Black Paint Schemes

Railings, with its generous dose of blue pigment, is versatile enough to be used anywhere you’d consider a pure black paint, but with an added underlying complexity that creates the most dramatic and enveloping spaces. It looks especially smart used across walls and woodwork, as this modern pantry attests; in a family kitchen, it pairs beautifully with grey-blue De Nimes walls, a white marble worktop, and sleek gold fittings. Recreate the look with our step-by-step guide to painting kitchen cabinets.

Pitch Black is as pure a black paint as you can get. With an unsurpassable depth and an almost velvety quality, this true black requires some daring to use on walls where a softer, off black paint may be more forgiving, but as a striking accent to add structure and personality to any space, it’s hard to beat. Follow the lead of these modern living rooms by highlighting beams or bookcases in a black wood paint, like Modern Eggshell or Full Gloss.

As its name suggests, Off-Black is milder than an intense jet black, making it more flattering to adjacent colours and easier to live with in larger doses. While appearing modern and moody in a small space, it takes on a different character when used outside, creating elegant front doors and decorative elements with a touch more softness.

Tanner’s Brown, which appears almost black in lower lighting, has a warmth and softness that makes it a soothing alternative to cooler black shades, creating particularly welcome living rooms. If you’re feeling a little bolder, try rich Paean Black, with its underlying purple tones. On walls, it creates a cosy and undeniably chic feel, but we particularly love it on kitchen cabinetry in combination with Sulking Room Pink.

Being created with our own water based paint, no collection of daring dark schemes would be complete without a mention of our handcrafted wallpaper. A dark wallpaper with black painted trim is always a winning combination – just see this opulent bathroom, where our Lotus wallpaper is paired with Off-Black woodwork and ceiling, for proof. Meanwhile, as a feature wall in an otherwise neutral space, this Paean Black and copper colourway of our Tessella wallpaper instantly draws attention.