








Don’t shy away from black! No it’s not too dark for your space and actually your place might look better if you pop it in here and there. Black is actually a neutral tone that is a natural color. Just like in fashion it flatters! The contrast adds dimension and makes a room feel more grounded. Black looks really good with all colors, whites, and grays. My favorite look is the matte black look. It doesn’t look to dark because it’s so soft and it instantly turns anything super chic.
If you have a home on the more masculine or modern side, it may be easy to put a pop of black, but for those who want to incorporate black and don’t know how here are five tips:
A chalk board wall or even a framed chalk board will give you that calming black that can really be the think you need in a space. This technique doesn’t really work with colored chalk boards. This is also multi functional. You can draw a cool design or write reminders on the board.
2) Paint a large furniture piece black
Yes, paint a large furniture piece black. This can help remove those bulky built ins wardrobes from sticking out so much by camouflaging them into your space. I would also consider painting your Island black as well because that often is the largest piece in a home sometimes.
3) Paint a door black.
Paint the doors inside your home black or repaint the front door black. This isn’t that spooky or weird for doors to be black. It won’t look odd and will really make your hallways more calming.
4) Pop in a patterned rug with black in it
Sometimes something as simple as a patterned rug is all you need to bring in the color black. Rugs with black designs are perfect to create interest yet not overwhelm a space.
5) Lampshades and lamps
If anything, this is a really easy simple tip to put black in your home easily. Just a pop of this in your lighting area will bring in the color you need!
6) Chair legs!
Repaint chair legs to a black. This is also very simple and could be what you needed to get the uniformed and polished look into the room.
7) Your Sink Faucet!
A friend of mine recently installed a black faucet and I love that idea. A clean kitchen can handle a black faucet. That is such a simple and great way to utilize black in your space.
Where else have you put the color black into your space? Are you inspired to try black now?
Thank you for reading!
-Kari
*******All photos came from Pinterest.com/ they didn’t have sourcing, if these are yours let me know*********
Starting out fresh is a great feeling. Moving into a new home is one of those feelings. but what happens when you’re stuck with a home still left with a previous owners design? What are your options? Where do you turn to?
My client Debbie reached out to me for a paint consultation. The homes color scheme was very yellow. Yellow walls, warm colored tile, and orange cabinets. Super outdated, and I could see that she was super lost. This was not her style but she didn’t really know where to go. I picked out a color for her walls to update her home, but I could tell she wasn’t going to be as happy if she didn’t give her new home the best design. Painting walls and picking floors is a great start for great design, but sometimes you need to bring out the design guns when you can. I called out a designer I work and came up with a color pallet. I then used that color pallet to repaint large furniture pieces in her home that were focal points in her home. I stained a table, plastered a beautiful fireplace, and repainted a console.
The transformation started with taking this table and turning it way darker. Dark stains can add a certain richness that some vacant spaces may need.
Next, I wanted to tackle her fireplace. This is an architectural piece that needed to not be so plain and basic. We took the plaster all the way up to the wall making the room feel a lot taller and spacious.
I repainted her sideboard/ buffet in her dining room to match the dinning room table I stained. I also painted it to go with her new color pallet and fabrics a lot easier.
You can watch how the transformation and see how I painted this in my quick little YouTube video below:
After everything was refinished, painted, fabrics put into place, and her new decor all set in, the home was looking incredible!
If you are feeling a little overwhelmed in a new home or space please don’t hesitate to get the best design! A new home is the perfect place to start because there is so much room to grow into.
Stay happy and creative friends,
-Kari