Accent with Black
STORY AMANDA SHIELDS
PHOTOGRAPHY KEILY RAMOS and LARRY ARNAL
Black is definitely having a moment right now. There are a zillion different ways to insert black into your décor. Personally, I like using black as a stylish accent colour rather than an all-over application and since I almost always use white as my backdrop, it acts as a nice contrast and really anchors your overall design. A long time ago I learned the classic 60-30-10 rule for decorating, which says that 60 per cent of the room should be your dominant colour, 30 per cent should be your secondary colour and the last 10 per cent should be your accent colour. Now I’m not one to follow all the rules, but I do believe if black is your accent colour, it should be kept somewhere under 20 per cent, otherwise it’s going to come on too strong and you won’t consider it an accent. I’ve seen some very cool all-black rooms, complete with black ceiling and black trim, but that’s for another post.
Here are my favourite ways to use black as an accent:
1. Switch Up Your Cabinet Hardware And/Or Plumbing Fixtures
This is a great way to incorporate a little bit of black into any room without going overboard. Changing out your hardware is an easy and affordable way to make a quick update. Don’t be afraid to mix your metals. Just try to limit your metal finishes to no more than two per room.
TIP: Matte black looks great with brushed gold.
2. Paint Your Interior Doors
I absolutely love this idea because literally anybody can do it regardless of budget and it makes such an incredible statement. Black hides a lot of dirty, grimy little fingerprints. So, buy a can of black paint and get to it my friends. There are plenty of great tutorials online to help with your technique and choosing the right tools. A designer favourite is Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams and I’d go with a satin finish.
3. Go Dark With Art
You want to choose artwork that is heavy on the black. Simple right? There are lots of options out there ranging in price from high to low. Make a serious impact with something high contrast or go moody with an all-dark palette. Either way, tie it back to one or two of the other options on this list and your décor is going to look so pulled together people will think you hired a designer.
4. Change Up Light Fixtures
I especially like this option in the kitchen, but changing out light fixtures anywhere in the home is a great way to add some black. An all-white kitchen with black pendant lights is a rising trend. Even though there’s no sign of black anywhere else in the design, it just seems to work very well. That little hit of contrast gives a much more polished look by staying away from the dreaded “matchy-matchy.”
5. Paint An Accent Wall
I get that black is not the first colour that comes to mind for many when they are choosing paint colour for their home, but I would love you to reconsider. Just as white is a designer favourite, and literally goes with anything, I’d like you to consider black as the new neutral and try it out on an accent wall. It’s moody, dramatic, cosy and can anchor a room in the best way possible. It works best if the rest of the room is white and you keep your furniture on the lighter side, too. OH
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Amanda Shields is the creative director and principal designer for Amanda Shields Interiors.