I belong to several decorating groups on Facebook and I see more and more creations that dare to use black on a whole wall, on all the furniture in a kitchen, on the tiles in a shower… “Black is black” sang our national Johnny, but black is never as black as we think! It can be “crow’s wing” black with a blue tint, “walnut stain” black with brown highlights, or “graphite” black with silver-grey highlights. Just look at the success of the paintings of Pierre Soulages, the inventor of outrenoir.
Black is interesting for creating intimate, cocoon-like spaces. Did you know that black also makes rooms look thinner? It gives the sensation of shrinking the space, like all dark tones. But be careful, too much black in a room and you’ll feel melancholy. It’s a fabulous foil when combined with other colours: it works well with everything, whether it’s bright or pastel.
Black likes to be paired with white, a very classic but still trendy duo. It also likes neutral tones: grey, beige… It also likes yellow, but this is a very contrasting combination, which will not be suitable for resting rooms. For a less marked contrast, combine it with orange.
Finally, choose a matt black, with a satin paint finish.