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When it comes to choosing a neutral paint color that’s versatile enough to transcend time and trend, white seems the obvious choice. But over the past few years, designers have proposed an unexpected alternative: black. Don’t let its dark and bleak reputation fool you: Black paint has the same lasting versatility as its lighter counterparts—not to mention that it can give a lot of space. And when applied within the right layout, a few fresh coats can make a room look surprisingly bright, airy and spacious, making them a great choice for kitchens, powder rooms, and anywhere else that could use a little oomph.
But as the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder – and black paint is no exception. With so many subtle tones available, choosing the right shade for a project is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. So it’s no surprise that once a designer finds a shade that checks all the boxes, it becomes a stepping stone for all kinds of projects. On a trip to the dark side of the color spectrum, AD PRO spoke to 11 designers about how to go black.
This Forbes + Masters-designed bedroom takes an exciting turn with black walls.
Photo: Forbes + Masters
Leather Behr Limousine
Monet Masters, Tavia Forbes, Forbes + Masters
The great thing about Behr’s Limousine Leather is that it’s a true black that doesn’t carry any undertones of blue or brown.
Green kitchens are in vogue—but a black kitchen, like this one designed by Nina Magon, is here to stay.
Photo: Bar Bingson
Black Magic by Sherwin Williams
Nina Magoon
Black Magic from Sherwin-Williams is a great choice if you’re looking for true black. This color is great because it feels bold and soft with a timeless and sophisticated edge. It really adds a bold dose of drama to any space you apply it to!
Another black kitchen, this time by Philip Thomas, who prefers the cheat-hearted color to Benjamin Moore.
Photo: Michael Mundy / Courtesy Philip Thomas
The Heart of Cheating by Benjamin Moore
Philip Thomas
Benjamin Moore’s Cheating Heart is my all-time favourite. Not only is the name captivating, but the color as well. Although it is a very dark color, it is full of pigments that reflect and emit light, making even the smallest of angles look luminous and bright. In fact, I love this shade so much, I used it when designing my sister’s apartment in New York.
Interior by Gioi Tran, where black is used strategically for a dynamic and formal feel.
Pictured: Christopher Stark
Off-Black by Farrow & Ball
Joy Tran, Applegate Tran Interiors
We find that saturating a room with one color really increases the space – it prevents your eyes from picking up the ceiling and walls as separate levels, and divides the space geometrically (which can be annoying). The uniformity of covering all surfaces with one color translates the area into one cohesive environment.
For this project in Atherton, California, we painted the dining room at Farrow & Ball’s No. 57, Off-Black. This shade of black has just enough warmth to feel like a deep graphite and takes the black to a warmer, richer, and more complex tone. The ceiling, cladding, walls, and doors are painted in this one color, with the walls in a modern emulsion and the trim and paneling in eggshell for a subtle sheen.
A powder room from Breegan Jane proves that black bathrooms can feel cheerful when paired with the right fixtures.
Photo: Ryan Garvin
Black Onyx from Glidden
Brigan Jen
I love Glidden’s Onyx Black because it’s deep and moody. People think that drawing something dark makes things look smaller, but the opposite is actually true.
Kelly Wearstler prefers her black shade produced with Farrow & Ball, called Tar.
Photo: Trevor Tondrow
Tar from Farrow and Bowl
Kelly Wearstler
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