What are the Pros and Cons of a Black and White Living Room?

The pros and cons of a black and white living room often depend a great deal on the preferences and tastes of the people who will be spending time in the room. There are, however, a few basic advantages of such a color plan that include a very clean appearance, an overall simple and elegant feel, and the ability to easily add contrast and highlight specific items in the room. On the other hand, however, a black and white living room can also seem a bit overwhelming for some people, and if not done properly it can become monotonous and unpleasant to look upon.

When planning the color scheme of a house, a black and white living room is certainly a viable option. Just about any type of color scheme can be created and utilized in a living room, and some homeowners may want to consult with a professional interior designer before deciding on any final look for a room. There are some general advantages and disadvantages to such a visually striking setup, and most homeowners should carefully consider their own tastes and preferences before creating a black and white living room.

One of the major benefits of a black and white living room is how easily the contrasting colors give a room a neat and clean feeling. The stark contrast of the two tones creates a visual “roomscape” that is typically quite appealing and can be very relaxing. Few rooms are quite as immediately striking as a living room with clean, black walls and white furniture standing out against it. This type of color scheme can also be used to add more striking details to a room by including just a small amount of color or similar features. A bright red rug or couch can immediately become a focal point in a room with black and white furniture and walls.

A black and white living room can have some potential downsides, however, and care should be taken when decorating such a room. The contrast between black and white typically needs to be carefully controlled and created, or else the room can become overwhelmed by too much of one or the other. On the other hand, too much alteration between black and white can potentially create a room that is far too chaotic visually and may even induce a sense of vertigo. If middle tones or grays are used it can alleviate some of this, however too much gray can also turn the room into a wash of value with no focal point.