Best Paint Colors
45 Rooms That Prove Black Walls Are More Versatile Than You Think
Published on September 17, 2020
Deep and dramatic, black walls never fail to make a statement. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be livable, too. Designers use inky paint, tile and wallpaper to bring sophisticated style to rooms, and make furniture and accents stand out. If you’ve been toying with the idea of going over to the dark side, check out 45 of our favorite spaces with beautiful black walls.
Take a page from designer’s Judith Gougeon handbook and create an accent wall with all of your favorite knick knacks and mementos. The wall’s dark hue makes the rich reds and patterned pillows pop.
Farrow & Ball’s Railings (31) feels like a warm hug in designer Danielle Nicholas Bryk and her husband Greg’s principal bedroom. “It’s a great backdrop for boho elements and is very cocoon-like,” she says. “I think this bedroom really does symbolize the ultimate escape for us.”
Beachy accents take a turn to the dark side in this Toronto home, thanks to a coat or two of moody paint. Artist Alex Katz’s Ariel bright red print is the perfect addition to the otherwise neutral living room.
“It’s quite an open, airy house and there’s so much light that I thought it could afford a black room,” says designer Montana Burnett of the dramatic dining room, swathed in Benjamin Moore’s Jet Black (2120-10). “When you have a black room and then a white room, it’s beautiful.”
The principal ensuite exudes California cool with lightly worn wood cabinets and woven pendants made out of sustainable maple wood. What takes it up a notch is the hits of black: the hexagon floors, statement wall and chic accessories.
Reminiscent of chalk drawings on a blackboard, this eye-catching wallpaper feels right at home in this ultra-cool bedroom. A mid-century modern-style side table softens the high-contrast palette.
In this monochromatic condo’s petite entryway, a custom wallpaper by Drop It Modern sets the tone for the rest of the home. There’s no need to decorate the walls when you have a print this impactful.
The living room is anything but builder-basic, thanks to a statement wall adorned in a jet black hue. A playful quote injects the space with a youthful feel.
Even though a backlit onyx headboard steals the show in this luxurious Toronto bedroom, a black wall provides a place for the eye to rest.
Ugandan baskets — both in black and white and a mellow yellow — create an eye-catching 3D display in this global guest bedroom, especially with a moody grasscloth wallpaper as the backdrop.
See the rest of this colorful abode on H&H TV.
Black walls, marble-tiled floors and a shower enclosure with contrast piping make this principal bathroom dark and dramatic, while the light wood cabinet adds softness and warmth.
Designer Sarah Baeumler created an intimate “speakeasy” in the lower level of the Spring 2020 Princess Margaret Showhome. An electric turquoise sofa gives the adults-only hangout zest and personality.
With the addition of millwork detailing, Farrow & Ball’s Railings (31) transforms neutral linens and natural wood furniture into a cozy year-round retreat.
If you want to dip your toe into the black wall trend, try painting only halfway up the wall. Black Beauty (2128-10) by Benjamin Moore showcases the architectural nook in this guest bedroom/media room.
Kelly Wearstler’s Graffito wallpaper is definitely a bold choice for a bedroom, but when paired with white linens and a charcoal gray bed frame, it doesn’t overpower. Moody hues actually encourage better sleep because it creates a cocooning feeling.
Designer Shirley Meisels used Universal Black (2118-10) by Benjamin Moore to make her collection of framed art stand out.
A coat of Benjamin Moore’s Deep Caviar (2130-20) draws the eye to the handsome trim and mantelpiece in Alison Jeffery’s home.
In her own kitchen, designer Danielle Nicholas Bryk added a layer of texture with a wall of snake skin-patterned tiles by Walker Zanger.
Walls painted in Behr’s Black Suede (S-H-790) bring a bit of sophistication to Anne Côté’s bucolic country home.
Designer Colette van den Thillart’s bathroom is a dramatic end-of-day retreat thanks to black seagrass wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries.
Design duo Les Ensembliers, no strangers to daring style, opted for Onyx (2133-10) by Benjamin Moore to give this principal bedroom a rich, cocooning feel.
Designer Erika Floysvik went for a high-contrast color scheme in her modern home, pairing crisp white kitchen cabinetry with walls in Benjamin Moore’s Jet Black (2120-10).
Ebonized wall panelling makes a fine backdrop for Barry and Debra Campbell’s stunning artwork in their refined Toronto home.
A wall painted in Black Satin (2131-10) by Benjamin Moore lends definition to designer Ines Mazzotta’s entryway.
Ines opted for a chalkboard formula of the same shade, Black Satin, in her son Jake’s bedroom, letting him pay tribute to his favorite bands.
In this home by Michelle Lloyd Bermann and Christine Ralphs, a black wall draws the eye into the dining room, creating a dramatic sense of depth.
Designer Meredyth Hilton opted for bold black subway tile from Olympia Tile & Stone in her own kitchen. “I like my interiors to have strong backdrops,” she says.
H&H editors Morgan Michener and Stacey Smithers created this pretty accent wall using a combination of Farrow & Ball’s Off-Black (57) and Slipper Satin (2004).
Ebonized wall panelling and a black door ensure a seriously dramatic first impression in designer Scott Yetman’s stylish home.
A large chalkboard-painted wall lets the whole family get creative in this airy kitchen designed by Selina van der Geest.
In this tailored living space, black-painted walls tie in nicely with a collection of framed black and white photography.
An airy wire-based chair and a simple, yet impactful, piece of artwork strike just the right balance in this moody black hallway.
A wall of inky hexagonal tile in this bathroom by designer Shirley Meisels sets it well apart from the crowd.
Willow (CC-542) by Benjamin Moore is a brown-tinged off-black that works beautifully with vibrant rugs and art.
Placed in front of black-painted walls, a set of shapely yellow vessels really pop.
A section of wall painted in Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty (2128-10) has a cool, graphic appeal in this principal bedroom.
Designer Sloan Mauran gave her mantel and fireplace wall real presence with a coat of rich black paint.
Designer Sophie Burke went with Farrow & Ball’s Off-Black (57) to bring a touch of drama to this light-filled bathroom.
A striking blackboard-painted wall makes a serious splash in this otherwise white kitchen by the designers at Powell & Bonnell.
Behr’s Black Suede (S-H-790) makes a foolproof partner for crisp white upholstery in Anne Côté’s eclectic living room.
If bold style is your aim, take your cue from designer Connie Braemer and coat an entire bathroom — trim, walls, window frame and tub — in deep black.
To make this elegant living room memorable, designer Brian Gluckstein mounted a panel of black Fromental wallpaper dotted with hand-embroidered silk flowers.
H&H editor Morgan Michener chose black chalkboard paint from Rust-Oleum to lend this boy’s room a bit of edge.
Slivers of black-painted wall balance out all the thick, white trim in this sunny eat-in kitchen by Elizabeth Margles and Joel Bray.
Dreamt up by H&H editors Morgan Michener and Lauren Petroff, this wall design delivers whimsy in spades.