The title might surprise you, but it’s the truth. Just a touch of black can make any spring colour, like yellow and green, pop in a room thanks to the magic of contrast. See how.
Even a hint of black can improve the look of any room by providing more depth to the dominating colour. Orange, yellow and pink are all the more vivid when paired with black.
Others will say, on the contrary, that a touch of black will tone down any overbearing colour. It helps to soothe plenty of bold colours that can be irritating over time. It’s a fact. Black will mellow down any colour proclaiming to be overpowering.
This trace of black can be a trim molding halfway up the wall or a crown molding, a door, an entire staircase or parts of it, the woodwork, a curtain, the upholstery fabric, the ceiling beams, the den, a lampshade, a wrought-iron structure, a strip of wallpaper or a screen.
One thing is certain, a neutral colour is not as drab when paired with black. Think about beige or grey, for instance. If you are afraid the room will look monotonous, add a touch of black and the ambiance is instantly uplifted.
Even in small doses, black creates a spectacular effect because it adds a hint of luxury to any room. Add a black rattan piece, or maybe a black sofa or a black upholstered armchair to spring colours and you will see the room take on a whole new look. Plus, no other colour can define a space with a linear and geometric design like the colour black.
Black can create interesting colour schemes for every room. Take, for example, one side of a bathroom painted in black and the other in lime green with a white linoleum floor. Or a kitchen painted in bold ochre with a few specks of black accents: the cupboards, the counter tops and the stools. Or a bedroom where black furniture makes the turquoise or apple green paint on the walls pop. Or a living room where a very impressive black cabinet stands next to a purple upholstered armchair and grey walls.
Beyond just a trace of black, the colour still plays the same role when painted on a big surface. A black floor can make any wall colour stand out. Imagine the following contrasts: black walls with white woodwork, silverware on a black tablecloth, a black surface next to a white brick wall. Featured somewhere: black flames creeping up a white wall.
It would be false to say that black is a depressing colour. It’s a matter of knowing how to use it to give more audacity to your favorite colours.
Images: iStock.com
