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Decorating With Black: 13 Ways To Use Dark Colors In Your Home

Written by Cass

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Let’s be honest: black has gotten a bad home decor rap lately. White is everywhere, and black has been kicked to the curb a little bit: relegated to being boring, gloomy, blah blah blah. And you know, that’s just not fair to our dear dark-shaded tones: black (and it’s other dark color pals like charcoal and navy) can have so much impact in small or large doses, without making the room feel dreary or dull (although it does make for a great moody space 🙂 ). As much as we love white for kitchens and walls, there are just too many lovely rooms out there that use black so beautifully to let us stand back and see black maligned and ignored. So, here are 13 ways to consider using black in your home to add some drama and elegance to any room. I know, the title says reasons… but all these photos should be reason enough, ha!

Give black a chance! 13 beautiful reasons that you should consider decorating with black -- even and especially when you love bright and airy white!

Paint It Black: Using Dark Colors to Add Drama to a Space

One key thing to remember about decorating with black is that it’s surprisingly similar to decorating in white. Like Sarah discussed here,  when you’re decorating in a neutral (or monochrome) shade, you have to give some visual variety by including different hues and especially different textures. Wood and metals, like copper, match really nicely in a modern scheme with black, and use some brighter or whiter tones, too, unless you are going for a moody feel.

Be sure to check out some of these other Color File posts where we’ve given black its rightful credit 😉 — Best Black Paint Colors — Home Inspiration in Black

 

#1: Black Painted Trim

When it comes to baseboards and crown molding, many people love pure white, some love a different neutral, and some get more colorful — but black has the effect of being different but yet still classic. Just look at these beautiful rooms!

Black crown molding… swoon (via Huffington Post)

black crown molding in a black and white bathroom (Houzz via HP)

(via Apartment Therapy)

black baseboard and door trim (via Apartment Therapy)

The black trim and accents anchor and make this bright white space pop (Bliss at Home).
black and white bathroom makeover with black crown molding (Bliss At Home)

Can you get much more glamorous than this gold and chandelier room, with that gorgeous black doorway arch? (Joy Tribout)
black doorway arch (Joy Tribout)

No architecturally stunning doorway to accent with black? Any old doorway will do — just paint! (via Desire to Inspire)

dark navy door frame colorblocked (via Desire to Inspire)

Don’t worry — not all your trim has to be black! Even just one piece of black doorway trim can look lovely. And of course, anything with built-ins gets our stamp of approval 😀 (via Remodelista)black door and trim surrounded by built in shelving (via Remodelista)

 

#2: Black Window Trim and Mullions

As you’re painting trim, don’t miss the windows! And black mullions are just so classy! (You can DIY your own mullions for your grid-less windows here.) As the folks over at Apartment Therapy said — contrasting trim is like eyeliner for your home 🙂

In this gray and white kitchen, the black window frames and mullions stand out, in a good way 🙂 (Martha O’Hare via DecorPad)

Farrow & Ball Offblack window frame and mullions, with BM white dove cabinets (Martha OHara via DecorPad)

I really like the black crown and window trim plus the black valances and other accents (via Apartment Therapy).

black painted trim in a black and white bedroom (via Apartment Therapy)

Black window trim here accents the tall windows to give this room character (Blair Harris).

black painted window frames (Blair Harris)

Black moldings are right at home in a colorful eclectic room, too! (via BHG)

painted black windowsills and frames (BHG)

Not sure how to change your trim color? Read how Sarah’s Big Idea painted her windows and grids.

how-to paint black windows (Sarah's Big Idea)

Even if you don’t have a window, a mirror makes the room seem larger, and the black frame makes it stand out (via Style At Home).

black painted mirror to resemble window in the living room (Style at Home)

#3: Black Interior Doors (plus colors)

Especially when you’re using neutrals on the walls and in your decor, using a dramatic black or dark gray on the doors dressed them up so nicely. I swooned over black doors for awhile before I took the plunge and painted mine the first time in a true black — and then in our next house, in a dark charcoal gray, Iron Ore from Sherwin-Williams (plus see how I made our real-wood Dutch barn door match the color by using it to stain the wood, here). You’ll find each of the door’s paint colors above the photo. 

interior door in Iron Ore, with a real wood dutch barn door colorwashed and stained to match, along a tall white board and batten wall (Remodelaholic)

 

It’s as beautiful on a front door as inside, too! In Tricorn Black. (Modern Vintage Interiors via Remodelaholic)

black entry door in Tricorn Black

Painting just one door black, with some added crown molding, is a great way to make a pantry door stand out (House of Noise). Color is Graphite by Annie Sloan.

black pantry door with added trim, in Graphite Annie Sloan

Just look at the difference Tasha made over at Designer Trapped using bright white molding with Kettle Black Valspar on the door.

black painted doors, Valspar Kettle Black (Designer Trapped)

Honey We’re Home used a lovely shade, Black Fox by Sherwin-Williams. 

painted black door, SW Black Fox (Honey We're Home)

 

This is Behr’s Black Suede, used by 7th House on the Left.

Behr Black Suede painted door (7th House on the Left)

If you’re looking for a great dark charcoal color, The Inspired Room used Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore. dark gray painted front door, BM Kendall Charcoal (The Inspired Room)

 

Graphite by Benjamin Moore is another great option, used here by House of Hepworths. painted black door, BM Graphite (House of Hepworths)

Timeless Paper used another Benjamin Moore: Wrought Iron. 

dark painted front door, BM Wrought Iron (Timeless Paper)

And rounding out the top 10: Urbane Bronze by Sherwin-Williams, pictured here from This Is Happiness — black French doors look amazing!

black painted french doors, SW Urbane Bronze (This Is Happiness Blog)

See more ways to use black on the next page –> 

IN THIS POST:
page 1: black trim and doors (plus colors)
page 2: black bookcases, fireplaces, walls
page 3: black kitchens, baths, and more

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Published: July 28, 2015Filed Under: Decorate, Remodel Inspiration By Room Tagged: best paint colors, Black, paint, paint color tips, Painting, Top Ten

About Cass

Cassity started Remodelaholic with her husband, Justin, to share their love for knocking out walls together. Since then, Remodelaholic has become a great community and resource for all those wanting to know how to make their builder-grade home BEAUTIFUL on a budget!

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Comments

  1. Eve Stanley says

    August 4, 2015 at 12:44 am

    I personally prefer light colors when it comes to decorating, but these ideas are simply awesome! The dark colors here are moderate which is crucial for the good decor! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Nat says

    April 25, 2017 at 8:04 pm

    I’m thinking of painting my interior doors black. Do you paint both sides? Or leave one side white?

    Reply
  3. Tab says

    November 19, 2017 at 7:27 am

    You don’t really say much about what finish you recommend when painting your doors black, is there any one you particularly recommend?

    Reply
  4. Nonnie Garris says

    April 10, 2018 at 10:38 am

    I’d love to know the name of the paint color used on the black kitchen cabinets with white subway tiles (via Decorola)?

    Reply
    • Cass says

      May 4, 2018 at 11:26 am

      I wish I knew! It looks like it could be Millstone Gray that Cyndy recommended here… https://www.remodelaholic.com/trends-cabinet-paint-colors/

      Reply
    • Margaret Godfrey says

      May 15, 2018 at 3:42 pm

      You might get a screen shot to use as inspiration and take it to the paint store–but the light in a room has a HUGE impact on the paint color in any room. If the room has large east facing windows the same black paint will “read” differently than a room with small windows facing north. The best approach is to try a color swatch on your wall, and look at it in the daytime and at night (under artificial light) and pick the color you like best!

      Reply
      • Cass says

        May 16, 2018 at 1:09 pm

        Thanks for the comment, Margaret. Yes, lighting makes a huge difference! We appreciate your input <3

        Reply
  5. Heidi Bush says

    April 19, 2019 at 6:03 am

    I love the grey kitchen with the wood countertops. Would you put stainless steel appliances or black stainless steel appliances?

    Reply
    • Justin says

      May 8, 2019 at 8:18 pm

      I like the stainless steel look.

      Reply

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