Embrace soft black soft furnishings
When we think of black sofas we imagine leather, but what about a sofa in black fabric? Because black tends to be harsh, soften it up with our soft, woven texture of Bramley FR fabric in Charcoal. A black sofa can add verve to a room, but if it feels too much, a soft, black throw or beanbag can make a room look super stylish and comfy at the same time.
Use black as a backdrop
Black walls aren’t all doom and gloom, they can actually make things vibrant! As a background colour, black can enhance the brightness of other colours. Any colourful furnishings will pop against a black wall - this includes green plants.
Our Levande Velvet Fabric is a great example of this colour contrast. This sumptuous fabric looks beautiful as curtains or used as an upholstery fabric.
Choose dark fabrics that are textured
Dark or black fabrics containing flecks of other colours can help break up the severity of the black. This kind of fabric on a large piece of furniture, like a sofa, for example, is ideal because sofas are often the centrepiece of a room and a sofa in jet-black fabric might be a little too jarring if it doesn’t blend with the rest of your decor.
Our Eco Fabric in grey not only fits the bill but is the environmentally friendly option, having been made entirely from recycled cotton.
Accent a wall
If painting all the walls black seems too much (and depending on the size of the room, sometimes it can be), then just opt for one or two, keeping the rest white or cream. Having just one black wall creates a focal point and the contrast can also help the room seem spacious.
Which wall to choose? It all depends on where you want the focus to be drawn. Some good ideas for black accent walls include the chimney breast in the living room or the wall behind the headrest in the bedroom.
Pair black with ambient light
Black walls and furniture can be dramatic and chic, but they do absorb light. To counter this, and make the space cosy, be sure to include extra lighting. This doesn’t just have to be in the form of artificial lighting, but anything that is a point of light. For example, candles, mirrors or any metallic, reflective fittings or furnishings work really well.
Black in the dining room
Dining rooms tend to lend themselves more to a black colour scheme than living rooms or bedrooms - and not only because they hide spillages and stains! Black walls and bright soft furnishings make for a cosy and intimate dining setting. Be mindful of going too far and making it feel oppressive: use wood furniture to break up the space.
