with it!
Yes, please, to the color series! This article feels very timely given many of us have gone really neutral through the pandemic and now that another fall/winter season is approaching we want a refresh to reflect the seasonal change. Black integrates so nicely with my light woods and cream/tan furniture. I made the modest step into black decor with a lovely bust and I’m now looking around to see how I can incorporate more while retaining the light airy feel I love so much. I envy those who have paintable window panes. Mine are inexpensive and the “panes” are sandwiched between the glass. The hack I’ve seen using black electrical tape seems a bit too cheapy and impractical for cleaning. I really appreciate all the work you put into presenting so many gorgeous photos supporting your design ideas.
I live in a small beach town where, within proper city limits, the Historic Society has control over which colors you can and cannot paint the exterior of your home. For years this meant lots of gawdy brights houses and stark white exteriors. They recently updated the “approved colors list” to include black, and a few all-black homes have popped up; it is absolutely gorgeous! Picture huge, authentic Victorian homes painted all black, surrounded by lush greenery and lavish gardens, against the Atlantic Ocean….its beautiful and literally changed the landscape of our entire town even though it’s just a few homes so far. It really makes me want to paint the exterior of my home black as well!! My favorite color has always been black, whether matte or glossy, in any variety of shades, I feel like crisp black makes everything feel so fresh and, at the same time, mysterious. I have more than a little bit of black in my home and couldn’t imagine life without it. I wear black every day – usually all black – it never gets boring bc the materials themselves, the textures, make each garment feel unique and special. It’s clean, elegant, mysterious, and always in style. I 🖤 BLACK!!!
Wow! Perfect timing. I was thinking about adding black accents to my decor. I love black frames and that’s what I use to frame pictures. I just got a white 24×36 frame on clearance at Hobby Lobby that I will be spray painting matte black for our master bedroom. I was on the fence about it, but this confirmation is perfect. Thank you for the great tips!!
Loved this article! I moved to a new-to-me house early this year, and I’m finding my way on updating and decorating it. It’s an older farmhouse, in the California wine country, so I appreciated that you showed how to use black in every style of home. I want a calm, peaceful, country atmosphere with modern touches. The house is getting painted a dark gray, and I painted the front door black. The built in hutch in the dining room was already painted black, so I added a black bar, and a teak dining table with black chairs. That’s as far as I’ve made it so far, so I’ll be perusal this article again for more inspiration!
Thanks Julie! I’ve been umming and ahhing for months now about this beautiful vintage black recliner but the rest of my space is either neutral wood or whites and I didn’t want it to dominate the space. This gives me a better idea I think of how to work it in my space by tying it with the the smaller things around the room 🙂
Hi Julie, Can you recommend the correct paint colour for two long hallways on the first and second floors that feature part of my art collection, and the floors are Brazilian cherry hardwood? I am following the suitable colour pallets for the rooms and furniture, and I know you said greens and beige with cherry wood, but how do I use the best color to highlight the various art pieces that are very similar to an actual art gallery?
When we remodelled our kitchen, we used black grout with white subway tiles and it’s looks amazing paired with a white ceramic farmhouse kitchen. We cannot wait to do the laundry and the bathroom – we’re going to keep that style throughout the house 😀 We love perusal this website – Julie’s content is always so informative and achievable for all budgets.
Instead of a man cave, I designed a cigar lounge for my Hubby, even though no one will be smoking in there. I had it painted completely black – BEHR LIMOUSINE LEATHER: walls, French door trims, ceiling, ceiling medallion, etc. Then I had a gorgeous Sputnik chandelier with 12 Edison bulbs extending all over, installed! I get the most compliment, because most people are afraid to go so moody!!! I actually had all this done, before taking my Hubby to see it, and since we’re building a bit out of town. If he didn’t see the whole thing, he could envision it. The wood finish in there will be a yellowish brown stain, and black on done areas with heavy brass. Once we move in, I’ll add four camel-yellow leather club chairs facing the coffee table, on a faux cow hide rug. I love black walls, and added black all around and throughout the house, it’s even in most flooring. Almost everything you’re mentioning in the article, I did to our home. Thanks July!!! 😊👍👍
I just replaced my accessories that were red in my “Tuscan1990 kitchen”with black. It gave it a whole new feel,more 2020’s. Thank you! As the appliances die, I will replace them with the black. I know they will break again. Then maybe I can do the painted cabinets in a few years. Cabinets were so expensive, have to wait to justify it! But watch, the minute I do that my wood will come back strong😙
Awesome article. I personally love the black theme in every room. I will be redoing my kitchen soon and will be going all black cabinets with a black granite countertop just don’t know what color walls and backsplash I should do. Also, my kitchen is kind of tricky cuz I have 10 ft ceilings. Any suggestions?
I luv all of your articles Julie, but this is my favorite hands down! My decor has a Parisian old world flair and I’ve just painted my window trims and added black grids. I don’t have a fireplace yet, so I’m challenged decorating my TV wall. I’ve considered painting it an iron black color and doing a gallery wall surrounding the TV. I couldn’t find any articles from you on how to decorate a TV wall. Would thoroughly enjoy something like that. Thank you and keep ’em coming please!
I honestly don’t get why everybody is so into black for home decor. For clothes and cars, sure, but home decor, no thank you. To me, it just looks very tired, depressive, lifeless, uninviting, and flat. I don’t mind black accents, things that are traditionally black like lampstands, metal coffee table legs, window frames, etc, but I just think there is no place for a black wall in any house. Paint it burgundy if you want something moody, pick a dark brown leather couch, not a black one in the middle of the living room. I want to feel like I can breathe, that I’m not confined, that the world is my oyster. Why do people want a room to be depressively black to make it “cozy”? I can totally make a joyful, airy room cozy at night and at least it’ll feel airy during the day, which those black rooms never do. I’ll get off my soapbox now.
I love black. But husband was up in the air, so, I added a black interior door to my kitchen and I will be getting a black backsplash. We have all white and glass kitchen cabinetes with Chrystal knobs and will add some black draw pulls. Black island but with butcher block top. Glass kitchen table with dark wood bass and black and brass chandelier. Spoofing up our 1810 farmhouse.
My new kitchen will have black cabinets, black with a dusty black / grey granite with chocolate splash in it. Picks up on a grey and reddish brown rough cut stone and glass back splash. All brushed nickle hardware, hood vent in brushed stainless, single sink. Then open kitchen & livingroom with a larger textured black tiie floor to ceiling fireplace with a wood mantle. It’s a small cabin we want to be more of a modern farmhouse I guess you would call it.
it’s funny–i wasnt going to watch this one, but ended up getting very inspired. my one bathroom has an old black and green swirl armstrong tile floor, and it’s my favorites from the original design of this 50’s home. b/c of this article, i am going to paint black, the wall behind my kidney-shaped, burgundy, velvet mohair couch. it should really embolden it and showcase it as it deserves.
In my space I have four pictures that are rectangle with black background and is the focus in the room. Black is added randomly through out my space. I pull everything together with beige, taupe and navy with rod iron accents with all furniture painted blond with dark tops… I really love my space. I try to follow suggestions on colour choices; how high to hang drapes; hanging pictures; size of area rugs and other suggestions… Thanks for your articles I find them educational.
Hi Julie. Thanks for the great articles. I have black windows and black outdoor doors and patio doors. My interior doors are white, trims are white. I am wondering if the interior door hardware (lever handles and hinges) should be black or is it better to have another color like satin nickel. Same question for my cupboards knobs – should they be black?
I love this. I love using black, my mother always told me that every room should have something black in it. I noticed in all the pics that when using black, the walls were always white or some shade of white. What type of white paint do you recommend? I have a design question. I’m going to be redoing my kitchen i the next year and I have knotty alder cabinets, where would you suggest I out black? I know that difficult without knowing anything about my kitchen. I am replacing my countertops with quartz and just not sure where to go with it because of the cabinets which I paid a lot a of money for. My kitchen is small alley type kitchen but very wide.
Very helpful article but you neglected to cover the “fifth” wall…I have a 20 foot clear story ceiling that we are paneling with tung and groove pine for acoustical purposes. There are black and maple accents throughout the space as well as white oak floors. My carpet also has a black background. I am thinking to paint the ceiling and the wall on either side of the fireplace black ….any thoughts on a black ceiling?
I love black accents with white wall. I have at least one black furniture in every room for example I have a entertainment unit in TV room, dining chairs in main dining room, coffee table with black and fluorescent pearl side table in living room, etc. also most of my feature lights have black trimming. Absolutely love adding blacks in my all white home 🤗
I went with black roller shades in my family room area for the two windows on the (hoping to be) anchor wall. I’m having a hard time deciding on the sliding door that’s on the same wall. The windows sit either side of a dark brown loveseat. I have teal pillows on the loveseat. I’m trying to sort out valences for the shades – went with a navy blue but they’re on the way. Was considering an abstract artwork with blue/grey/gold hues bordered by white with a thick black frame between the windows. I love them though Idk, this is hard lol
I just finished two bathrooms white tile black grout. To make it organic a wood look tile on the floor. I did a lot of research on this look before I committed to the look. My inspiration was nyc subways. The grout there was not black but brown to hide the staining which would occur over time. Still have to clean the tiles but no more moldy black spotty white grout. And clear silicone around fixtures helps too.
i have some black decor in every room… from a table or chairs or hutch or lamp shade. a black island in a white kitchen. It has always been my favorite color. When I was in the 4th grade my mom took me shopping for school clothes and I told the sales girl I wanted a black dress!! She said we don’t make black dresses for little girls. I had to settle for a red dress with a black cat on the pocket! haha Black is grounding and classy when done correctly.
I am so interested in the palette color article, we are building a house and I am planning on using black, white and brass but want to introduce another color to the palette and still undecided, and Julie can I mix antique brass and unlaquered brass along with black metal and the stainless steel of the appliances? Or is it too much and I have to stick with one finish brass? @juliekhuu
How do you have such perfect timing?!? Loved this article so much!! I’m thinking of painting the ceiling black in my entryway… It’s a barrel-vaulted ceiling and it needs to be accented! I also plan on painting the interior of my front door black (walls are all white). Does one use a gloss/high gloss sheen on the inside of a front door as well, or is that usually just for exterior doors? (I’m in a condo, so the exterior of the door is out of my control.) TY!!
Thank you for this great article. It takes a lot of courage to use black in decorating..but …when used sparingly it creates very glamorous drama. I just did an accent wall in my den in black. its trimmed by gold and black woodwork and hung a gold framed mirror and two gold sconces then a table in front with two lamps and a flower arrangement …..its looks so good I can’t stop looking at it! So thank you for this!
Love this article! I have Black Pearl metallic accent walls. I have a white kitchen with black walls and I painted my garage black. I get so many compliments on all of them. People comment I never thought I would like black walls but you have done it right. All my curtains, flooring and pillows, and accessories are white and silver so my house actually looks lighter and bigger than people who have all brown everywhere. Thanks for highlighting a color so many are afraid of!!!!
Ma’am thank you for this and all of your articles first of all. Questions 1. Can I use black leather couches for a family living room? 2. Do you have any tips tricks do’s and don’ts, guides for toddler safe and play living rooms? I’d like to incorporate both in my living room. Function for 2 parents and 1 yr old. Again thank you for sharing all of your time, knowledge and articles. V/R SSgt Jamal Jones, USAF
Black is a bit too dramatic for me. However, it ‘accidentally’ appeared as an accent colour in my kitchen recently and just as you mentioned the small amount of use in picture frames helps to define the space. My favourite colour is blue, especially a darker blue. I am thinking of using it in our bedroom, but still wondering how exactly. I would appreciate a series on how to use which colour and hope you will soon give some advice on blue!
OMG. This is a fantastic article about adding black to your decorating. I have been searching for a color to add to my master bedroom and bath and now it’s so clear that I should add black. Thank you so much to opening my eyes to the possibilities of what this color can do to add new uniqueness to your space. I would appreciate more articles on using color. I’ve been paralyzed at the thought of changing colors and making mistakes. Thank you for teaching me so much. 🥰
I love black, when we moved into our house it was mock tudor style with black window and door frames, ceiling beams and a picture rail, and skirting boards, all black with white walls. It looked great. We’ve kept some black accents. It went out of date but glad it’s back in style. Good ideas for using black in our homes, it does look modern. Id like a black focal wall in my bedroom.
Hiiii Jullliieee ♥️ I ‘ m not a great fan of black, but I adore the following ( 1 ) black on the windows, ( It ‘s like showcasing an art piece like the scenery, – ( 2 ) the grout ( super tip ) – ( 3 ) pendant lights – ( 4 ) on the floor in a tiny space – ( 5 ) very fine picture frames for ( mainly ) black and white photography or Contemporary Art – but not on very large, or relatively extensive surfaces, no, I dare not be so adventurous – I find the colour too overpowering, too sad, sombre and dismal, for me at least – not your dress though, because of the soft flesh tones which tone it down and the little criss – cross straps ( which are almost lost among the flesh tones ) prettily lost, but are still there, nevertheless – Sorry got carried away – Keep up the great work, Julie – God bless🌈🎇🟦⬛♥️⚪🎯 ♥️◼◾🔲🌠🟦▪️🔲◾◼🔹️
Hi Julie, love your style always. Hoping to have your thoughts on two things if possible? First, if my windows have a white trim and white frame would it look good to just paint the trim black and not the frame? Also in my bedroom I have rustic brown furniture. If I paint the walls white would the black window frame look good with this color furniture?
I’m really getting into black right now and have a craving to paint my (very few and lower only) kitchen cabinets black. I am using it to accent the interior box of two open in-wall kitchen wood shelves that have natural light pine dividing shelves. I have a timber frame home with wood interior but the kitchen, the only place with drywall, has swiss coffee white walls so a black accent would work well. I liked the black hex floor too, and that option is added to a list of favorites.
Love this article and black. We have just moved to a condo and are doing some updating. The kitchen is open to the dining/living room. Cabinets are medium dark with a black edge along the top and bottom (not my favorite but I can live with them). The countertop is a horrible black and white splotchy mess. The west wall in the dining/living area is almost all glass. We get lots of light. I was thinking of black quartz for the counters and backsplash (2 sides of our kitchen). Would that be too much black? Thank you.
Very nice article. I like black a lot to the point where my livingroom sectional, leather armchairs, dining room table, chairs and sideboard are black. All with touches of silver/chrome. These are all in a mostly white room (walls), birch floors(white wash), and connects to the white and grey kitchen. I think I still need a nice area rug to pull everything together but haven’t found one… can you point me in the right direction? Also, have you produced a article where you talk about in-house bar area design? Thanks
Oh plz do that,looking forward for color contrasts and colored furniture tips and tricks,planning for new home and living room with black velvet with gold tem sofa set and gold trim center table,master bedroom with chocolate brown and gold and dinning with navy blue with gold,yes – yes, I am fond of all colors specially gold 😀,plz suggest what kind and color/pattern/plain and material of curtain as set of (shades+drapes+sheer curtains) will look good with black furniture for living and kitchen and how to tie back them even its accessories suggestion
Great to know! We are building our new house and we chose black railing and spindles for the staircase, we have Emser Technique Ivory Porcelain 12×24 tiles for entire first floor, we are thinking laminate for the second floor, what color of the wood floor goes well with the rest? Especially the black railings? Thanks for your professional opinion.
We’re just having a house built and have used black, single panel french doors for the study, black light fixtures throughout, and all-black hardware for the doorknobs, sink, and faucets. The kitchen is all white with white quartz countertops and my wife wants to spray paint the frame of the one glass front cabinet black too. She also mentioned painting the island black to break up the white a little more.
New subscriber here. I have two beautiful wicker pieces in my garage(a dresser and a credenza). I was going to keep it as is but I’m going to put them in my daughter room. But their beds are black. So I thought I would paint the wood part black and keep the wicker part as is and change out the hardware to gold.
Black is my favorite color as well. I just purchased a black quartz kitchen counter top that has a hint of fine sparkle dust that you really have to look to see, it’s not installed yet, it will be in 3 weeks, I just painted the wall under the white chair rail black, I am going to paint the window above the sink, and sliding glass door black as well, I bought flooring that looks like wood that has a slight touch of black in it to tie it all together, I bought high end bamboo curtains and black iron rods that will tie the cabinets and flooring together, I plan to put a red topper to coordinate the large photo of people in Paris walking in the rain with red umbrella, it has a black frame with a slight gold trim around the photo. I have installed bronze/black light fixtures through the whole main floor of the house to tie the rest of the house together with the kitchen, as is somewhat an open concept. I was happy to find your article, it is helping me to calm down, and carry on with my black choices, without going overboard with the black. LOL, my hair dresser is now adding black to her kitchen, she says it sexy. TY.
Love it but didn’t consider how much I could expand w the black. Some of my favorite spaces in my house are where I have small black decorative pieces. May try on my French doors out to pool and wall along the stairs going to 2nd floor. It faces the front door as a backdrop to the foyer. Thx Julie for the inspiration as always!
🖤 Oooooh, black is my favorite colour. Doing a lot of this like in article for my home now being built. My first black and marble kitchen is so exciting…. and those doors, oooh la la! Yes Ma’am, this has been one of my very favorites ever, and sending to my Designer to make sure this one isn’t one she has missed, as she follows you too. Thanks, Julie! 🥰
I share the love of black in interiors! I’m in the midst of a huge renovation and my design style is very sleek and contemporary. My palette is neutral with lots of white, walnut, gray and black – I can’t wait to get more of the black accents in: lighting fixtures, artwork, accessories…so excited for my new design!!
I love to paint furniture, especially something that is not in perfect condition, flat black. I have a lot of black accents. I have a pine paneled bedroom, and plan to paint the trim flat black. It’s dramatic, but restful. Thanks for all the encouragement and great examples. Love it. Black is beautiful!
This article is very unexpectedly relevant! I just chalk-painted an old IKEA cabinet in graphite and can’t believe how timeless it looks. Now thinking of using the leftover paint on a pair of Hollywood regency/Art Deco brass swan figurine lamps that sit on my nightstands. Any advice on how I might do this, like leave the base the shiny brass? And what color shade?
When we decided to rent out our home for 2 months, I needed photos of our rooms. A camera can be very revealing. It showed our entryway was very boring. I painted the front door (interior) black and added a black area rug and large painting with a black background. Fantastic! I love the idea of a color series. ❤️ Shirley
So much inspiration! I had been thinking of using black grout when we remodel our very small bathroom. I saw a pic of white elongated hexagon tile halfway up the wall, changing to regular hexagon the rest of the way. It seems black or dark grey grout would make the pattern stand out. What do you think? Yes, please do more color articles, greens and teal.
Colour always has been challenging to me. How can you paint an apartment to feel more like a home without doing feature walls? I would really like to know how I can finish the wall with the big black tv so it fades without making all the room dark. Also what has always perplexed me is why nobody has been able to install a dishwasher at a height next to the sink that makes it easier to load and unload without undue bending? Could you design a kitchen that looks contemporary, minimalistic with a bit of a bar/ lounge feel but is super practical and lovely? We’re spending so much time at home so all the clutter on the bench tops and all in one spaces are so not as practical with everyone needing different zones to coexist without annoying the others with their activities. Thank you for your amazing website. It’s always informative.
Love your website! I have a red orange velvet sectional in an open concept small space. I’ve been struggling to find the perfect cabinet color and was considering black cabinets and white walls when I came across this article. I love all the suggestions. Now I. Have to find the perfect shades of black and white. Thank you so much!
I so enjoyed this article – I have been considering painting the window frames black but they are cedar and I have a real reluctance to paint wood even if it would look great – your advice to start small has given me courage to start with the bannister rail in the stairwell – thank you Julie for your vibrant inspiration 👏👏👏😊 Ps I now know what chandelier is right for the bathroom 😃
Julie I have enjoyed your articles. I thought this article was very helpful, thank you! I have a question: I have 2 shabby chic white bookcases in my Entry way/ Dining room, I live in an open concept apartment. I have thought of adding a black framed floor mirror between the two bookcases. Perhaps one with an arch to add interest. What do you think?