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17 Black and White Interior Design Ideas (with Pictures)

Black and White Interior Design_Krystal Black_Unsplash

Finding the best ways to establish beautiful black and white interior designs is simply a matter of going outside the lines. What does this mean? It means thinking outside of the simple two-tone color palette and finding other ways to make the rooms pop.

There are several ways to do this, and remember there is no set design rule that says you can’t add a splash of other colors here and there. However, if you’re unsure about the best ways to make your black and white room look timeless, elegant, and modern, we’ve got the perfect tips for you. Continue reading to learn about the best ways to level up your black and white interior and get that classic look that you’re going for.

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The Top 17 Black and White Interior Design Ideas

1. Use Black As A Wall Paint

It’s scary of course, we know. But, it’s possible. Adding hints of black to your wall can make for the perfect interior design setup. Painting the entire wall black may be a bit much and it will make the room look smaller and more cave-like. However, adding subtle strips of black or small areas can be especially eye-catching. If you’re a little afraid to paint walls black, consider using black on trim, floors, window frames, or the ceiling.


2. Try Going Big and Bold

Try finding ways to make these statements with your interior design. This can break up the monotony of the endless two-tone color blocks. With black and white or minimalist interiors, large furniture with bold lines is a great choice. This is especially true when paired with carefully chosen art pieces or accessories.


3. Create Black-Accented Pieces

Mix things up by creating thoughtful, accented pieces and areas. The chic black-and-white interior design can become almost sterile if it’s too dark overall. Balance is really the key to creating a peaceful black-and-white transformation. Contrasted with a dark background, bright and light-colored furniture can create a striking sort of avant-garde look.


4. Work With Patterns To Create New Looks

Creative patterns are always eye-catching and can become a focal point of any room, regardless of the color scheme. It’s especially true for the living and dining room areas. Modern schemes with sleek modern lines can be complemented by various shapes, strong graphics, and abstract details. For example, consider hexagonal tiles instead of traditional ones.


5. Create Balance With Various Scaling Techniques

Remember that the color tones that you use will shape the size and overall appearance of the room. With black and white design, you really can use subtle tones to your advantage. If you have a small room that you want to appear larger, consider using white for the walls and perhaps accenting the edges with black. Or, you can add monochrome furniture and accessories placed in strategic areas to create more balance.


6. Add Colored Flowers For Flare

If you’re tired of the black and white tones, consider adding color with flowers. You can find simple green flowers if you want to keep a minimalistic look. Or, you can add multicolor flowers such as peonies, carnations, and other summer varieties for a bit of spice. Add a decorative touch to your floral arrangements by using white flowers with black centers or vice versa. Also, consider adding tulips and different colors of lilies to add a bit of life to the space.


7. Add A Splash of Gold

You can also add touches of gold to make the space more dynamic–and more regal. Consider adding gold or silver accents to your furniture, walls, or lighting. A great way to bring some color to a black-and-white interior is to use gold fixtures and hardware. They will also enhance the luxury appeal of your room, making it appear as if it was fit for royalty.


8. Add Gallery Walls For Color

Want ways to add more color to the room? Consider gallery walls to add more dynamics to the entire space. They’re also a great way to display family photos, trinkets (placed on shelves), or travel photos in a planned and sophisticated way. Abstract art, professional photography, and monochrome depictions of nature can be used to decorate the wall.


9. Install Wood To Create Softer Rooms

Whether you want to create more softness within a specific room, or the entire design, wood can be a great way to do this. Try reviving monochrome areas with wood furniture, floors, panels, or other details. These natural wood nuances bring warmth and a sense of nature and zen to the space. Also, genuine wood grain blinds and artwork can add a modern, yet rustic appeal to your design.


11. Use Shades To Your Advantage

The cool thing about a monochrome scheme is that it gives you endless possibilities–it’s not as limiting as when we think. There are tons of different shades of white and gray that you can work with.

For example, warm whites such as eggshell and beach white, or deep steel and graphite will also go great with this scheme. You might also add a splash of color to gradient transitions by adding one contrasting piece. Consider using a furniture piece such as a rug, sofa, armchair, or area rug to make it look more dynamic.


11. Take The Theme Outdoors

You don’t have to limit your black and white theme to the interior of your home, take it to the exterior of your home. For a sophisticated outdoor look, decorate your patio with black-white furniture and accents. You don’t need to be extravagant and you’ll be surprised by how many options are available. Furniture pieces, art, and lights can anchor the space, while a few complementary decor pieces will also help.


12. Install A Checkered Floor

Checkered floors aren’t outdated. In fact, they’re one of those classic design looks that will always add a hint of fanciness to any room. Want to make a big statement in your living or dining room? Install a checkered floor. These diagonally-shaped tiles can also give the illusion of a larger room. You can also use them for kitchens, hallways, and foyers.


13. Mix and Match Different Tones

Many interior designers will tell you to pay attention to tones when choosing wall, floor, and furniture colors. Why? Because when it comes to monochrome design, tones will often stand out immediately. But you can use this to your advantage by creating a room or space that has different types of tones. Be sure that it looks purposeful and consistent. If not, it’ll just look like you made some bad tonal choices.


14. Use Area Rugs To Create Dynamics

A large area rug can add so many dimensions to a room or hallway, especially if it’s monochrome. Consider placing a multi-colored area rug in the middle of the room to offset the two-tone design scheme. Rugs with multiple patterns can also work well to help break things up a bit.


15. Don’t Be Afraid To Add Subtle Colors

It’s important to remember that a black and white interior design doesn’t necessarily have to be an iron-clad rule when it comes to adding color. You can use throw pillows, vases, white accents, and furniture to give different tonality to the room. You’ll be surprised by how little color you need to do this. Consider adding a single colored piece in every corner and then take a look at the room from the entryway to see how it stands out. Sometimes it’s the small statements that can have a big impact.


16. Add Warmth with Natural Elements

Black and white color schemes don’t have to be cold and boring–or even modern necessarily. These high-contrast colors may be the foundation of your design scheme, but you don’t have to be limited with them. Want a warmer, rustic, or traditional look?

You easily can add lots of warmth to your space by adding natural elements wherever possible. A brown hardwood floor, wooden tables, vases, lighting, and art can all help to create balance if you feel the room looks too sterile.


17. Use Stripes To Add Depth

And then we have stripes. Stripes will always have a place in interior design because you can do so many things with them and they can go with almost any color scheme. For example, consider matching your scheme with striking red carpets, or create striped black and white walls for depth. You can also add stripes to trim, ceilings, and stair rails for a bit of flair. If you want a more integrated look, stripes can definitely help.

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Wrapping Things Up

The key to a great back-and-white color scheme is to stop thinking in black in white. Ironic yes–but true. Opening up your color scheme to different patterns, tones, and materials can make a world of difference and help break up a color scheme that may seem stagnant. So, don’t think that you don’t have a ton of options when it comes to making the space look more dynamic–you do!


Featured Image Credit: Krystal Black, Unsplash

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