12 Sophisticated Colors That Go With Black (2024)

Decorating

Color

Conventional decorating wisdom has always stated that every room needs a touch of black, but today more of us are choosing black as a dominant feature element in any room in the house—from the bedroom to the bathroom to the kitchen and even the nursery. While black is a strong, neutral base that stands up on its own, it also works beautifully paired with virtually any color. Here are some of our favorite colors to pair with black.

• 01 of 12

  Black +White

  

  Black and white is the ultimate no-fail color scheme, as timelessly winning as a black and white checkerboard floor, a zebra-striped pillow, or a classic Cape Cod-style house. In this dreamy, breezy bedroom, dramatic oversized Dutch Masters-inspired dark floral wallpaper is paired with gauzy white curtains and touches of wood and leather to warm it up. The key to making a black and white room feel livable is pattern and texture, like the vintage-inspired patterned cement tile on the floors of the contemporary black-and-white bathroom on top. And because decorating, like life, is not all black and white, gray is an obvious third color choice to add to the mix.

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• 02 of 12

  Black + Blue

  

  Darker shades of blue such as navy, indigo, and cobalt are surprisingly chic paired with black, adding subtle depth and nuance. In this soothing bedroom, black and blue accent pillows and a graphic black bedside lamp add interest to grayish-white walls and bedding, but you can scale up the black-and-blue combination for more dramatic effect with navy blue walls and a black leather couch in a media room, or a mix of navy cabinetry and black stone in a modern kitchen.

• 03 of 12

  Black + Yellow

  

  Black and yellow is a high-spirited color combination that is bold and versatile, whether you want to add a light note to a serious black and white bathroom color scheme, a punchy yellow wing chair in an all-black den or to accent a black kitchen with yellow industrial pendant lights, dishware, or small appliances.

• 04 of 12

  Black + Red

  

  Black and red is one of those perennial color combinations that gets rediscovered every few years in home and fashion design while never really going out of style. Here red pendant lights, leather kitchen island stools, small appliances, and dish towels give this contemporary kitchen a shot of energy and attitude.

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• 05 of 12

  Black + Brown

  

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  Pair black with shades of brown for a sophisticated take on earth-toned neutrals. In this modern bedroom, black sheets, bedside tables, and graphic black and white wall art are paired with a cocoa-colored coverlet and taupe walls. Bronze accents on the bedside lamps and picture frame add a finishing touch.

• 06 of 12

  Black + Copper

  

  Black and orange conjures up Halloween, but black and copper is pure glamour. In this eye-catching bathroom from Austin, Texas-based interior designer Erin Williamson, a black ceiling creates a grounded, cozy feeling that complements the bling of a copper bathtub; black and white floor tile in a fun pattern and a black side table pull it all together.

• 07 of 12

  Black + Gold

  

  Black and gold is a luxurious color combination that always works, whether you're using gold-toned cabinet pulls or faucets in a black kitchen or designing a contemporary bathroom like this one that mixes a black vanity, stainless steel sink, shower plumbing fixtures, and framed mirror with gold onyx wall tiles. Sand-colored flooring pebbles and plenty of white keep the design from feeling heavy or overdone.

• 08 of 12

  Black + Cream

  

  Black and cream is a signature color combination of Coco Chanel, a soft take on black and white that is luxurious, chic and easy to pull off. Feel free to mix in shades of white, tan and beige and gold or bronze accents to complete the quietly chic look.

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• 09 of 12

  Black + Green

  

  This moody bathroom from C.P. Hart combines matte black wood paneling with wallpaper in dominant shades of green (and touches of deep royal blue) anchored by a classic British sink basin, a simple round wire towel holder, black framed mirror and retro-style sconces.

• 10 of 12

  Black + Pink

  

  Black and pink is the stuff of retro bathroom tiles and 1950s boudoir bedrooms, but it works just as well for a contemporary space with a lighter touch. In this bathroom, pink ceramic large scale honeycomb tiles are a cheerful counterpoint to a heavy black sink vanity, black floors and a back shower wall clad in black stone.

• 11 of 12

  Black + Gray

  

  Black and gray is a classic combination that works if you want to set a cool, sober, calming atmosphere in any room. Here shades of gray and black in similar tones blend harmoniously, with the walls, upholstered headboard, window shades and bed linens so closely entwined on the color wheel that they read like different shades of the same color. But any shade of black and gray will work together if you want a higher contrast look.

• 12 of 12

  Black + Purple

  

  Purple is an unexpected companion to black but the deep lilac walls in this eccentric Hamburg living room stand up royally to a black fireplace and black lampshades and ceiling beams. Touches of pale gold on the floor an in decorative objects around the room create a regal feel. The room is a perfect illustration of the fact that virtually any color can play well with black.