Black and White and Effortlessly Chic

Black and White and Effortlessly Chic

Summer may be high time for bright hues and elegant florals, but right now many of the leading fabric designers across the globe are crushing on the timeless color combination of black and white. The effortlessly chic pair is making a big splash in the industry having been widespread at the spring furniture market, displayed in full page spreads in design magazines and being showcased in new fabric motifs and wall color palettes from some of our favorite upholstery manufacturers. Bold and beautiful, these two vibrant neutrals bring punch to any room and create a striking interior canvas.

Read on for tips and tricks on how to best take advantage of the black and white combo in your own home décor to achieve an elegant yet dramatic abode.

Accenting Colors

Given that black and white are bold hues on their own, any accent colors in the room should be added with a minimalist approach in mind. Choose one to two colors at most to bring a focal point or eye-catching statement to the design. Greens, golds, pinks and yellows are tried and true pairing options. Incorporate your color of choice by way of flowers, linens or accent pillows and throws. For a more pulsating design, keep the walls and furniture black and white and incorporate a punchy yellow or green lounger or oversized rug underfoot.

Keep it Clean and Crisp

For the effortlessly chic design, black and white rooms are best showcased when clean and crisp. Choose the starkest blacks and whites for the most dramatic contrast and stray away from including any muddy greys or off whites in the overall design. For instance, choose bright white bed linens and deep glossy black bedroom furniture. Paint the room in a crisp white with an accenting wall with striped black and white wallpaper and choose black tile with an over-sized white lush area rug. For added measure, pair an accent chair in a contrasting paisley pattern in a corner.

Geometric Influence

When scouring black and white designs for inspiration, you’ll notice a common trend: geometric patterns. Most notably on accent walls or in the tile, geometric patterns are found in nearly every room design. Pair a feminine motif wall paper with a stark black table setting in a dining room or breakfast nook or make use of dramatic vertical lines in a powder room, foyer or closet by means of upholstered chairs, drapery or wall paint.

Start Small

While living rooms and bedrooms are chic spaces to showcase a love for the timeless color combo, smaller spaces such as bathrooms and foyers are perfect places to choose black and white as the main color scheme. If you are hesitant to do a larger room, start by dressing these smaller spaces with a few accenting pieces of contrasting furniture to see if the design style suits you.

For some design room inspiration, see some of our favorite black and white schemes below from Schumacher. For more styling ideas, read our post about Art Deco design where the use of use of black and white is a common trend.