Decorating With Black and White

A black-and-white color scheme creates a crisp and clean modern vibe in this living space. Handout/TNS

By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service

Look inside nearly any interior design publication and you will see the color black in virtually every room. What you will also see is a prominent use of the combination of black and white. They are powerful colors on their own, but they can make a bold statement together.

Black and white are great colors for a mix of light and dark. The contrast can have an especially big impact in modern spaces, as well as those in which you may desire a bit more formality, such as living rooms and dining rooms.

Here are some more Design Recipes tips to incorporate the powerful color combo into your space:

— Artwork is a great way to introduce or tie various colors together within a space.

— Area rugs come in different shapes, sizes and various color combinations that can help you introduce black and white into your home.

— Accessories, from toss pillows to decorative items and even coffee table books, can offer creative ways to tie black and white together.

— Color mapping is a design technique you can use to repeat or “map” the colors throughout a room so the space feels and looks more cohesive.

The repetition of black and white from the dining table and chairs to the artwork helps create a cohesive color scheme. Handout/TNS

— Black is a power color you shouldn’t be afraid to use. Use it as an accent color for a wall, base color in a room in the form of an area rug, or the color for your primary furniture pieces.

Entry spaces and foyers can allow for an introduction of a black-and-white color story. Handout/TNS

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and short-term rental/vacation home designer with offices in New York City and The Hudson Valley. Contact her at [email protected] or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com. Copyright 2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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