In a room for a young bachelor, designer Jennifer Dyer wanted to create a look that was “masculine without being too dark.” To that end, she painted the walls a soft café au lait color, and then used black, white, and navy accents on the bed, windows, and trim. The effect is tailored but far from stark.

Design by Jennifer Dyer, Jeneration Interiors; www.jenerationinteriors.com 

Why do designers love the combination of navy, black, and white? Lauren Nelson, who created this San Francisco bedroom, weighs in: “If you want to add a bit of edge to a space definitely incorporate black with the more traditional colors of navy and white. All three pair really well together and give a modern, fresh feel to any room.” To keep the space from looking weighed down by the dark navy or black areas, she advises incorporating plenty of light hues, as she did here with white and cream bedding and white ceiling and side walls.

Design by Lauren Nelson, Lauren Nelson Design; www.laurennelsondesign.com; Photography by Erin Kunkel

To create a masculine elegance in the dining room of a bungalow-style home, designer Kerrie Kelly painted the walls a deep navy blue, then added accents of black and white through the graphic rug, window and door trim, and picture frames. Says Kelly, “Navy blue is the color of the decade.”

Design and Photography by Kerrie Kelly, Kerrie Kelly Design Lab; www.kerriekelly.com

A family with young children wanted a “classically current” take on their current formal living room, says builder Rallin Welch. By keeping the walls and cabinetry crisp with a coat of Sherwin-Williams Snowbound paint, the design team was able to create a bold contrast with a geometric black and white area rug. A club chair upholstered in rich navy blue adds just the right element of sophisticated luxury, plus a hint of color.

Design by Laura U Interior Design; Construction by Rallin Welch of Welch Builders; www.welchbuilders.net; Photography by Julie Soefer