12 black and white living rooms for a classic look you'll love
12 black and white living rooms for a classic look you'll love
Black, white and grey are a classic trio and offer endless design possibilities. Find out how to style a monochrome interior.
Sophisticated, versatile and timeless, black and white living rooms are a classic choice offering endless design possibilities. Whether it's classic and elegant looks to edgy, modern spaces, this theme’s back-to-basics approach is a perfect opportunity to decorate creatively and reinvent monochrome on your own terms.
Choosing black and white interiors doesn’t mean that you can’t introduce other pops of colour or tonal variations. You can decorate with grey accents or bold artwork to contrast with whatever interior decor style you’re going for. From light airy palettes to dramatic black spaces, discover how your living room is the space in your home to experiment with black and white interiors.
First Of All, What Is Monochrome?
With roots in Ancient Greek, monochrome simply means having one colour, being composed of different hues within that one shade, or going black and white.
So this extends of course to all-red rooms or lush green spaces (think forest, kelly, mint, teal) - but for today, we’re going to be focusing on the classic: black and white. This of course includes everything in between the two ends of the spectrum, leaving all the shades of grey for you to play with! The clean, neutral feel of this palette leaves lots of room to experiment with different textures, shapes and contrasts in the home.
A classic for a reason, white brightens up a room and creates space and airiness, especially in smaller homes. Minimalist interiors continue to be a major trend and using white in a monochrome space is almost a style shortcut to achieving this look.
Focus on clean silhouettes for this style, however, if the straight lines start to feel flat break them up with some stylish curves like an armchair or round side table. To prevent the look from looking too sterile, layer subtle neutral tones and include natural elements like wood and greenery.
Use grey as the medium between white and black in the living room. Light grey will lighten up the room and complement the white base, while dark grey tones have a romantic, elegant feel that doesn’t compete with statement decor and furniture, but adds depth and interest instead.
The key here is to experiment with contrasts and textures - for instance, this reading nook feels soft and inviting with a cosy armchair and stylish accessories. Choose upholstery like plush fabric or velvet and a stylish rug to soften the space.
If you think white feels too bare for your space, picking a cosy neutral like cream or off-white can instantly make your living room cosier. For subtle depth, you can create a layered look with a cream sofa, off-white walls. Choosing cosy fabrics will help highlight the subtle contrast between white and cream if you’re using both tones.
Moving to the dark side, black’s dramatic, glamorous edge ensures it never goes out of style. For a chic, ultra-sophisticated look, go for all black walls. This look is perfect for movie buffs dreaming of transforming their living room into a home cinema.
To ensure you get a dark, moody look that doesn’t feel too heavy, add natural elements such as wooden accents and clay or porcelain decor for a little warmth.
Want to add some personality to a black and white living room? Look no further than modern boho style. A calming neutral palette is one way to tame boho’s eclectic vibe. Start with a simple black leather sofa in the living room, then layer around it with Moroccan-inspired prints and textiles.
The focus should be to create a relaxing environment. With a neutral centrepiece in place, accessorise with a mix of soft materials like comfy cushions, wool throws or faux fur rugs for warmth and cosiness.
Japandi focuses on simplicity, comfort and natural elements - which is perfect for black and white living rooms. For example, paint the walls for instant impact or go for textured wallpaper. Choosing the right sofa upholstery is also essential as it will serve as a calming anchor. Plush fabric, velvet, boucle and faux leather are cosy options and create a relaxing feel synonymous with Japandi style.
Focus on natural elements for the rest of the room like a wooden feature wall or coffee table. If you want to inject a small pops of colour, focus on earth tones like beige, light green or pale pink through accessories and artwork. For more tips on Japandi interiors, check out our guide.
If you want to give your black and white interiors a relaxed, rustic charm, country-style decor may be just what you’re looking for. A Chesterfield sofa sets the vibe with its elegant button-back details and handsome leather upholstery.
Contrast soft elements like fabric upholstery with black or wrought iron accents such as a side table with metal legs or black pendant lighting. Bring in linen or burlap accents to highlight the country style. If you want to introduce patterns, checkered or gingham will bring out the country charm.
Want to add a pop of colour to black and white living rooms? Introduce bold colours to contrast the black and white theme like red, yellow, green or blue with an accent armchair. The colour you pick should set the vibe you want to project - for example, red injects passion and confidence, while deep green or blue soothes the room.
On the other hand, you can use black to highlight specific parts of the room, whether with a feature wall, art, or even with a statement sofa. This works beautifully in a monochrome space since black and white (or cream and beige) are one of the undisputed true pairings in the design world, offering immediate visual contrast.
As we are doing away with colour, texture and layers are key players here. Mix it up with contrasting materials such as gold hardware, or a marble table for an opulent touch.
Are you worried that your black and white living room feels too one-dimensional? Mixing patterns like black and white geometric printed cushions on your sofa will add visual interest. Aside from your sofa, curating your accessories gives your space a unique touch. Choose distinctive shapes like curved vases on your coffee table or an asymmetrical mirror on your wall. If you want to liven up your room you can’t go wrong with indoor greenery - just remember to water your plants!
Contemporary living rooms decorated in a minimalist style often get called too bare or sterile however this can be softened with curves. Introducing a curved sofa helps break up the black and white lines. Besides the sofa, there are other ways to bring in curves such as through a round coffee or side table, curved lamps and accessories. Choose cosy textures like boucle or velvet to help emphasise the softness and make the room feel cosier.
Want to add a bit of drama to your living room? Painting your fireplace black in a majority white (or light neutral) room will create a stylish focal point. If you live in a home with classic features this is a great way to emphasise the architectural elements of your space. Matt black paint brings a stylish edge to the room and creates a contemporary touch.
FAQS
What colours go with a black and white living room?
This depends on what you want to achieve with your black and white living room. If you want to brighten up your space go for bold colours like red, yellow, moss green or mustard yellow which serve as an accent. If you soften your living room, choose neutrals like grey, beige, cream and off-white to complement your colour scheme.
What colour pops with black and white?
Bold colours like red, yellow green or blue will energise a black and white living room. If you’re worried about overpowering the room, you can go for pastel colours like blush pink, sage green, lilac and sky blue. If you want to add a touch of sparkle metallics like gold, silver or bronze can make a black and white living room feel more glamorous.
How to make a black and white room cosy?
Warm up a black and white living room with cosy textures - chunky knit throws, a fabric rug and choosing fabric upholstery for your sofa like plush fabric, linen or velvet. You can also set the mood with lighting. Choose warm white lighting or yellow bulbs to make yours space feel more inviting.
We hope you enjoyed reading our monochrome living room ideas guide. Looking for more décor tips? Read our guide on earthy living room ideas.
