Posts tagged ‘Black and white’

More Ideas for Black and White Decor

I haven't had many apartments that have been decorated solely in black and white. However, back in the days when I had roommates it was actually a pretty good idea. People could just put all of their furniture together and it would still look somewhat cohesive even if it was in totally different styles.

On a lot of decor forums I've noticed that most decorators suggest getting in contact with your roommate before you move in or before you go shopping and working out a design game plan. Has anyone ever done this? It just seems like it would be difficult to work with all the different personalities if you have several different people living in one house or there are budget constraints.

Where to Use Black and White Decor in 2012

For some reason black and white decor always reminds me of New Years Eve instead of year round decor. I know that a lot of people like it in contemporary styles because it works with almost any accent color. Last year though instead of this traditional color palette I've seen all different kinds of gray instead. That's right for this year the new trend in black and white decor is just mixing the two tones together.

Shopping for a White Bed

When you pick out a white bed you really need to pay attention to the details. Whenever you have the same piece of furniture for several years or decades it can seem a little bit boring. This is why just focusing in on really subtle embellishments is going to make all the difference.

You might want to really consider this color palette if you're going to go with a really oversized piece. This could be a four poster bed or just a sleigh bed. This can help it blend into the room so that it doesn't seem so large even if it really is.

Black and white beds or anything that's very modern like a platform style is very popular. The great thing about this style is that it can often have drawers underneath. This can be a subtle architectural detail if the drawers are paneled. You might even be able to find some with frosted glass fronts. This is going to be extremely contemporary. It can relate back to a lot of other frosted windows or wardrobes that you have in your space. This is a way to get embellishments in the room without adding an extra accent color.

White leather headboard twin full queen king
White leather headboard twin full queen king
Paypal   US $145.00
Modern Contemporary Pacific Platform Eco Leather Bed w 2 Headboards Woodbrook
Modern Contemporary Pacific Platform Eco Leather Bed w 2 Headboards Woodbrook
Paypal   US $749.00
Dolls Vogue Ginny Twin doll bed w headboard bookcase white w floral motif
Dolls Vogue Ginny Twin doll bed w headboard bookcase white w floral motif
Paypal   US $9.99
Modern Queen Leather Bed with buttonless Tufted Headboard in an Array of Colours
Modern Queen Leather Bed with buttonless Tufted Headboard in an Array of Colours
Paypal   US $996.00
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White wooden beds can feel very country. This is just an opportunity to stay away from heavy oak designs. Real wood can be quite expensive. It can also be quite heavy in the room and really dominate the space. Just going for a painted wood is really going to change this. If you have a good imagination you can find a lot of these pieces that were popular a few decades ago and really turn them into something a lot more modern. This might even just have subtle iron details. You could paint these out or leave them as is.

For a girl's white bed you want to make sure that it really has an intricate silhouette. A good way to do this is with a canopy bed. A four poster bed will also work. This instantly gives it a princess like feel. You could even just add in subtle touches such as curtains or a canopy on top of it. This could also be in the same white color or you could change it up into a more subtle pink.

The great thing about a white bed that you can really explore is all different kinds of bedding options. One thing that you can do for a contemporary kind of space is just going to be to stick with a monochromatic color palette. You can head to white sales to get high thread count sheets and pair it with a white goose down comforter. This way you won't have to mix and match fabrics. It's great for small spaces because it does look so light and airy.

You can take the cues for your bedding from the style of the bed. For instance if you have a platform bed then this is contemporary. This is going to call for more graphic styles of bedding. A great way to accomplish this is just if you have a more traditional style such as a four poster design then you can go with either an elegant damask print or a simple country quilt.

Creative Commons Photo from Photo Express

Black Picture Frames: Cheap Frames for Photos

Black picture frames really allow you to turn your everyday photos into works of art. This is really a chance to get a very cohesive art installation. It’s also really great because you can create this look with spray paint. This wouldn’t really be possible if you were going with a metallic finish because it would be difficult to get a convincing look. Oftentimes you collect frames over time or get them as gifts. However, this can end up looking a little bit mismatched so just creating it in one color palette is going to give you a cohesive look.

You can really experiment with interesting shapes when you have neutral colors. In this case you’ll want to go with very intricate silhouettes. This could even be a curved frame with lots of glass. Even if it’s entirely made out of glass then you can just change it up so that it feels really coordinated with the rest of your black frames. Just put black and white photos in it just because the frame itself will almost seem to disappear.

Automotive Photo Frame Key Chain Keychain Acrylic Black
Automotive Photo Frame Key Chain Keychain Acrylic Black
Paypal   US $1.00
Coby DP 356 35 LCD Digital Photo Frame 320x240 Black
Coby DP 356 35 LCD Digital Photo Frame 320x240 Black
Paypal   US $33.44
COBY DP700BLK 7 DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME
COBY DP700BLK 7 DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME
Paypal   US $34.95
Philips SPF4080P 8 Inch BoomBoom PhotoFrame and Gadget Hub Piano Black Refurb
Philips SPF4080P 8 Inch BoomBoom PhotoFrame and Gadget Hub Piano Black Refurb
Paypal   US $55.09
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This can also be funky or retro. For a teen’s room head to the dollar store. You can get a lot of wire and bead frames inexpensively. It will just usually have a clear plastic instead of real glass to save money. However, since it is so trendy you probably won’t have it forever. This is why going with cheaper items might be the perfect solution for now.

If you want to go with a subtle Asian design style then look for bamboo silhouettes. This can be a little bit more interesting than other flat varieties. You can also just find inexpensive plastic pieces with this silhouette and then paint it. The same thing goes for whicker frames. Just use paint to really modernize it.

If you have a plain flat frame then really play around it. Just go with a country design style. Use chalkboard paint. Then write the persons names or date in chalk on the frame. You can also then just really play around with different designs that you draw for each season such as flowers and then change out the same frame later on with berries for fall.

One of the cheapest black picture frames is going to use vinyl stickers. This acts as the artwork all by itself. It’s a way to frame out different wall colors. You can also hang traditional frames inside it for a layered look. You’ll want to use entire sets of these on one wall just for cohesion and so it looks more sophisticated.

Pictures with black frames can really solve a lot of design dilemmas. You can really just do an entire wall of black and white photos. This could be up a staircase to really just showcase all of your favorite family pictures. When going with black frames for photos it’s helpful to make sure that your pictures are also black and white so it blends well.

Creative Commons Photo from Foxtongue

Black and White Wallpaper Designs

Black and white patterned wallpaper will keep you out of a design rut. A lot of people don’t like wallpaper because it can be a pain to take down and the color palette is so sophisticated. Instead go with cool black and white designs which are going to be more neutral. This is an opportunity to get a very even look throughout your room.

You can consider going with a retro print. This is going to focus more on a white background. It can have basic outlines of geometric shapes. It can be more formal if you try out black and white striped wallpaper. You will really need to match up the prints with geometric patterns which can be a little bit difficult to do if this is your first wallpaper project. In this case then decorate the rest of your room with plain modern style furniture. This could be plexiglass or just white with stainless steel accents. You can find this at a lot of inexpensive furniture stores but then just kick it up a notch with your wallpaper décor.

ZEBRA SKIN PATTERN BLACK WHITE WALLPAPER KD1798
ZEBRA SKIN PATTERN BLACK WHITE WALLPAPER KD1798
Paypal   US $29.99
Toile black white tree castle lyre wallpaper border
Toile black white tree castle lyre wallpaper border
Paypal   US $29.99
Photographic wallpaper image seashell black and white in the beach
Photographic wallpaper image seashell black and white in the beach
Paypal   US $.99
Photographic wallpaper image Street of Paris black and white
Photographic wallpaper image Street of Paris black and white
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Mimic fabric with this kind of décor. Black and white wallpaper for bedroom designs can mimic a country style ticking. It will need to have a little bit of green or gray shading to it just so that the stripe doesn’t seem too harsh. Then break up the space with painted white antique furniture and a cream distressed iron bed. Ticking uses a thin stripe.

You can also consider black and white wallpaper for a bedroom. A black and white wallpaper border can really be one of the more contemporary ways to do a wallpaper border. Usually this size has really gone out of style a lot. You’ll want to go with a very graphic pattern like a harlequin print. This could even add a more sophisticated touch to a little girls’ room.

Use floral black and white wallpaper to give a more modern design to a very classic pattern. You can do this in a very graphic way by going with a black background. Usually a black wall would seem a little bit intense. You can then just break this up with a neutral color and more feminine pattern. This can even feel more contemporary.

You can also venture into more of an elegant kind of look. This could be damask black and white wallpaper. For more of a vintage effect find lace details. Then break this up with a lot of wide molding on the wall. You could even use this on the front of dresser drawers in a master bedroom or a nursery depending on the size of the space.

The last option is going to give you an elegant kind of design style. Look for a French Country toile. The color palette is going to keep it more gender neutral. This is going to work well with antique furniture or an Oriental rug for a more formal look.