If you love the look of a black living room but are worried that the hue will overwhelm your space and make it difficult for your furniture and accessories to shine, we have good news. It's 100 percent possible to incorporate black paint into your space without it taking over entirely.
If you're unable to paint or just don't want to commit to coating your walls, you can still have lots of fun with the color black. Black wallpaper—or bold black furnishings—will also add a welcome moodiness to your living room. No matter what approach you choose, you won't want to shy away from the color for much longer after taking a peek at the following 25 spaces.
-
01 of 25
Embrace Orange
We think of black walls most commonly being paired with white accents, but if you love color, don't shy away from bolder hues. Make like blogger Haneen Matt and weave warm rust tones into a living space with black walls—they'll provide plenty of warmth while keeping a room looking nice and moody. Better yet, earthy tones such as these are having a major moment right now, too.
Continue to 2 of 25 below. -
02 of 25
Opt for Moderation
Keep window trims and bookends white while coating the walls in black can help maintain a room's open, airy look while still having fun with color. This space by Black Lacquer Design is filled with playful, neutral accents like a geometric rug and mod leather accent chair.
Continue to 3 of 25 below. -
03 of 25Continue to 4 of 25 below.
-
04 of 25
Go Glossy
Add some glossy paint to the mantel for a bit of glamour that doesn't involve coating all four walls in a dark hue. Don't forget to finish off the setup with a few chic accents, as was the case in this space by Brexton Cole Interiors.
Continue to 5 of 25 below. -
05 of 25
Pick Out Panels
Blogger Becky Grunwald also took on a fireplace makeover, only she placed wood panels over the existing brick facade and painted these in a bold black. Keeping her furniture neutral allows Becky to have fun with black and white accessories, which add a cozy touch to her space.
Continue to 6 of 25 below. -
06 of 25
Flip The Switch
Black walls pair wonderfully with beams in a more rustic style space like this one by Urbanology Designs. Have fun with lighting and choose a bold fixture that complements the wall color—this one is eye-catching and doubles as a work of art.
Continue to 7 of 25 below. -
07 of 25
Coat Those Built-Ins
If you're hesitant to commit to painting all four walls in a bold black, opt to coat the back of your built-ins instead, as Karen B. Wolf Interiors did here. Then let the hue really pop by sourcing decor featuring brass and white tones—they'll instantly make the setup look ultra sophisticated.
Continue to 8 of 25 below. -
08 of 25
Go for Grasscloth
Not as into paint? There are plenty of styles of black wallpaper on the market, such as this one that is reminiscent of grasscloth, selected by Etch Design Group. There's no need to fill walls with artwork if you're drawn to a more simplistic look. If you're a renter, you can search for removable papers that will be easy to take down once your lease ends.
Continue to 9 of 25 below. -
09 of 25Continue to 10 of 25 below.
-
10 of 25Continue to 11 of 25 below.
-
11 of 25
Incorporate Abstracts
Be selective with artwork if you want your walls to do the talking. Instagrammer Roxanne chose to hang two small, abstract pieces atop her black living room walls, and we truly believe that sometimes, less is more. You can even DIY your own artwork if you can't find something online or at a flea market that speaks to you.
Continue to 12 of 25 below. -
12 of 25
Say Hello to Vibrant Artwork
Just because you paint your walls black doesn't mean you have to avoid more vibrant artwork at all costs. Rather, pastel colored pieces add lots of charm to a moodier room and prevent a black space from feeling gloomy, as we see here in this space by Caroline Brackett.
Continue to 13 of 25 below. -
13 of 25
Say Bye to Plain Brick
Exposed brick is certainly a special interior feature—but sometimes, it's time for a change. Have a brick fireplace in your living room that could use a bit of an update? Take a cue from blogger Dana Tucker and paint it a bold black. This upgrade will bring plenty of new life into your living space and is simple enough to complete over the course of a weekend.
Continue to 14 of 25 below. -
14 of 25
Be Boho
Shelli / Instagram
Feeling boho? Incorporate accents such as a Moroccan pouf and mid-century modern leather sofa into your space, but give the room a sleek, modern twist by going for black walls. Instagrammer Shelli shows us that mixing styles has never looked better.
Continue to 15 of 25 below. -
15 of 25Continue to 16 of 25 below.
-
16 of 25
Try A Traditional Twist
Donna / Instagram
There's no reason that traditionalists have to shy away from black walls. As much as we love classic blue and white spaces, sometimes you just need to do something different. Instagrammer Donna decorated her black living room with must haves such as ginger jars and pops of animal print. Black is a versatile enough color to mesh well with any style.
Continue to 17 of 25 below. -
17 of 25
Make Over Your Molding
Henna / Instagram
We see a lot of plain white walls with molding, particularly in European homes, but don't hesitate to paint yours—you'll still be able to enjoy this fab architectural feature, even with a coat of color added on top. Instagrammer Henna covered her walls with a deep black but decorated the rest of her space with lighter blues and grays that add instant calm to the room.
Continue to 18 of 25 below. -
18 of 25
Stay Subtle
Mansa / Instagram
If you have a black furniture piece that you want to be the star of the show, opt for more subtle accent pieces—like this minimalistic C table that Instagrammer Mansa worked into her living room. It takes up such little visual space and allows the sofa to shine. An acrylic table is also a winning solution.
Continue to 19 of 25 below. -
19 of 25
Try a DIY
Wainscoting can turn a so-so living room wall into a work of art—and all the more so when it's painted a bold color. Chris and Julia Marcum made over their living room by DIYing a brand new wall that they painted black, and the results are magical!
Continue to 20 of 25 below. -
20 of 25
Keep It Cozy
El Peterson / Instagram
For a laid back look, make like El Peterson and opt for farmhouse-inspired accents in your black living room. Wooden benches, stoneware, and vases are all winning choices.
Continue to 21 of 25 below. -
21 of 25
Go For Marble
Black marble is always an eye-catching delight. This room by Maestri Studio features a stunning marble fireplace that brings timeless beauty to the space and is bound to please for years to come.
Continue to 22 of 25 below. -
22 of 25
Get Funky
Turquoise sofas with orange pillows, alongside a vase filled with bright feathery accents? Yes, please! Maestri Studio took a cue from this room's moody black walls and brought the drama. This room is giving us major '70s design vibes.
Continue to 23 of 25 below. -
23 of 25
Play With Purple
We don't often see black paired with purple, but that doesn't mean there's any reason to steer clear of this color combo—it looks lovely in this space by In Detail Interiors. Velvet purple curtains add a regal touch to the eclectic space.
Continue to 24 of 25 below. -
24 of 25
Get Natural
Bring a cabin-like touch to an all-black room by incorporating natural touches, such as wooden logs, as well as branches. This space by House of Jade is a rustic glam retreat.
Continue to 25 of 25 below. -
25 of 25
Add An Accent Wall
Carlos / Instagram
Instagrammer Carlos's living room features a black fireplace and bookshelf, but by keeping the remaining part of the wall white, the look is unique and not overwhelming. A blanket ladder adds intrigue to the remaining portion of the wall and reinforces the space's color scheme.