Opposites attract. Contrasts click. Which is why ebony and ivory are always in harmony — pretty much like the piano keys that the mellifluous Sir Paul sang so famously about. While it’s true that black and white are as different from each other as dawn is from dusk, it is also true that neither is complete without the other—at least in home décor. Black by itself is striking, white by itself is soothing, but the real drama unfolds when you pair the two. This Yin and Yang of the design world has consistently proved to be a show stopper, be it in apparel or home décor. As any designer with dash will tell you, when in doubt, simply adopt a black and white look and you’ve got a winner on your hands.
The combination is so dramatic and graphic that it always leaves an impression. The versatile palette has the ability to transform easily from warm to cool and electric to peaceful, which is what makes it so universally appealing.
While black is very glamorous and dignified, white, which varies from bright white to warm ivories to creamy eggnog and icy arctic tones, can be used to refresh walls and curtains, rugs and cushions. In fact, you can produce a number of interesting hues by combining the two.
The key to success with black and white is balance. Too much black can become gloomy, besides requiring lots of lighting to make it look bright while too much white can get clinical and boring. So to keep your room from looking
stark and sterile, try using shades of white paired with sleek black furniture and accents. That should give your room a comfortable and inviting feel.
Floors are a good place to start. When decorating with black and white, it’s usually a good idea to keep the floors black and the walls white. A great choice is deep black granite. Other options include black tiles and black marble. Those yearning for a feel of yore can even try the classic domino flooring. Or you could try white ceramic tiles with a black border or tiles laid in alternating black and white squares. Manufacturers these days have also come out with painted black floors that can be bordered with white stencils. In case you want to keep the flooring light, white wood and natural stone make for interesting options.
Approach your walls with caution. A combination that uses less black and more white is the key here. Since black absorbs light, painting the walls completely black should be attempted only if the space is well illuminated. What you could do is paint an accent wall black and all the others white. This will highlight the room and give it a dramatic and sophisticated feel.
What you hang on the walls is of vital importance too. You could go with lithographs, charcoal sketches or black and white prints, but a truly inspired idea is to hang black and white photographs of various sizes. Be careful in your choice of frames—when hanging pictures on a white walls, keep the frame and the matting either in dark polished wood or solid black. But if your walls are black, keep the frame and the matting white. If you wish to use gilt or silver frames, you will have to ensure that you have enough accessories in those metals around the room.
However, you need not feel obligated to paint all the walls—feel free to exercise your imagination and complement the paint with wallpaper. Wallpaper with large, overblown patterns in varying shades of black and white looks absolutely fantastic.
The advantage with black and white is that it looks good in every part of the house. A powder room looks elegant with a black marble countertop, white sink and black and white accessories, towels and fixtures. Likewise in the kitchen: black counters go well with white cabinetry.
However, since black can be overbearing, don’t go overboard with it in your bedroom. Stay largely with white there, and contrast it with clever touches of black. For instance, you could use crisp white bed linen, and just add a black and white striped bed skirt and pillows. Let a comfy black armchair complete the look.
For a striking setting in the dining room, use black and white plates, table mats and runners with patterns, checks, stripes, or even polka dots. Choose plain white china for the greatest versatility.
As for accessories, there is a market full of choices. Black and white rugs, upholstery, candles, lampshades and vases can bring any room to life. Just remember, if the focal point is a large black piece, you need to keep the surrounding items neutral or nicely complementary.
Just a little imagination, and the truth about your decorating skills will be out in black and white.
