Dark Drama
Once the daring choice, black is fast earning its design classic stripes
‘Gilt mirrors, elegant light pendants, fabulous shaped radiators and coloured brassware can all be combined to create a wonderful metallic contrast against dark and dramatic black walls’
Ben Smith, senior product manager, Kohler UK
Just like that LBD in your wardrobe, a black bathroom can be updated and refreshed to ensure tiring of the look is never an option. This year, we’re not holding back – go all black, or go home. It’s not an approach for the faint-hearted, but it is guaranteed to impress. ‘Going for full coverage takes black from play-it-safe monochrome to a completely new statement,’ says Claire O’brien, head of design and product at British Ceramic Tile. ‘We’re talking gentleman’s club luxe, invoking the feel of a moody, masculine sanctuary with a nod to minimalist living – think Art Deco made 21st century.’
Going top-to-toe black needn’t be as severe as you might imagine. Work in a textural element – the latest matt black tiles and sanitaryware take their leads from the motor industry and possess a velvety-soft appeal. For glinting colour, introduce warm metals or opalescent tiles . The glass enamel finish on traditional zellige tiles is great for a bit of shimmer amid the darkness. Do it right, and you can enjoy a black bathroom that hits you between the eyes with its brilliance and is comforting enough to encourage lingering. But be careful: once you’ve committed to the dark side, an obsession with all things black will soon be hardwired into your DNA. You have been warned.