Day in the Life
Black is the New Gray
I have been using gray tones in my staging designs over the past couple of years. Touted as a neutral, the past 10 years have been 50 Shades of Gray for interior design in general. Homeowners have been asked by their agents to repaint brightly hued rooms to more sensible, neutral, and safe grays. I certainly have been one of those agents with the can of gray paint in hand, but I have been venturing out to black and white color schemes. Just like my little black dress that is right for any and all occasions, the color black is a perennial favorite for designing - simply elegant and timeless.
Black can be cold if not used correctly. I tend to incorporate different textures and shades of black, typically using a matte paint finish. But when I want a piece to stand out, you gotta use high gloss black. You also need to pair it with other more tactile finishes like wood, plaster, stone, or metal to keep it from being cold.
Here are a few of my design tips when using black in your designs:
When using black, don’t use equally dark colors like navy or deep green or purple. These colors would lessen the bold impact of the black.
Use it sparingly as an accent. A little touch of black in each room like a black chair, vases, books, lamp shades or frames can go a long way.
Metal finishes are great when paired with black, like chrome or gold. Gold for a rich and traditional look and chrome for sleek and modern style.
You can have different styles of mismatched furniture but when all painted black, the room has a cohesive look.
For Hollywood Glamor, pair large gilded mirrors with a backdrop of black walls for a touch of drama.
Folks think that painting a room a dark color makes the room feel small. Actually dark paint makes a space feel larger because the room lines disappear.
Dark floors add drama with dark stain, black granite. Nothing says “classic” more than my favorite black and white tile floors in any pattern.
Grouping Objects D’art by either having a grouping of decorator objects against a black wall for the colors to pop or to have a grouping of all black colored books, vases, dishes or other art pieces for a dramatic presentation.
A can of black spray paint is your friend. I have taken gaudy figurines and transformed them into chic art masterpieces with a good can of high gloss jet black. I ask …. What can’t spray paint fix?
For a simple design with big architectural impact, arrange empty painted frames on a wall.
The black painted fireplace makes a dramatic focal point for the room.
A crisp black and white vignette is always a classic touch.
For architectural impact, simply use empty frames on a wall.
In classic black and white, bold art choices become more refined.
These two photos are very similar, but show what a difference a warm versus cool floor, as well as different pillows, and lamp/lamp shade combinations make.
These two photos are very similar, but show what a difference a warm versus cool floor, as well as different pillows, and lamp/lamp shade combinations make.
DIY your own large art installation (and save money by re-using or painting over artwork thrifted from Goodwill). This trio of canvases makes a bold statement.
Black and white tile doesn't always have to be in a checkerboard pattern. This Chevron pattern feels more high end.
One of my staging tricks is to incorporate the initials of my clients in every house that I do. Using classic black and white makes this easy to do with my alphabet inventory.
Any color really pops against a dark backdrop.
Another day in the life of a real estate agent. #RealtorOnTheGo
Other Day in the Life
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