Every Room Needs a Little Bit of Black

The main reason a little black dress is so important in any woman’s wardrobe is that it is black. Black goes with anything, is always classy, is never out of style and oh-so-seductively hints of power.

In this case what’s true in the world of fashion is also true in the world of interior design. Black is the universal color — or noncolor, as some would argue. In concert with other hues, it can provide weight, crispness, definition, relief, great style and sophistication. In fact, for years one of my design mantras has been, “Every room needs a little touch of black.” It’s like a touch of horseradish in a bland sauce — it adds just the right amount of life, without anyone’s really noticing.

Black is not a color that needs to be repeated in a room. Just one bold accent, like this ceiling, brings the élan that only black can provide.

Ditto for this black accent wall, although here the color is expertly repeated (with a very easy hand) in the fabrics and the lamp. Use your thumb to cover the black in this room. Verve and style: going, going, gone.

You may use either a touch of black or a ton. Either way, your design will show the impact. Look how the black molding and cabinetry allow the gilt-framed pictures to glow, and the stylin’ tub to scintillate, in this bathroom.

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Every Room Needs a Little Bit of Black