Designers Reveal How to Decorate Any Space With Black and White

This is black-and-white done right! Below, designers reveal how the tried-and-true combo works in every room.

Entry

“The contrast of black pieces against a white wall feels modern, clean, and fresh,” says Stephanie Kraus, a designer in Wayne, PA, who outfitted this family’s entryway with a console table by Oomph, striped X-benches by Uttermost, and a black mirror by Umbra. With the console’s lacquered-raffia top, the rope-wrapped bench legs, and the muted kilim rug, the effect is warm and welcoming.

Dining Room

“Teaming up black-and-white with wood tones and a multicolor rug makes the dining space in this mid-century house feel homey,” says Shea McGee, a designer in Salt Lake City, UT. The black chairs help tie together the light fixture (from the designer’s store, McGee & Co.) and the art above the cabinet.

Living Room

“This homeowner is drawn to a bunch of different styles—traditional, rustic, country, and modern!—so to combine them all in a way that’s eclectic but still cohesive, I relied on a limited color palette of white, black, and one pop of yellow,” says Sarah Sherman Samuel, a designer based in Los Angeles. The dark gray sofa is by Stem, and the coffee table is from CB2. The yellow chair from Crate & Barrel plays up all the sunlight that hits the room.

Bathroom

“People get hung up on metal finishes needing to match, but this bathroom is a perfect example that a mix can look great,” says Joyce Downing Pickens, a designer in Los Angeles. The black vanity, white marble countertop, and black-and-white basket weave tile are a neutral canvas for the polished-nickel faucets, brass cabinet knobs and pulls, brass mirrors from Restoration Hardware, and black sconces from Schoolhouse Electric.