Moving to the Dark Side: Do’s and Don’ts of Adding Black Into Your Home Design

For many years, the idea of incorporating black into interior design felt either very gaudy or just simply too stark of a contrast to a space… and for good reason. It’s easy to go over the top with color and texture and end up with a room that looks like a scene from Austin Powers. Or you paint a wall black only to realize that the color has suddenly made your space feel tiny and dark. If you’re looking to add some pizzazz to your home by incorporating the color black, but you aren’t sure where to get started, this post is for you!

DO start off small- here are some easy and inexpensive ways to add depth to your space.

1. Work black into your furniture and décor pieces like chairs, end tables, artwork, rugs, throw pillows, and blankets. This is a great place to dip your toes in the dark side, by adding allure to a room without the permanence of changing fixtures or doing a remodel. By adding some black décor and furniture, you will already begin to see a difference in the overall mood of the room. Black brings elegance, sophistication, and an inherent look of luxury.

DON’T add dark colors to a room that is already dark.

1. When it comes to incorporating black, which is the deepest richest statement color on the wheel, you must be careful about where exactly it’s going in your home. The key is balance. We want to steer clear of rooms with low ceilings that already feel dark because it can easily turn into a vampire-esque cave instead of an elevated enclave. Rooms with high ceilings, lots of windows, and good lighting are your friend because they will balance the intensity of the black.

DO try replacing cabinet hardware with black knobs or pulls.

1. You’ll be shocked at the results of what this does to your kitchen or bathrooms! Installing black cabinet hardware is an easy and effective way to draw attention to your cabinets and give them that effortlessly luxurious feel. If you’re ready to update that all-white kitchen, go for new hardware, and thank us later!

DON’T just paint a wall black.

1. It’s the oldest mistake in the book and we see it done all the time. You want to incorporate an accent color in your home, so what do you do? Run to the nearest Home Depot and buy a gallon of black paint! You get excited to slap it on the wall and declare it a beautiful accent wall (just like the one you saw on Pinterest!) Sound familiar?
2. The problem with painting one wall black and calling it a day, is that it definitely will feel jarring to the eye. As with any accent color, we want it to be weaved throughout your home for a cohesive look. So if you’re feeling inspired to paint an accent wall black, make sure you also look at other ways to bring black into your space through décor and furniture. You can also go for a wallpaper that has black in it, for something more subtle.

Black interior design is definitely making its way into more homes and when executed correctly, it’s breathtaking. We hope this post inspired you to make a change to the dark side! If you’re looking to do a more detailed home refresh, we’d love to help. Yourson Contracting has helped homeowners design beautiful luxurious spaces for over 26 years! Give us a call to schedule your renovation consultation.

We want to know- have you tried adding black to your home design? If so, we’d love to hear your tips. Leave us a comment below!