Ideas for Black Hardwoods

Flooring

• Installing black hardwood floors or painting and staining existing hardwood are options if you want black flooring. Dark flooring can be installed in any home, and it works with a variety of design schemes and styles. Whether you choose to create an ultra modern space with a minimalist look, a rustic or eclectic scheme with a range of colors and patterns or something else, black hardwood will act as a starting point for you to build upon for the rest of the decor. One idea is to paint the walls bright white and introduce dark textiles in shades of oxblood, chocolate, sapphire and taupe.

Cabinets

• Black hardwood kitchen cabinets can be dressed up with crystal and metallic pulls and knobs. Recessed lighting also helps to make cabinets look their best. Experiment with solid and glass doors for different looks. When using dark cabinetry, you either can go completely dark or choose light counters and a brightly colored back-splash to inject personality into the space. Black cabinetry can be masculine or feminine depending on the accents and accessories with which you finish the kitchen. For instance, an ornate chandelier adds an element to the cabinets different from chunky metallic pendant lights.

Furniture

• If you are not ready to commit to flooring or cabinetry in black hardwood, try furniture. Whether you choose to purchase a black hardwood dining room set, a headboard or something smaller such as a coffee table, options are available in many sizes and shapes. One idea is to reupholster vintage dining room chairs with a modern pattern such as damask and use a high-gloss piano finish on the woodwork. An alternative is to refinish a settee or a chaise in the same way.

Accessories

• Whether or not you add black hardwood flooring, black accessories will help punctuate your space with style. For instance, create a gallery wall with ornate black wood picture frames and mirrors in a hallway or foyer. Black hardwood side tables help add balance to the space particularly if your home is open-concept and you can see the cabinetry from the living room. Design narrow black hardwood shelves to display art and knickknacks. Another idea is to have a custom railing made of black hardwood and wrought iron or a different metal.