It seems like color trends change with each season. Many of our clients find themselves scratching their heads wondering if they should decorate with the color of the year and others just wonder if they should keep their Navajo White walls because they are safe and, well, we hate to say it, boring. Thankfully, there is a color scheme that can stand the test of time and is far from boring – black and white. We want to show you how to decorate in this color scheme like a designer.
Black and White Bathroom
Black and white bathrooms have been around for a long time. Just recall your Aunt Susan’s 1950’s bathroom that somehow didn’t seem that out-of-style when done in the scheme. To keep your black and white bathroom from seeming dull you’ll want to add pattern. Do this with tile or with a dramatic wallcovering.
Andalusian tile (pictured here), especially black and white tile, has come onto the scene with force. The ornate patterns add charm and intrigue.
Paint it Black
“Don’t be afraid to paint your walls black
”
Even small spaces like powder rooms can take the drama of black walls without making the room feel closed in. For a more breezy look that can really give a British Colonial vibe, paint your walls white and have black trim. You’ll want to go for a satin finish instead of a semi-gloss to make it flatter and more consistent with the style. While painting your room black, we highly recommend jamming out to Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones!
Black and White Bedroom
In the bedroom, you should use black and white more sparingly because the space is larger and the intense contrast can be overstimulating for an environment that is meant to create calm. Use black and white as more of an accent to a softer color like a pale blue, white or light gray walls.
Black and White Living Room
Like the bedroom, a black and white living room requires a delicate balance. We have found that incorporating larger pieces in distressed wood or metal keeps the space from feeling flat.
“Another neat trick is to introduce a bold accent color in your black and white living room. Go big or go home: try Kelly Green or Hot Pink.”
Black and White Kitchen
With white cabinets being so popular, it seems natural that many people would want to pair it with a dark stone. We actually find the dark surface to be too harsh with an all-white kitchen. It almost bisects the kitchen horizontally and just looks weird.
With white cabinets, you should still keep your countertops light but then, is it really a black and white kitchen? A more successful black and white kitchen would have black cabinets with a lighter countertop. This lighter countertop calls for something that looks like marble in a more traditional or transitional design.
However, we normally shy away from using marble countertops in the kitchen unless you rarely cook. It is a very porous material that can get stained by the smallest amount of spaghetti sauce or wine. Instead, opt for a quartz that looks like marble
Need Additional Design Help?
Are you in a situation where you can’t figure out how to embrace your own expression of black and white? Leave a comment below and either myself or someone from the interior design team at Design Inside will help you out.
We offer interior design services for those who need a little design help to those that need a lot of design assistance with designing and furnishing their home. If you don’t live in the Chicago or Milwaukee area, fear not! We offer online interior design services allowing us to help you with your design problems anywhere in the world.