Design Guide: The Best Black Paint Colors

May 24, 2016

Black has always been an essential decorating color and anyone that has worked with me knows that one of my design mottos is “every room needs a touch of black.” Over the years, black has gone from being used as just an accent color to being the dominant color for many rooms. I know that black walls or even black furniture aren’t for everyone but if you have a space that needs dramatic backdrop or a ceiling that you want to fade away, black just might be the color you need.

♦ THE BEST BLACK PAINT COLORS ♦

Black furniture has become a standard design statement and a coat or two of black paint is a great way to transform a vintage piece. In most cases, furniture painted black calls for a finish with a bit of shine so go with a gloss, semi-gloss or satin finish. {color: BM Black Satin}

Kiki’s List

Black stair banisters with white spindles is one of my favorite design details. If you’re looking for a quick and fairly easy update for your stairs, black paint is definitely something to consider and I recommend a semi-gloss or satin finish to make the details of the wood/design pop. One of my favorite black paint colors for banisters is Sherwin Williams Black Magic.

House Beautiful

Black require the right setting to be most effective including sufficient natural light. The black walls in this foyer space give the area a dramatic and elegant look without it feeling like a cave. {color: SW Tricon Black}

via Sherwin Williams

I think bathrooms are an ideal space for black paint. Surrounded by white surfaces and brass hardware, the black wall in this bathroom just fades away and allows the decorative elements to stand out. And since black and white tile is a hot trend these days, black walls are an easy compliment. {color: BM Soot}

Studio McGee

Black doors, both interior and exterior have almost become the norm for many homes. Black interior doors can make a hallway stand out and black exterior doors have a sophisticated feel and really pump up the curb appeal of a home. {color: BM Space Black}

Country Living

Favorite Paint Colors

Kristen from The Hunted Interior painted her living room ceiling black and boy is it stunning especially with all of the vibrant colors and metallic finishes that accessorize the room.

Hunted Interior

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Picking the right shade of black paint can be just as challenging as picking the right white paint color. Shades of black range from true, rich pigmented blacks to others that have a grey or even blue undertone. As I do with any color of paint, I recommend you buy a few sample jars and try the colors on your wall to find the one that works best with your room and decor. As a designer, I’ve tried my fair share of black paint colors and have narrowed down my top picks and my favorites to just a handful which might help you in your paint search.

If you have white trim in your home and are looking to paint your walls black, a crisp white will work best. You can read about my favorite white paint colors by clicking the image below.

Accent Walls: Then and Now

July 29, 2014

Today I’m talking about a design trend that I’m sure most of us have tried at one time or another when decorating and that trend is Accent Walls. I remember the first time I saw a room with a painted accent wall . It seemed kinda odd that someone would paint just one wall. Then I remember seeing a painted ceiling for the first time and I thought that was even odder. Today, I think paint and decorative wall treatments are one of the easiest and more affordable ways you can create drama for a room.

Remember when accent walls were just a solid color? That was then…

via

This is now...the design trend of accent walls has evolved into something much better!

Exquisite paint treatments…

Abstract Paint

Chevron Stripes

Polka Dot Wall

Stylish wallpaper…

Patterened Wallpaper

Wallpaper Panels

Rustic wood accents…

Wood Planks

Chevron Wood

Stunning stenciled treatments

Stenciled Circles

Stenciled Diamonds

One of my go-to design sources for diy wall accents is Royal Design Studio. If you haven’t checked out this site before it is filled with amazing stencil designs, Wallternatives wall decals and removable wallpaper.

And if you’ve never tried stenciling before, they have a great how-to section on their site to show you how to stencil on walls, floors, ceilings and fabric.

Here are a few of my favorite stencil and wall decal designs…

Boxwood Trellis stencil

Feathered Damask stencil

Cheetah Spots stencil

Chez Sheik stencil

Star Diamond Moroccan stencil

Ribbon Lattice stencil

Budquette removable wallpaper

Bee Sweet removable wallpaper

Shine Bright wall decal

Rose Bouquet wall decal

So when it comes to accent walls, what’s your favorite wall treatment…paint, stencil or wall decals? Leave me a comment and let me know.

this is not a sponsored post, I’m just sharing products I love sharing the products I love!

Design Details + Some Inspiration

August 11, 2011

I’ve been working on a design project over the last few months that has involved painting the walls and staircase, building out a home office, building built-in bookcases, re-doing bathrooms and re-modeling the kitchen.

Kitchen Before

via confettistyle

Kitchen in Progress

cabinets painted (Sherwin Williams Serious Grey), awaiting new backsplash and countertops

Most of the big projects are almost complete and now it’s time to focus on the details.

When designing a space, the details are the funnest part to me. Whether its drawer pulls, window treatments, pillows, lighting or textiles, it’s the details that really make a space come to life.

Here are a few rooms where attention to detail have made all the difference.

Ordinary window treatments would have been fine in this area, but the addition of rustic shutters take this area to a whole new level. Shutters are very popular right now and are a great alternative to fabric window treatments.

When it comes to tabletop decorating, the details really do matter. You want to arrange items so that you create movement within your display both vertically and horizontally, as well as front to back. The tall lamp is balanced by the iron sculpture and the arrangement flows easily from left to right.

Giving your floors a unique paint treatment is a great way to add interest to a space and tie multiple areas together. I love the herringbone pattern on this floor and the high gloss finish.

Walls usually get a coat of paint, but it most cases the detail stops there. Here, a scalloped picture frame border has been painted on the wall and used as the larger than life frame for this collection of smaller prints. So clever and stylish!

Lighting is a great way to add interesting detail to your home. Unique chandeliers, hung in multiples is such a refreshing approach to traditional pendant lights. And, you know my love for milk glass!

Adding in a hand-crafted furniture piece is a quick and easy way to add stylish detail to your home. A vintage table turned into a special place to write a message. It’s still functional, but personalized.

Love, Love, Love this ceiling medallion. The thickness, the carved detail, the scale… and set against a black ceiling. WOW! The black ceiling is an amazing detail in its on right.

Design details should grace every room of your home. This bedroom exudes special details, from the border on the night stands, wallpaper walls to the fully accessorized bench at the foot of the bed. Eye candy everywhere you look. And the space looks comfortable, relaxing and stylish.

Make a statement with your curtains and/or window treatments. Add detail with a unique pattern!

Love these roman shades.

Pillows are the optimum “detail” accessory. Mix and match colors, patterns, shapes and textures. A common color is all that is needed to tie it all together.

Add detail by doing something unexpected. I adore these upholstered walls with nail head trim. So sophisticated.

Or, paint an artist element on your walls. Wall stencils are all the rage and make this type of job easy.

Unique drawer pulls will update furniture or built-in cabinetry in a flash. Anthropologie and even Hobby Lobby carry a great selection of stylish knobs.

Accessorizing is all in the details. When accessorizing bookshelves or open shelves, use a variety of items, textures and materials to create a personalized statement. Larger scale items will create focal points and shiny finishes will add a bit of shine and glamour.