DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK
Black can be a polarising colour in interior design. Too often we think it will create dark oppressive rooms, or that it should be used only by rebellious teenagers.
But black can be a powerful colour, able to transform ordinary spaces into something dramatic, interesting and glamorous. When used as an accent colour, black can really amplify other shades and show them off at their best.
Consider your space
Generally speaking, painting a lot of black will make in small rooms feel more enclosed. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It can be great if you want a snug, sitting area in winter, a media room or even a cocooning bedroom. In some cases painting walls dark can also make the walls recede slightly so the room will feel cosy rather than overwhelming.
In larger rooms black can be a useful tool in managing the scale of the space. Painting or staining your floor black, or painting black about a third of the way up the wall, will help anchor your space and prevent furniture from becoming lost.
Absolute matt black painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat will give your space an almost suede-like finish that adds luxury
and softness to a room, whereas the highgloss finish of Resene Enamacryl will bounce more light around and can appear quite sleek and glamorous.
Off-black
Remember not all blacks are created equal. Just like white, which can veer towards creamy yellows, or cooler bluegreys, black can come in shades of “offblack” that tint towards deep browns such as Resene Black Magic, charcoal greys like Resene Bokara Grey, blues such as Resene Bastille and even greens with hues like Resene Swamp.
Opting for some of these alternatives to a true black like Resene All Black or Resene Black can open the spectrum in terms of what other colours are going to work best with your chosen black. For example, burnt oranges work very well with blue-toned blacks, mustard-toned yellows will be dramatic against charcoal hues, and brown-blacks will make cherry reds pop.
Soften the edges
Whether you’re using a jet black or an almost-black, and whether you’re using it as your main backdrop colour or as a highlight there are lots of ways of softening the impact.
If you have furniture, flooring or fittings in a wood finish, consider staining some with Resene Colorwood Pitch Black or a similar dark shade like Resene Colorwood Dark Ebony. Even on walls a dark stain still gives you the drama and impact of a black palette, but allows the wood grain to show through.
Another way to soften the edges of a black colour scheme is to use different textures and finishes around the room. Think about faux fur or wool, velvets and suede in curtains, rugs and throws.
Classic plus
One of the most common and classic ways to use black in an interior is, of course, black and white. It’s a classic for a reason — it’s smart, sophisticated and doesn’t ever really date. To put your own twist on that classic, you could pair your black with more stony, beige and cream neutrals instead of a classic white. Try Resene Quarter Tea, Resene Biscotti or Resene Double Thorndon Cream.
Go further afield and switch in a pale pastel for your white. Try soft pink Resene Wafer or Resene Duck Egg Blue.
Black works well with metallics to emphasise their glimmer and shine. Instead of classic gold or silver, try a deep copper or bronze.
Black and yellow make an eyecatching combination, but to avoid the bumblebee connotations try a deep bluehued black like Resene Nero with a moody chartreuse yellow like Resene Funk. You could even add an unexpected pop of violet with Resene Lip Service.
Charcoal blacks and green are another classic combination. Keep it modern with layers of tonal greens like sage Resene Envy and pastel Resene Edgewater.
When it’s dark outside
Black and its related dark shades have been a popular choice for home exteriors for a while now. Resene Bokara Grey is particularly popular for exteriors as it’s very adaptable. It can skew slightly brownhued when paired with creamy neutrals, or it can appear more charcoal grey against brighter, cool-based whites.
The number one thing to think about when using a dark exterior colour is to ask for a Resene CoolColour that will help reflect more of the sun’s heat than a standard version of the colour, which will keep the paint and surface cooler reducing the risk of damage.
■ For more ideas and inspiration, see your local Resene ColorShop.