Black is back.

As you can see by the lack of any new content,I have been crazy busy for the last 4 months. So its a new year and as with everything else there is always new design trends to follow. One of the trends this year is in my opinion not really very new but to some it may seem like a pretty bold and dramatic move.

I am talking about the colour black, well its not really a colour but we wont get into the details. Using black as a colour in small doses has always been the rule of thumb for any interior designer and for a very good reason. Black as Lynda Reveevs puts it " is the eyebrow on your face, the dot at the end of a sentence, the frame on a photo, the knob on a door". black has the ability to cut through, punctuate and define a space. One designer trick is to place a single black standing lamp in a room, this helps to anchor and define the space. So use a little bit of black to help define your space, got it. But wait. This years trend goes above and beyond that. Think black dishes, black lamps, black mirror frames, off-black floors and of course black furniture.
Most furniture manufactures have expanded their furniture line to include black as a finish option. Ethan Allen, Restoration hardware and even Ikea all offer a line of black furniture and furnishings.

As with any good design moderation is key. Using black is all about layers, it is an essential colour to throw into your decorating mix but don't make it the be all end all. The great thing about black is that it goes with anything. Its like that little black dress, its the chameleon colour. Do you have an old piece of furniture that you think just has to go? Paint it black, add some new hardware and you will be amazed at the results.

Black has an amazing power to visually pull together a room, it can be edgy or it can be elegant either way when all else fails this year why don't you try black.