Black and white interior: unique features and 60 design examples.

Functionality of the interior in black and white colors

Using a contrasting color combination when decorating interiors is very convenient. This way, you can solve several problems at once.

• Zoning. Highlighting individual functional zones in a studio apartment is simplified. For example, the walls in the living room can be white, and in the kitchen – black. In addition, using opposite colors for furniture in each zone will visually tie the interior into a single whole, preventing it from falling apart.
• Correction of shape. The room does not always have ideal proportions. Black and white colors in the interior solve opposite problems: white makes objects larger and expands the space, black, on the contrary, makes it smaller. Using these colors on the corresponding sections of the walls, you can visually correct the shape of the room – expand it, make it narrower, visually “raise” or “lower” the ceiling. Using black and white stripes or spirals will enhance such effects and even completely change the perception of space.

Tip: An interior in black and white tones is very sensitive to nuances. Even small details begin to play an active role. For example, white handles against the background of black surfaces of cabinets turn into a bright decorative element. Blinds on white windows, edging of recessed lamps on the ceiling – all these details, unnoticeable in other cases, come to the fore if the color pair black and white is used for them.

Designer: Ksenia Pedorenko. Photographer: Svetlana Ignatenko.

Black and white interior design style

The classic color combination of white and black is appropriate in any interior. It is only important to play it up correctly.

• For the styles of the “classic” direction, beige tones can be chosen as additional colors.
• High-tech, techno, minimalism are the most suitable styles for a black and white color combination. Silver-metallic tones can be used as additional ones.
• Black and white also finds application in ethnic styles. Zebra skin, clear stripes will help to create the impression of the African savannah, if you complement them with terracotta tones.
• This combination is irreplaceable in Japanese interiors – red will be appropriate as a third color here.
• The black and white range is practically not used in Provence or “shabby chic” interiors, but individual elements of these colors are quite acceptable.
• In the loft interior, black and white are complemented by gray or “brick” color.
• And Scandinavian interiors use a light wood tone as an additional one.

The interior of a room in black and white can be quite sharp, or it can be soft and calm, it all depends on what ratio of primary and secondary colors you choose, and what accent colors you use. It should be taken into account that in the case of using colors that do not contain color as such, any, even the palest color shades already look quite bright. Thus, even pastel colors can become accent colors.

Furniture for an interior in black and white tones

The interior of a room in black and white tones requires the right choice of furniture color. It can be white, black, or natural wood color, both light and dark. All these options will look quite harmonious.

It is necessary to take into account that black furniture on a black background will be practically invisible, and vice versa, on a white one it will stand out in great contrast. In this way, you can get unexpected visual effects that change the perception of space. For example, a black sofa against a black wall will be completely invisible, and the white upholstery of the chair seat, the rest of which is painted black, will seem to hang in the air. By combining such effects with rhythmic patterns of carpets or wallpaper, you can create interesting optical illusions.

White furniture looks very festive against a black background, and black on white – graphic and stylish. Combinations of white and black furniture in one room look interesting, for example, in the bedroom you can put black bedside tables with a white bed – this combination looks impressive against any background.

Combination of black and white in the interior with other colors

Adding different colors gives the room a mood and “temperature”, since black and white by themselves can be called sterile in this regard.

• Yellow-red tones of the warm part of the spectrum add sunlight and cheerfulness, they contribute to increased appetite, good functioning of the endocrine glands, and an optimistic mood. Bright yellow and orange tones are not suitable for a quiet rest, so they are rarely used in the bedroom or living room, but for the kitchen this is the most suitable option.

• The middle part of the spectrum with green and blue-green tones, as well as the initial part of the cold blue range contribute to achieving a state of peace and relaxation, due to which it is more often used in living rooms and bedrooms.

• Dark blue and purple tones are more suitable for living rooms, especially those whose windows face the south side.

• Natural wood details soften contrasting interiors well. This could be flooring, storage systems, countertops. With their natural color, they harmonize the space and add warmth to it.

• In addition to the main and accent colors, additional ones are used in the interiors. Black and white walls in the interior are softened with either beige or silver shades of the ceiling, floor, furniture, accessories, textile elements. Beige is used to increase the color temperature of the room, which is important for windows facing north, gray and silver – to lower it, in rooms facing south.

Advice: Designers do not recommend allocating more than half of all planes in the room to black. In addition, large planes of one color should be balanced by small planes of another. For example, a black storage system with open niches will benefit from placing white items in them, such as figurines, candlesticks, vases. A small black decorative pillow will look good on a white bed.

Black and white living room interior

The use of these two colors as the main ones is especially advantageous in the living room, as well as in the kitchen-living room of a studio apartment. The stylish combination is complemented by various accessories, creating the chosen style in literally two or three strokes. For example, by placing a mirror in an antique gilded frame on the fireplace portal, you can give the living room a Parisian gloss. A large crystal chandelier will give the room a classic touch, and bright multi-colored posters using “acid” shades will create a pop art style.

The interior of the living room in black and white can be complemented with textile elements of the same colors, or additional ones. You should not choose too bright tones for textiles, they can create unnecessary variegation. Separate areas of the living room, such as the fireplace or sofa area, can be highlighted with black and white wallpaper with a pattern.

Black and white bedroom interior

The interior of a black and white bedroom should not be too sharp, as the room is intended for quiet relaxation and night rest. This can be solved by adding calm beige or silver shades, soft patterns, textiles in calm pastel colors.

Bright accents are acceptable in small quantities – this can be a picture on the wall at the head of the bed, colored spines of books on the shelves or bedside table. The combination of black, white and silver will allow you to decorate the bedroom in a fashionable neo-baroque style, which is very suitable for this kind of room. Green, blue, burgundy, gold shades can be used as accents in the bedroom. They will enliven the interior and bring freshness to it.

Black and white kitchen interior

The kitchen is the place where cleanliness is especially important, so white is in its place here like nowhere else. Adding black to it allows you to successfully divide the kitchen into zones – for example, cooking and dining, and also create interesting interior effects that allow even a small room to feel more spacious.

For example, against the background of white walls, the bottom row of cabinets can have black facades, and the top – white. In this case, they will merge with the wall, the ceilings will seem higher, and the room itself – more voluminous.

A black and white kitchen interior, complemented by metal surfaces of household appliances, looks great in the techno style. Traditional black and white patterns, such as checkerboard, stripes, polka dots, and chicken feet, will help to “break up” large surfaces, “expand” the boundaries of the room, and add expressiveness.

For this, it is enough, for example, to lay out the floor in a “checkerboard” pattern diagonally. Simple white furniture in combination with black countertops and black household appliances already looks stylish. A few bright accents – a juicy orange lamp, a green bouquet of herbs on the table – and the image of an elegant kitchen is ready.

Black and white bathroom interior

Perhaps the easiest way to turn a standard white bathroom in a typical apartment into something new and interesting is to complement it with black. Put a rug with a black and white pattern on the floor – it can be a zebra pattern, or diagonal stripes, or a checkered pattern. Fill the seams between the white tiles with black grout, add black bath towels and a bright color accent.

A black and white bathroom interior can be made “negative” – paint all the walls black, and place snow-white plumbing and mirrors against this background. Don’t be afraid that the room will visually become smaller. On the contrary, it will acquire mystery and depth.

Tip: If there is a lot of black in the interior, pay special attention to lighting. It is better if it is somewhat excessive compared to the recommendations for a room of this area, since black absorbs light.