Back in black: How to style a bedroom in black

Nobody ever thinks of decorating their bedrooms in black, do they? We think you’re onto something here…

It’s a worthy challenge for the home-obsessed. Choose the right palette and pick the right building blocks and your new black bedroom will revolutionise two things: (1) your reputation as a visionary home decorator and (2) your sleep…(everyone sleeps better in a bedroom they love, right?).

Of course, it’s not the black alone that will do all the work. It’s the complementary colours and patterns that will bring it to life, so be sure to choose a palette that’ll give you the flexibility you need - both now and in the future - if you want to add to it or change things up slightly.

From natural greens and golds to contrasting whites, greys and pops of red, there are plenty of colours that go well with a striking black. The trick is to not be afraid of the experimentation and you might just surprise yourself.

Photography: @thereigatereno Featuring: Southwark 

Black is the colour

One of the most obvious ways to tackle black bedroom design is to create a deep, dark feature wall. We’d hazard a guess that it’s probably what got you onto the idea in the first place…

It’s a fantastic foundation on which to build a lively and alluring room, but the key is to choose the right wall to accentuate the space you have. If you’re playing with a cosy room, a smaller end wall might help you add some depth, but if you’re looking at a large room with a commanding chimney breast, for example, you’ll probably want to aim your paint brushes at that.

Remember that the black wall doesn’t have to stay black, of course. You can paint murals or apply vinyl to add another dimension to your theme, but be sure not to overdo it. The feature wall should draw the eye, but not completely overpower everything else in the room.

From accents to statements: black bedroom furniture

When it comes to furniture, go for gold or brass accent pieces to add enviable levels of sophistication to your bedroom. If you focus on the façades of your furniture, or even just the handles on your bedside tables, you’ll go a long way to achieving a depth of character that you wish you’d found years ago – the Noto or the Stepney bedside tables are both perfect for that.

The all-important choice for the luxury black bedroom is, indeed, the bed – aka the centrepiece. Depending on your chosen theme, you’ve got a number of options here. A king-size Sudrey bed frame in an inviting turmeric velvet finish will leave you daydreaming of bedtime even during meetings at work (we’ve all been there). Finish it with brass-capped dark wooden legs and you’ll be the one giving out black furniture bedroom ideas when you give your guests the grand tour.

If you want to feel the power of nature, you might elevate the wooden theme with something like the Norrebro bed frame and let it sit there doing all the hard work. After all, that’s what it was built for…

Featuring: Niki Jones

A touch of black: furnishings, paintings and plants

The way you dress your bed in a black-themed bedroom will help you bring certain themes to life – and the beauty of it is that you don’t have to settle for one route with your bed linen or cushions. Here’s where you can really experiment with colour combinations to go with your black bedroom décor.

The sultry navy and teal shades of the Niki Jones and the Purcell cushions will sit against the black backdrop of your bedspread like an interior design masterpiece. If you fancy unleashing your adventurous side, work in a chartreuse cushion and match it with a concentric rug (both of which are also from Niki Jones) and watch its warmth seep into the room. Listen, we won’t blame you for feeling a little smug about this one – it’s to be expected.

Don’t start plumping those pillows to settle in just yet, though…you’re not quite done with the finishing touches to your black bedroom. The secret to nailing any style is to add lashings of substance to boot, such as a combination of complementary plants and wall art. Add a wild splash of green to your walls with our Perspectives wall art and there’ll be no end to the amount of calming plant life you can add to every corner of your own little haven.

Photography: @gambini.interiors Featuring: Reyna

Seeing the light…

Whatever approach you take to your core theme for your bedroom, the one rule to keep in mind is to avoid too much black. It can be easy to get carried away with an idea; before you know it, you’re plunged into a room that’s as black as the night sky with little-to-no warmth to it. Darkness is great for nodding off, of course, but don’t forget about how you’ll want to feel when you’re winding down…

Explore our wall lights to see how you can illuminate the room where it needs it without losing the depth you’ve tried so hard to create. Happy styling, Swooners…