Every Room Needs a Touch of Black

I feel like there is no better accent color than black. There are many interior designers who disagree with me, like Tom Sheerer, who says "every room needs a touch of Red." (I agree with that a lot of the time too, but we will get to that later.) I like black for it's focus, depth and elegance. It could be a piece of furniture, fabric or accessory, ( and did I mention black walls?) It is my opinion that few people outside of professional decorators and designers really like to use black. Most people associate black with 70's and 80's cheesy bachelor's pads. I hope I can show you a few examples that will change your mind.

Here are 2 rooms with chandeliers and shelves. In the first room designed by David Kaihoi, he uses black shades on the chandelier and a glossy black built in bookcase. clearly the white crystal chandelier would have been lost against the white ceiling, but the black shades draw your eye up, and add that dressy contrast that black does so well. The black bookcases also ground the entire room. There is a lot going on in this room with objects and color and the black really feels serious and gives the space some "weight".

photo: housebeautiful.com

photo: apartmenttherapy.com

 This room is primarily all white. White walls, white bedding, white curtains, white crystal chandelier. this room could have ended up looking totally bland, but the touch of black in the accents actually makes the white stand out, doesn't it?  The curtain rods, shelves and details on the chandelier are just enough detail to bring this space to life, and it didn't take much.

 This Red library by Alessandra Branca is incredibly warm with a lot of rich browns in the shelving, intricate wooden chair and sofa with LONG fringe. The Zebra carpet adds that tiny touch of black giving the floor weight, interest and global appeal. Many people would argue black  and brown don't work together, but this room definitely proves that theory wrong, and I am not a huge zebra print fan (although I LOVE this room).

 

photo: windsorsmith

 Windsor Smith uses a touch of black in an extremely glamorous bathroom to really add definition. Like the outlines on a cartoon character, the black stone outlines the room to striking effect. Oh, and there's that zebra carpet again!

Finally, this bathroom uses more than a touch of black. With black walls, black floor to ceiling curtains and windows, black is really the constant that makes the yellow chair, white tub and green floor really pop! Creating that cohesive background really creates some drama, but this look definitely isn't for everybody. Anyone out there ready for an all black bathroom?

Next time you are looking to add a little focus, drama or elegance to your home consider adding something black. It could be as simple as changing your beige lampshades out for black ones. Or repainting your floor and window molding, or fireplace surround a glossy black. Regardless of what style your home is, modern, traditional or shabby chic- black could be your new BFF!

Oh! Don't Do That! What NOT to do When Decorating

I usually take the "what to do approach" in everything I do.  Focus on the positive, let the negative quietly slip away.  But today, let's have a little fun, and talk about the funny things NOT TO DO when decorating.

1.  Don't Paint Every Room in Your Home a Loud, Bright Color

photo:yteng-mnmlife.blogspot.com

Painting every room a bright, "fun" color became popular with diy home decorating television.  Everyone wanted to decorate their homes like they saw on TV.  I am not against bold color in the home.  For so many people bright color energizes them!  Don't be afraid of color.  I think what ends up happening though is that amateur decorators get carried away trying to include every color they love into their homes.  They love green, so their bedroom gets a coat of bright grass green!  And what goes better with grass than a bright blue sky, so the trim or hall way is sky blue.  Then, they saw an elegant red dining room, and they paint that next.  You can see that this is already a mess, but many people fall into this trap.  Once you've started, it can be hard to stop!  Bathroom: Pink!  Livingroom: Golden Yellow!  Yikes! 

Okay, there are some easy rules to follow, for anyone wanting to add color to their homes
-Use different values of the same color (darker in some rooms, lighter in others)
-Make sure all of the paint colors throughout the house look good together (Even if the rooms aren't next to each other)
-Use one neutral paint color throughout the entire house, and pop in your bright shades with accents like pillows etc.
-Pick grayed-down versions of colors you love (less shocking, more sophisticated)

Several years ago when I was shopping for a "Fixer Uper" I went into houses that needed a lot of TLC.  Many of these houses had the "Every Room a Different Color" Syndrome!  If I was afraid of catching it, that experience cured me for good!

2.  Don't Display Every Tchotchke You (or your grandma) Ever Collected

photo:google images

If there was one "Don't" I am guilty of, this is it.  I do love stuff!  I like collecting, and styling tables, bookshelves, countertops... I have friends with homes that are very minimal, and I really admire that.  I have a few things I like to keep on display:  Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, Glass Bottles, Baskets, Books.  Aughhh!!  I am the first to admit all of this stuff looks like Clutter!!  Maybe this is pretty clutter, but too much stuff for your space looks cramped and disorganized.

There is help out there (even for me):
-Focus on 1 or 2 small collections
-Make sure the amount of "stuff" you have is in proportion to the size of your living space
-Keep only what is functional and you really use, Edit, Edit, Edit!


photo: google images

 





A beautiful, organized, spare home is so much more wonderful to enjoy spending time in, than being surrounded by "junk".  I know I don't want to end up living is a space like this:


photo:cnn.com

3. Don't Create "Theme" Rooms

photo:lindapaul.com

You just got back from a fabulous trip to Italy.  Italian Kitchen!  Grapes, faux columns, Chianti bottles... Don't do that!  Or you love the islands and the beach.  Everyone knows this one.  Shells, shells and more shells, grass skirts, palm trees, hibiscus print.  It seems that whenever anyone comes back from a vacation, they want to recreate that place somewhere in their home.  I'm all for using a trip as inspiration, just not so literally. 

photo:themerooms.blogspot.com

I know rooms like this are really popular among the diy-ers and I in no way want to inhibit your creativity.  You can definitely have your Italian or beach inspired room, while still keeping it elegant and sophisticated.  You will be reminded of your great vacation, without it screaming "I just got back from Italy (or the beach, or Japan or whatever)!

-Use the colors of a place rather than iconic imagery to design your room
-Go as authentic as you can.  In Italy and the Islands, all of the materials are pure, nothing faux
-Try to replicate the relaxed feeling you had on vacation rather than "painting a picture" of a place

There are more "Don'ts" that I could include, obviously.  But really this is only for fun.  And that is what decorating your home should be: Fun!  Your interiors shouldn't be taken too seriously, it's all just stuff.  But that being said, the space you live in can enhance your life in so many ways when it is a place you enjoy!

Are you ready to create the space of your dreams?  Log on to http://www.designtheroomyoulove.com and enter your email address.  You will receive tips, tools and trainings directly from me, showing you step by step how to Design the Room You Love!

SR