Black can be associated with a sense of darkness or fear, but it also instills a sense of power, elegance, and mystery. Black is all about depth, bringing it with it cultural significance as the colour of formality (think black tie).
There's no question about it – if you're looking to make dramatic changes in your life in the new year, you can start by creating a dramatic, high-contrast colour scheme by embracing black. Many interior designers use black to bring a sense of polish, formality, or modernity to any room in your home. Here are some gorgeous examples to inspire you!
With a coat of paint, your walls are one of the easiest components of your house to transform. This kitchen has been given a major upgrade with the addition of this chalkboard paint wall, which can be used as a place for your shopping list, notes, recipes, or artistic creations. In this example, a black wall in anything but dull – this surface is dynamic, playful, and full of potential!
A more daring way to bring black into your home is by letting it take over your ceiling. Lighter colours often serve to lift your ceiling, while black will serve to visually lower it. In a tall room like this one, a black ceiling provides a powerful grounding element for the room – and goes well with the heavy-duty, industrial tone of the living room design.
There's nothing more classic than a combination of black and white. This stunning kitchen features a white canvas on the floor, with slate black cabinetry housing the kitchen wares. This example shows how black can bring refinement and sophistication to a room. In the kitchen, the modern polish added by black cabinetry is especially welcome, as it gives a high-quality, clean atmosphere to the space without feeling sterile.
For more kitchen ideas, see this ideabook: 45 practical cabinets for a clutter free kitchen
Looking to experiment with black? If you're not ready to fully commit to a permanent change, opt for an upgrade to black linens. In fabrics, black takes on a rich, powerful, and smooth appearance. Black has the obvious benefit of resisting a stained look over time, an excellent solution for rugs that receives a lot of traffic. Black is also an excellent choice for curtains, if you enjoy keeping your room dark for sleeping in when the sun rises on weekend morning.
Contemporary and industrial style stair designs are often seen in black, as this dark colour draws an edgy, high-contrast image wherever it goes. Placed against a white wall, these folding
metal stairs take on a geometrically complex appearance that turns them into a centerpiece!
This black bathroom brings about feelings of luxury with its magnificently dark walls and splash of elegant gold on the bathroom mirror. A twist on a classic, this black-and-white bathroom is much more black than white, a daring design that transforms a trip to the bathroom to a dramatic, luxurious experience.