4 High-Impact Ways to Use Black as an Accent Colour

by Carlisle Homes

Take a tip from the design experts and use touches of black to elevate your interior.

Black accents are a decorator’s secret weapon, adding punch, dimension and a contemporary edge to a home. And that’s not all; a few well-placed touches can even ‘zone’ a large, open-plan room. Best of all, you don’t need much to make an impact; just two or three black accents in a room are more than enough to bring in those chic, modern vibes.

Be inspired by these stunning Carlisle display homes where our expert interior designers have used black accents to add instant flair.

1. Window frames

Black frames make your windows look incredibly sleek and smart, whether you’re viewing them from inside or out. To soften their crisp lines in rooms such as bedrooms and living spaces, try adding sheer white or neutral floor-to-ceiling curtains, contrasted with black rods and eyelets for a hint of contemporary.

See how our interior designers have done it with a visit to our Arlington 25 display home at Newhaven Estate in Tarneit, and pick up loads of other great decorating ideas while you’re there!

2. Hardware

Small touch, big impact – step inside our Astoria Grand 55 display home at Attwell Estate and you’ll see just how stunning matt-black hardware and tapware can be. Plus, black fixtures are easier to maintain and conceal watermarks and dust better than polished ones – what more could you love?

Throughout Astoria Grand, our designers have used black, powder-coated metal door levers and pulls to evoke a chic, casual feel. To add a contemporary edge to the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms, they have specified minimalist, matt-black cabinetry handles and tapware, contrasted against pale oak joinery.

3. Furniture

Whether it’s a charcoal sofa, a black-framed rattan headboard, a coffee table with sleek, black legs or a medley of inky velvet and silk cushions on a neutral sofa, there’s no question that black and near-black furniture and soft furnishings bring understated luxury to your home. See it for yourself in the exquisite interior of our Highview Grand display at Meridian Estate.

Good looks aside, black furnishings are also an easy-care option as they won’t show marks in the same way as paler pieces. They are also surprisingly versatile, working equally well in traditional or contemporary settings.

Keen to carve out distinct zones within an open-plan room? A bold black rug on the floor of your living or meals area creates a clearly defined zone, without compromising the open and airy feel of the overall space.

Pair black furnishings with crisp white walls and floor tiles for a timeless, monochromatic look; combine them with natural materials like patterned oak flooring, a rattan credenza and linen sheers for modern-coastal vibes; or layer them with shades of textural grey upholstery and wall coverings for hotel-like opulence.

4. Feature lighting

One of the easiest and most effective ways to introduce black accents to your room scheme is with feature lighting. In the kitchen of our Astoria Grand 55 display home at Meridian Estate in Clyde North, a trio of textural black wicker Herman pendants from Beacon Lighting create a striking contrast against the streamlined, pale-grey joinery, while the open-weave structure of the lights creates a warm and inviting play of shadow and light.  

Meanwhile, in the kitchen of our Amberley 29BP display home at Meridian Estate in Clyde North, a trio of ornate glass pendants with classic black fittings creates an eye-catching focal point in the otherwise streamlined, neutral space – a beautiful interplay of light and dark, old and new.