Black bedroom ideas have made a come back. And while you may think we have gone bonkers, or regressed back to our goth teen period, you will soon see that this trend can be cozy and stylish to boot.
When we say black bedrooms, we don’t necessarily mean all black in every way, it could be subtle like a dark bedside table, throw, or a black statement wall. It’s about balance and you can also add in patterns to soften the scheme and pops of other colors. Get it right and you will end up with a beautiful room that’s sophisticated and luxurious in every way, while black can even work in a kid's room too... Check out our fabulous looks to copy below and be inspired to upgrade your space with one of our favorite bedroom ideas around right now.
1. Mix metallics into a black bedroom
Mixing in another element to a predominantly black scheme can be a smart move. Metal touches add warmth visually and gives the space a modern feel in this instant. The carved wooden drawers of this bedside table create interest whilst still being all black, and makes it easy to accessorize with. Choose a lamp with a similar brass tone to create a cohesive feel.
2. Combine matt black with warmer neutrals
This space is proof that black bedrooms can still be soft and cozy – it's just a case of mixing in some subtle neutral colors and avoiding any bright whites so you don't get that stark contrast. Keep the wall behind your bed dark and matte and then add plenty of textures with your bed linen and throw pillows.
3. Don't forget the ceiling
Want to create the ultimate black bedroom? Don't just keep to the walls, be that black onto the ceiling too. Break up all that darkness with prints, and stick to brighter colors throughout the rest of the room. We are loving the soft pinks of the light and drapes in this fabulous room, and the light grey carpet and throw provide the perfect lift.
- See also: how to paint a ceiling
4. Use throw pillows to add a splash of color
Black walls are a great backdrop for color, making anything you put against it feel 100% more vibrant. So take a cue from this black and white bedroom and add a daring color like orange or yellow that's really going to stand out against the darkness – it needn't be in a large dose either, just a couple of throw pillows would do it.
5. Combine off white walls with black accessories
Another soft take on a black and white scheme. The color scheme in this bedroom is perfect if you aren't ready to commit to painting your walls in a dark hue. Instead, opt for an off-white and bring in those darker shades with your bed linen, rugs, drapes and decor.
Note how the windows frames are black too to add that obvious contrast with the wall color. It's a subtle addition but gives the room more of an edge and adds depth.
6. Add drama with a statement black bed
It doesn't get more dramatic than a black four-poster bed, especially when you put it against the backdrop of an all black bedroom. This pairing creates a really enveloping cocooning feeling that surprisingly works really well in small bedrooms too. Hang prints to break up all that darkness, keep the ceiling light so it doesn't get too claustrophobic, and add plenty of texture with your bedlinen to soften up the look.
7. Paint your alcoves black
A really simple way to bring in just a touch of those darker hues into your bedroom is to paint your alcoves. You still get the dramatic feel but the room overall still feels bright and fresh. Pick white for the rest of the walls and choose crisp white bedlinen too, but then weave more black throughout the room to up that contrast.
8. Add in some accent colors
Create balance by using color in an all black scheme, and you can use a mixture of both zingy brights and dark shades. The inky blue duvet set continues the dark and moody scheme but when the bright turmeric cushion and throw are added the whole look changes - the contrast is bold and beautiful and as a result, lifts the whole room. You could carry on the bright accent into other parts of the room - a vase on your bedside, or a rug for example, it all depends on how much color you want to add.
9. Keep a black bedroom minimal
Both black and white schemes - as separate colors – lend themselves well to a minimalist scheme, that pared-back look needs less clutter and has a contemporary feel. It can work really well with black, but do remember, that unless you want to wake up in a dark room (which may be a tad depressing), it can be wise to add in a little contrast. The simplicity of this linen bedding does this job, it creates that balance that ensures you are still making a design statement but with a textural focal point.
10. Soften up a black bedroom with grey walls
If you love the idea of using black in your bedroom but feel cautious about having it on your walls then choosing black furniture can be a great first move. Grey bedroom ideas work particularly well with black, and will soften the overall look in your room. Pick a mid-tone shade that will anchor the rest of the scheme, you can then use paler grey bedding and accessories to lighten up areas as you wish.
11. Experiment with darker paint colors
You’ve heard it time and time again – paint is one of the most effective, budget-friendly ways to transform a space. So if you want to dabble with the dark bedroom side but don’t want to go completely black, you can just paint your walls black to set off lighter bedding, lighting and more.
Start off with an accent wall and once you are used to the color, you can start creeping it around the rest of the room. Remember to think about the finish. A glossy sheen can make a dark color seem cold, so opt for a matte chalk paint for a softer, richer look.
12. Add texture with distressed walls
Before you panic, we aren't suggesting that rag-rolled walls are making a comeback... no, they can stay firmly in the '80s. But there is something beautiful. and sophisticated about a black yet subtly distressed wall.
For a similar look to the bedroom below, we love Cole and Son's Patina Haze.
13. Try out the color blocking trend
If you are still slightly dubious about using dark or completely black interiors in your bedroom, then color blocking is a great way to incorporate the trend into your room, without fully committing. Here Farrow and Ball’s Railings has been combined with Estate Eggshell to give this bedroom a moody country vibe. Now, who knew that was a look?
14. Try darker colors in a kids' rooms too
Didn’t think black would work in a kid's room? Think again. This shade is slightly off black, a deep grey, but it totally fits the trend and looks marvelous in this child's bedroom. The whimsical wall stickers keep it from becoming too grown-up or gloomy. Plus. there’s a practical element here too – the general wear and tear that kids have a tendency to create is far easier to disguise with darker colors.
What colors go best with black bedroom furniture?
The best colors to pair with black furniture will depend on the overall look you want to go for. Do you want your black furniture to contrast with the rest of your bedroom or do you want it to almost blend in? For creating contrast we would suggest opt for a lighter color. For a classic look go with white which will create a lovely clean contrast and will work with loads of different styles. For something, softer choose a beige or even a muted pastel tone that will still have that contrast but will add warmth to the room too.
You could go extra dramatic and opt for black on black, with black walls and black furniture. When done the right way it can be really striking and creates such an intimate cocooning feel to a bedroom.
Does black make a bedroom look bigger?
We tend to avoid black or dark colors in smaller bedrooms because it's design 101 that lighter colors make a small space feel bigger. And yes, while that's true darker colors can actually have a similar space enlarging effect. Opting for a black feature wall or even on all four walls can blur the edges of the room creating the allusion of more space.
So in short, yes black can make a bedroom look bigger but just be sure to order samples to test out before you go to the dark side because, for example, if your room lacks natural light, black walls might just end up making your room feel smaller