Black and white, black and white, black and white with un poco de color!
Considering the black and white color design scheme for your house? The real question is, “How much drama do you want?”
Good afternoon, color aficionados worldwide!
Today on the blog I’m talking about black and white decor with “un poco de color,” or a little bit of color. Black and white as a design duo is timeless of course, yet there are varying degrees of subtlety or impact to ponder when planning this color scheme.
Let’s experiment with both nuance and bold use of black and white using these 3 ideas:
concentration of black versus white used
small versus large expanses of black and white
scale of patterns in art and hard finishes
The more black you use, the more modern and bold your “black and white” space will appear.
The predominant neutral above is black and it automatically intensifies the space. It reads strong, sturdy and I’d also say masculine.
There’s no way around it! This is a black kitchen. It is a bold statement. Touches of gold and wood soften it a bit, but this is an attention-grabbing statement for certain.
Small expanses of black or white feel more understated, while large expanses and “color blocking” are attention-grabbing and dramatic.
The above space is light and airy and predominantly white, so it is more timeless. Enough black is incorporated by way of pattern in the rug, blanket, decorative pillows and woven basket. Additional touches of black in frames and decor pieces keep the space modern and less committed to black than some of the other spaces we see!
Large expanses of white above definitely make a statement, though a more timeless one than large expanses of black. I appreciate the judicious and deliberate use of black here in the furnishings and trim. Simply beautiful in its vacation feel!
Above we see equal parts black and white expanse, and I am a fan of its balance. The antique dresser and wood flooring keep the space more casual and understated.
Above we have color delineation with large areas of white contrasted against the smaller black cabinetry area and brown-black flooring. What a statement in its crispness!
Small scale prints on hard surfaces, art and fabrics feel classic. You know the drill……use large scale prints if you want more modern impact.
Nothing but impact and statement making above! Who else loves the wallpaper?
This bathroom above is just my personal style! The classic feel of this bathroom tile and black trim, along with the small area of black paint on the upper walls resonate with me.
The abundance of white and tall windows allowing so much light to enter this space, coupled with adequately curated amounts of black in trim, large decor pieces and geometric rug, visually balance the black and white color scheme perfectly.
This scheme above is for the person who wants just a tad of black and white. No explanation of this “look” is necessary. It simply works!
Colorful people, you know I love a good recap.
If you want bold, trendy, dramatic design, then achieve it by using more black than white, larger expanses of color blocking and scale in art, fabric and hard surfaces.
If you prefer a classic look, then consider less black, smaller expanses of color or color blocking, and smaller scale for art, fabric and hard surfaces.
But wait…….there’s more! We need to talk about “un poco de color,” or “a little bit of color” in Spanish.
When working with a black and white design scheme, I do like to add one pop of color consistently in each room of the home. See some examples below, and remember that a little goes a long way.
Don’t forget the impact of paint for vibrant pops of color to incorporate into your neutral palette.
Wow! isn’t this a busy black and white space? We have stripes, circles, chevron and rectangular patterns, black and white art in large print, and a touch of cobalt blue in the seating.
I love the green and how it coordinates so well with the black and white motif.
Have you tried the black and white trend? Did you go wild and install a black bathroom or kitchen? Have you found a beautiful black and white wallpaper design? Tell me more in the comments or email me here with your questions.
Happy to be of color service to you,
Lauren Battistini
