Black & White and Style All Over

Black & White and Style All Over

There’s a rule in decorating that says every room can use a touch of black. At first glance, you may think this is a strange approach, especially if you have a room full of pastels or jewel tones. But let’s think on this for a bit. Yes, black can be full of wonderful drama (and has the capacity to overpower visually), and, when used well, helps ground the space and provide interesting depth. One of our favorite blogs these days is The Spruce, and they say, ‘Using the color black adds a focal point that grounds, anchors, and adds a sophisticated look to a room.’ We couldn’t agree more! A black and white color combination is clean, timeless, elegant, and never goes out of style. The truest yin and yang. 

Our best piece of advice is, don’t fear an inky wall. In the past, we’ve all been advised to stay away from painting walls a dark hue because it was thought to make a space look smaller. Black paint has the opposite effect, however, because it creates an optical illusion of not knowing where the wall ends; it tricks your eye into expanding the space, and who doesn’t like the illusion of more space? Conversely, a crisp white has the same expanding effect, which is why it’s been blowing up design blogs and hashtags on Instagram year after year. 

Whether you’re bold enough to go monochromatic in your home (like we did in the Verge Plan 6 model), or you’re working your way into the style by switching out your dinnerware, placemats, or throw pillows, it’s time to embrace fearless design and the beautiful drama of abundant black and white. Want to dive into monochrome for a wallcovering? Give it a go on a smaller space like a powder room. Do you prefer to try something that requires less commitment? A gallery wall of black and white photography can be a welcome reprieve from busy, colorful artwork. Have fun creating the lovely and timeless contrast of black and white in your home.