There is an old saying which is that every room can use a “touch of black.” This is true if the room is primarily white. The color black can add a focal point that grounds and adds a sophisticated look to a room. The best places to add a touch of black to aroma are in the trims of rugs or linens or curtains, in pillows, rugs or in a single black piece such as a black vase or black ottoman.
A bit of a black can give drama and sophistication to any color of décor but to get a really great effect make sure it is contrasted with a white room? This can lead to a very contemporary look if you are companioning black and white with a lot of metallic fixtures and furniture but originally this type of style was called Country French.
If you do not like the Tuxedo or Zebra effect that can come from using a lot of black and white décor then you can also accent areas that are yellow, cream, red or purple with swaths of black to create a striking looking interior. The darker the colors, such as navy or royal purple, the more elegant the effect will be. The lighter the colors are to contrast against the white, such as an aqua and black, the more whimsical it will be. Kitchens and bathrooms look best in the whimsical style as do fifties retro rooms. The darker colors contrasted with black are more associated with the eighties especially emerald green or crimson red combined with black. Deep purple and black is more of a Goth look from the mind nineties and pink and black is associate with the early part of the first decade of this century as well as the 1930s.
One way to gently incorporate touches of black into your décor is to install a black and white tiled floor. You do not have to go for the checkered look; an occasional strategically placed black tile is usually enough to do the trick. You can also add black to a kitchen or bathroom by installing black tiles on a backsplash or in the shower. Sometimes all you need to liven up a bathroom is black towels or a black shower curtain.
When adding black to a bedroom stick to pillows, curtains and maybe the bed spread or sham. The best black and white prints to use for a contemporary stylish effect are florals and plaids.