5 Ways To Decorate With Black

Incorporating black into your décor can seem tricky. You want your room glamorous, not gloomy, sophisticated, not shadowy, chic, not bleak. How much is too much? What’s the perfect balance that will make your room black-tie elegant rather than depressingly funereal? Here are some tips.

1. Mix black with bold

The combination of black chairs, zebra print coffee table and gray and black carpet is eye catching and dramatic, yet at the same time acts as a grounding mechanism for the zingy, hot pink walls.

Photo: Peter Rymwid, Design NJ June/July 2015 | Design: Rachel Kapner

2. Use Proper Proportions

There’s a lot of black in this room, but it’s broken up by the pattern in the wallpaper, the wainscoting and the chair seats. Little pops of yellow keep the mood light.

Photo: James Starkman, Design NJ June/July 2015 | Design: Shawna Starkman

3. Do the opposite

White walls with black trim are unexpected and they accentuate the architecture.

Photo: Mark Jaworski, Design NJ October/November 2015 | Design: Emily Wallach Home LLC

4. Heighten the drama

A single black wall makes a stunning, slightly edgy statement in a room full of white cabinetry.

Photo: Peter Rymwid, Design NJ February/March 2017 | Design: Alison A. Griffin, CKD

5. Highlight a focal point

Draw all eyes to the view by painting window frames black.

Photo: Peter Rymwid, Design NJ February/March 2018 | Kitchen Design: Bart Lidsky, Member NKBA | Interior Design: Jennifer McGee | Architecture: Roger Schlicht | Builder: Braunius Bros.