These sophisticated spaces will dare you to go dark.
You don't have to be afraid of going dark with your decor and interior design. The spaces in these photos work a little black magic for a look that's sophisticated, seductive and sure to make a dramatic statement in any season.
Garrow Kedigian enlisted artist Rajiv Surendra to embellish the black chalkboard walls in the writing room of his Montreal townhouse. The architectural details are a playful nod to the antique architectural details found throughout the rest of the circa 1920s home.
Designers Hillary Thomas and and Jeff Lincoln helped this delightful 1960s-era townhouse embrace its vintage roots with elements that felt period-appropriate yet fresh. The striped wallpaper and bold floor integrate black without creating a dark look in the entryway, thanks to plenty of white.
This space functions as both a home office and a wet bar in a New Jersey Cape Cod-style home by Michael Aiduss. A coat of rich black paint helps unify the different elements (cabinets, doors, desk, chair) into a gorgeous focal point.
Stephen Shubel created a "moody and eclectic" look in his bedroom by mounting flea market finds to the wall, and papering the wall behind the bed in Genuine Fake Books wallpaper by Deborah Bowness. Carrying the black paint from wall to ceiling creates a seamless look that doesn't distract from these bold elements.
A kitchen in a small Manhattan apartment by Nick Olsen gets a dose of high glamour with black lacquered cabinets.
Steven Miller went with a black and white color palette in our 2014 Kitchen of the Year to create a dramatic stage for entertaining.
Who says that a tiny space has to be painted a light color? In this chic bathroom by Mark D. Sikes, black lacquered walls create a jewel box feel while the mirrors help create a feeling of spaciousness.
In a house on Alabama's Lake Martin, Susan Ferrier chose rich wood tones to create a cozy, lived-in look. However, she added a modern edge by staining one wood wall to a rich ebony hue.
Black can actually work for a teenager's room. Just add pops of bright color, like a graphic pillow, to keep the space from feeling too stark. Designer Windsor Smith painted her son's room black for a rock-star feeling.
The owner of this kitchen in San Francisco wanted designer Stephen Shubel to reflect her personal style: classic with an edgy streak. The black cabinets feel ageless, and the silver swivel stools add a little bit of flair. A white backsplash, countertop, wall and accents keep the space airy.
Though most outdoor spaces feature light colors, black adds unique glamour in a theatrical home by Mary McDonald. "I love a tent room. The black and white stripes on the back terrace are a simple play on the look," she says. McDonald carried the theme onto the walls and trim with Ralph Lauren Paint's Bone Black and Atlantic Winter.
"When you walk into that room in the daytime, your eye goes straight outside. Black stretches the perimeter. With black walls and a black carpet, everything floats and the room seems boundless," says designer Windsor Smith. She chose to create a game room rather than a formal living room in her Los Angeles family home.
If black seems too bold, try selecting just one space to have the color; it offers freedom to add color and pattern in the other areas. In this Houston home designed by Rob Southern, the walls look like lacquer and the hue makes a strong statement as soon as you walk in the door.
To turn this 1929 Wisconsin lake cottage into a luxurious home, designer Carleton Varney used bold colors throughout. In the foyer, the classic design is jazzed up with black-and-white striped walls and a zebra print runner on the stairs.
Black cabinets in the kitchen offer simplicity and sleekness. They're also a perfect backdrop to display an all-white collection. Designer Mallory Marshall's kitchen in Maine features these mahogany cabinets finished in black to match her favorite piece in her husband's glass collection: a black bowl by Dale Chihuly.
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