Black and White: A Reemerging Home Design Trend

(StatePoint) Black and white always has been a classic color pairing, and this neutral palette has resurged as one of today’s hottest design trends.

Whether your look is modern or traditional, knowing how to properly use black and white can provide balance and boldness to a home. Here are some tips to help integrate this trend into your space.

• Create a Luxurious Living Room. They say the darker the wall color, the smaller the space feels -- but that’s not entirely true when black walls are paired with the right light accents. In the right instances, black and white go together like yin and yang, transforming living rooms into picture-perfect spaces.

“You can either go heavy on the black, with black painted walls or wallpaper, or make it the accent color and opt for white walls,” says Danielle DeBoe Harper, interior designer and senior creative content manager at Moen, a leading manufacturer of kitchen and bath fixtures. “In a white-heavy room, include touches like artwork in black frames, a black fireplace or a black painted floor and ceiling moldings. In a black-heavy area, use white trim and rugs to offset dark walls for a contemporary look, or organic wood accents to create a unique boho feel.”

In modern homes, DeBoe Harper recommends incorporating a pair of bold buffalo check chairs or large scale black and white photos. For a more traditional approach, she suggests using silk black and white striped curtains, or painting the ceiling in a black and white herringbone design.

• Turn up the Heat in Your Kitchen. Also known as entertaining central, your kitchen is the perfect location for some wow factor. The boldness of black and white will seriously impress your guests.

“A lot of homeowners want the clean kitchen look, so they’re afraid to bring in a dark, dramatic color,” says DeBoe Harper. “In reality, incorporating black cabinets or fixtures into an all-white kitchen can give it an upscale, current feel that’s still streamlined -- and doesn’t require cluttering your countertops with accent pieces.”

Consider combining a matte black faucet, such as Moen’s Sleek kitchen faucet, with a white backsplash and counters, or mixing black bentwood café chairs around a modern white tulip table for a more eclectic approach.

• Shower Your Bathroom with Style. Black and white can give your bathroom a clean, crisp look. Infuse black accents through a matte black faucet and coordinating accessories, like those from Moen’s Genta bathroom suite, or through black and white floor tiles in a geometric print. Towels also provide an opportunity to add texture and visual interest, whether it’s a modern floral or traditional houndstooth.

For a seriously eye-catching shower, install black and white striped tile. Keep the bathroom’s walls white, so the tiles really pop, expanding the stripes to the ceiling to emphasize the height of your bathroom walls and make it feel bigger -- the thinner the stripes, the bigger the statement.

“Integrating black and white makes your space feel sophisticated, yet playful and on trend,” adds DeBoe Harper. “Use these tips to achieve the ideal balance in your home.”