10 Ways to Use Black on Bedroom Walls
Dark walls help create focal points, contrast, glamour — even a cozy feel
Becky Harris
December 6, 2015
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Even though I use a lot of black accents in my bedroom, the absolute last wall color I had ever considered was black. But that’s why I love Houzz. I can take an idea I’m wary of, hit my search button, and the photos can make me do a complete 180. These bedrooms, all with at least one black wall, vary greatly in size and style, but the common denominator is that the black walls are key to the designs’ success. If you can’t imagine liking black in your bedroom, take a look at these 10 ideas and see if they change your mind.
1. Create a dramatic backdrop for art. This clever plaster and acrylic art by Peter Buchman is the focal point of the room, drawing the eye up over the low bed. It pops thanks to the black wall behind it and the exposed white brick that complements it.
2. Play with the light. We’ve talked of the amazing bright light in Australia in our other black-themed ideabooks, and this Sydney bedroom shows it well. The dark paneled wall puts the focus on the glass wall, and the sunlight reflects off it beautifully. When you take a second look at this photo, check out how the shadows on the lighter surfaces compare with the bright light reflecting off the dark wall.
3. Pull together a collected look. There are a lot of eccentric touches in this room. The black background pulls together the colored glass chandelier, upholstered headboard, lantern, gold chair and prints in a way that seems cohesive, collected and uncluttered. I wasn’t sure I’d find a room with all black walls that looked downright cozy until I saw this photo.
4. Make a headboard stand out. A fanciful headboard in white contrasts sharply with the black-on-black wall covering, whose damask pattern complements the headboard’s silhouette.
5. Treat black as a neutral. Black is certainly not the first color that comes to mind when we mention neutrals. Yet these walls take a back seat to the other colors in the room while looking anything but boring. Matching the black in the trellis-patterned drapes keeps them from looking too busy, while the architectural pediment has a strong presence against the wall. Somehow the tans and spicy hues seem even warmer against black walls.
Paint color: Beluga, Behr
Paint color: Beluga, Behr
6. Give a blah boxy apartment bedroom some character. In this home, designer Dayka Robinson painted the headboard wall black, then added a mix of patterns to enliven the room. When pulling photos for this ideabook, I noticed a lot of designers were pairing deep purple, plum, lavender, eggplant and aubergine with black with striking results.
By the way, if you’re planning to paint a bedroom wall black in your rental, check with your landlord first — or plan on going through some serious primer and paint before you move out.
Paint color: Onyx, Benjamin Moore; duvet: West Elm; ikat pillow fabric: Kelly Wearstler; stools: Pier One; Parsons desk: West Elm; bulletin board: HomeGoods (customized with nailheads by the designer)
By the way, if you’re planning to paint a bedroom wall black in your rental, check with your landlord first — or plan on going through some serious primer and paint before you move out.
Paint color: Onyx, Benjamin Moore; duvet: West Elm; ikat pillow fabric: Kelly Wearstler; stools: Pier One; Parsons desk: West Elm; bulletin board: HomeGoods (customized with nailheads by the designer)
7. Make the bedscape cozy. This wingback bed and light bedding create an inviting nest amid a sea of black.
Paint: Pitch Black, Farrow & Ball
Paint: Pitch Black, Farrow & Ball
8. Let a subtle texture shine. The light picks up the glazed Venetian plaster treatment on this wall, and it changes with the weather and the time of day.
9. Bring in the Hollywood glam. This look is pulled off by the designer’s use of a strict palette of black, white and “greige” with a few metallic, mirrored and crystal accents. The white trim on the molding, bed and black-and-white photos maximizes the contrast with the black paint and lets the gorgeous crystal chandelier steal the spotlight.
10. Update a traditional home in a way that respects its history. In this refurbished Victorian-era home in England, black fills the house with a glamorous, modern feeling while still honoring the home’s style and spirit. The headboard and chandelier nod to earlier times, but their black coloring adds an updated twist.
Here is the other end of this room, where black accents continue the color palette. Note the texture that the screen, bed and rug add. And don’t miss that beautiful paneled door with its black and silver knob.
Tell us: So what do you think? Do you already have black in your bedroom and love it? Are you considering it after seeing these photos? Or is black still the last color you’d use on your bedroom walls? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Rethinking the Master Bedroom
Houzz Quiz: What Color Should You Paint Your Bedroom Walls?
Tell us: So what do you think? Do you already have black in your bedroom and love it? Are you considering it after seeing these photos? Or is black still the last color you’d use on your bedroom walls? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Rethinking the Master Bedroom
Houzz Quiz: What Color Should You Paint Your Bedroom Walls?
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This is my absolute favorite photo of a black bedroom
@skunst2017, Ohhhh, which famous person from throughout all of history would that bedroom be best suited for? Gaga?