"Near-Black" Wall Paints are The Most Dramatic Way to Decorate for 2024 — Here's How Designers are Using Them
Incorporating splashes of black in your interior is a surefire way to add dramatic ambiance to your home - these are our five favorite examples of the trending shade in action
Black paint has an undeservedly bad rep. Many people are quick to dismiss the shade as too oppressive and dingy for walls - more fit for a dungeon than a living room. However, in reality, when done right, black paint can be a stunning statement addition to your home. It's no wonder interior designers are so obsessed with the shade at the moment - it's a trending color that infuses any room with a refined and dramatic ambiance.
And it might surprise you just how versatile black paint can be. Whether you decide to paint an entire room black to feel cocooned in cozy darkness or simply add a subtle splash of black paint as a crisp contrast to an otherwise light space, there are so many ways to play with the color and incorporate it tastefully into your home. We decided to showcase five of our favorite examples that clearly show why this paint color is trending.
1. This luxe living room
This stunning living room strikingly pairs black walls with brassy, neutral touches - the result is a space that exudes elegance. According to Brittany Hakimfar, interior designer and founder of Far Studio, black paint was the perfect complement to the delicate details in this space.
'The paint color is Off-Black by Farrow & Balland we love the look of a black room because it comes across with some depth. We also custom-designed the drywall niches as a special feature to add a display wall with vintage artefacts.
'The ceiling was clad in wood with original reclaimed beams. Mixing the black walls with a luxurious ochre velvet on the sofa and pillows that have a subtle stripe and pattern really make this space feel elevated and thought out.
'We love a black room and think that black walls give any space the perfect moody vibe when mixed with the right pieces.'
2. This enveloping dining room
Black walls serve as the perfect backdrop to the statement gold artwork and accompanying gold accents in this dining room. Black accents are threaded all throughout the first floor of this home - with standout features like a black swing and black console table contrasting beautifully with the otherwise light and airy interior.
Be The First To Know
The Livingetc newsletter is your shortcut to the now and the next in home design. Subscribe today to receive a stunning free 200-page book of the best homes from around the world.
In this room, black paint takes centerstage - it truly makes the artwork pop and proves that it is one of the most striking colors that go with gold.
'It was a deliberate decision to pull in dark walls into the dining room and make a dramatic space,' says Jessica Gersten, interior designer and founder of Jessica Gersten Interiors. 'The walls are done in plaster which gives an earthy feeling, not a stark black.'
3. This cozy study
This study was designed to feel world's away from the rest of the home - a zen haven designed for deep focus. The atmospheric and moody wall color drowns out the outside world in this space - cultivating the perfect work environment. Susannah Holmberg, interior designer and founder of Susannah Holmberg Studios, explains that the walls in this room were carefully thought out.
'The deep color in this home office is Training Wheels from Portola Paints, known for its 'black espresso tone'.
'I have found that we like to employ darker colors in office spaces because we find that they can inspire deep focus and thought,' she says.
'We also wanted to make sure that this space contrasted the other spaces in the home because it was a home office. This way when the homeowner enters the cozy dark space they feel a distinct shift from when they are in the rest of the home that is lighter and brighter. Allowing them to not physically but mentally move into a new space — a space that isn't for daily living but for work.'
4. This moody living room
This living room looks like it was taken straight out of a 1950s Golden Age Hollywood mansion while still feeling effortlessly contemporary. Benjamin Moore Temptation has truly come into its own here - the dramatic, enveloping black shade, combined with wood finishes, gives off a truly classic and rustic feel. This room is a showstopper fit for a film star, dripping in old-school glamor.
5. This tranquil home office
Finally, this slightly blue-tinged black is a subdued alternative to its more dramatic, deeper, true black counterpart and proves that dark color trends aren't slowing down any time soon. This matte near black is a less intense shade that is a great option for those among us keen to experiment with darker wall colors - it has a subdued and serene feel to it.
Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs says that a black shade with blue undertones makes for a calming and elegant addition to your home. 'Black with blue hues is beautifully displayed within this Hockaday client’s library,' she says. 'This paint is Deep River by Benjamin Moore.'
3 near-black paints to buy now
Katie is a freelance writer and MA student at City, University of London studying Magazine Journalism. Katie discovered her passion for lifestyle journalism after finishing her BA at The University of Oxford, when she started pitching to major lifestyle publications and covering various topics from popular culture to wellness. She is a regular contributor at Well+Good, where she writes experiment-based beauty and fitness pieces.
-
Outdoor Furniture Sales — How to Save on Patio Essentials This Year
Where, when, and what to buy for an elevated backyard. Consider this your insider guide to scoring the in this summer's outdoor furniture sales
By Julia Demer Published
-
This Outdoor Daybed is Going Viral — It's Probably the Most Comfortable-Looking Yard Furniture I've Seen This Year
Thanks to Instagram, I've stumbled upon what could be my new favorite way to lounge this summer... and you're going to be shocked at the price tag (in a good way)
By Brigid Kennedy Published
-
This Chunky Furniture Trend is Setting the Tone for a Playful New Way of Decorating — Here’s How to Style it
Flared-leg furniture is a smart way to mix up your contemporary scheme with an injection of fun
By Ellen Finch Published
-
Drew Barrymore's Small Kitchen Features an Oversized Hardware Trend That Makes a big Statement
The exaggerated detail brings a touch of whimsy to Drew's little kitchenette
By Lilith Hudson Published
-
7 Ways Designers Are Embracing Beautiful Marble in Furniture for 2024 — "This Trend Works in Every Room"
Marble details were everywhere at this year’s Milan Design Week, elevating pieces of furniture to luxurious new heights
By Raluca Racasan Published
-
"Colorful Tables" Are the Big Design Trend We Saw Everywhere at Milan Design Week — These Were Our Favorites
At Milan Design Week coffee tables bring a pop of color to interiors and look joyful in fun, geometric shapes that will instantly lift up any interior
By Raluca Racasan Published
-
The Surprising Color Trend From Milan Design Week 2024 Proves Pure White Furniture Is Back
Pure white had a notable presence at Salone del Mobile
By Raluca Racasan Published
-
The 9 Best Dining Tables At Salone del Mobile 2024 — Monumental Shapes Of Glass, Marble, And Metal
This year’s Milan Design Week is setting the tone for dining tables with a presence, in large sculptural shapes and made of the most exquisite materials
By Raluca Racasan Published
-
6 of the Most Important Kitchen Trends We Spotted at One of the World's Biggest Design Weeks
This year at EuroCucina in Milan brands revealed the future trends we should keep an eye on, from colored glass to reimagining terracotta
By Raluca Racasan Published
-
‘It’s not Barbie Whatsoever’ – This is the Exact Shade of Pink Interior Designers are Choosing Now
Subtle, delicate and sophisticated, this rosy hue is something of an underdog when it comes to 2024 color trends — here’s why designers love it
By Ellen Finch Published