Black furniture in the living room - how to avoid the overwhelming effect?

Uncompromising, romantic, decadent, minimalist, bold or subdued - black has many versions and in each version intrigues, brings out the beauty of the interior, tempts with timeless elegance. It works perfectly with other colors, especially with white, shades of wood, beige, gray. Monochromatic designs are currently in fashion, as well as those embellished with a bit of shiny gold. Modern black furniture with a matte or glossy finish is very popular. And although black is associated with darkness and austerity, it does not have to burden the interior. Quite the opposite! It can please the eye, create the atmosphere of the interior, and above all provide comfortable conditions for relaxation.

In this article, we will tell you how to arrange an elegant living room using dark-colored furnishings, what to combine black with, and how to make it enchant with its indispensable beauty.

Why is it worth choosing black furniture in the living room?

The arrangement of the living room with black furniture is one of the most fashionable trends of recent years. It will appeal to minimalists, but not only. It will emphasize the individual character of the interior decorated in the spirit of Scandinavia, glamour, modern classic or art deco. Black combined with gold or silver elements is associated with luxury and refinement. It has that "something" that makes the room gain atmosphere.

The perfect example would be the ZYLIO 3 living room furniture. What makes it stand out? Subtly rounded edges, easy to arrange, and stylish milling while maintaining a minimalist form. The set includes spacious chests of drawers and a coffee table with plenty of storage space under the top. The whole thing is made of solid laminated furniture board, and the cabinets are equipped with a push to open system. This unique set will complement the modern decor of the living room. It will also work well in the modern classic and dark academia projects. It will be complemented by works of art, paintings, bas-reliefs, valuable volumes, etc.

Black = elegance, modernity, timeless style

Black furniture in the living room is the perfect background for colorful accessories and matches various finishing materials. It works great with modern stucco, marble, granite, wood, exposed brick on the wall or concrete. In such a company, it will certainly not overwhelm the arrangement, so when choosing dark cabinets, wardrobes , chests of drawers or display cabinets, it is worth choosing lighter wall colors, as well as such elements of equipment that visually brighten the interior. This can be a decorative mirror, glass surfaces, glossy accessories. An example is the elegant CALABRIA 11 set for the TV corner. It will not take up much space, and thanks to its simple shape and capacious shelves, it will hold a lot of things. This timeless collection will appeal to lovers of minimalism.

Light and space - the most important allies of black furniture

Exposed windows, shiny fronts, appropriate lighting – all these elements “open up” the space, adding lightness to it. Artificial light, just like daylight, can work wonders in an interior. It can be used to separate a specific part of the room, to display stylish accessories, and above all to create the atmosphere of the arrangement. Hence the huge popularity of furniture lighting. Illuminated shelves, racks and display cabinets look great, while at the same time creating a unique atmosphere.

Natural and artificial lighting Mirrors, glazing, light background

To gain even more daylight, take care of the appropriate window decoration in the living room. Give up heavy curtains, very patterned curtains, black roller blinds. If you do not want to achieve a dark, overwhelmingly gloomy arrangement, use black in moderation. It is worth sticking to this rule, especially where the room is small, narrow, with limited access to natural light. In such interiors, choose a light background for black furniture. You can try an effective glass partition, symbolically separating the relaxation area from the dining area. In addition, it is great a black coffee table with a glass top or dark furniture with mirror inserts will work well here. Any shiny surfaces reflect light wonderfully, making the interior seem larger than it actually is.

Balanced colors - what to combine black with?

Black furniture and light walls are a perfect duo for almost any interior. It perfectly matches subtle pastels, beiges, currently fashionable cashmere, green, gray and other earthy colors. Black in excess optically reduces space, which is why it is so important to maintain a balance between dark and light elements in the room.

The black SELVA sofa is a great example of furniture that fits into an elegant living room in a small apartment. It is practical, easy to arrange, resistant to damage and stains, and most importantly, when unfolded, it offers a comfortable sleeping surface. What colors to combine it with? It will look good in the company of light wood on the floor and a white or light gray wall.

The living area will be complemented by stylish living room furniture, such as the WILLOW set. Cabinets, chests of drawers and coffee tables from this collection have high legs that introduce lightness and make it easier to keep clean. Milled fronts in the shade of artisan oak will introduce a climate of coziness. They will harmonize with projects inspired by nature itself. We are talking about, among others, Scandinavian, eco, boho, rustic or japandi style.

Black furniture and proportions - how not to overwhelm the space?

When decorating a small interior, you should be moderate in choosing black furnishings. Carefully plan the arrangement of dark furniture and accessories. An alternative to a black wall unit that takes up the entire wall from floor to ceiling can be a single chest of drawers, a display cabinet, a coffee table or a sofa in black. To lighten the space a bit, it is worth choosing lighter furniture with black elements - legs, handles, countertops.

Black in the arrangement of the living room should attract attention, but not dominate. Used skillfully, it can improve the proportions of the room. Example? In a long but narrow living room, place dark furniture against the shorter wall. You can expose it against the background of stylish wallpaper, wooden slats or exclusive natural stone. Keep the longer side walls in lighter colors. In this way, you will optically shorten and widen the space.

Textiles and accessories - how to warm up an interior with black furniture?

How to warm up an interior with black furniture? Above, we mentioned the wood motif, which perfectly "cozies up" the arrangement. However, there are also other ways to break the austerity of a room bathed in dark colors. Here are a few of them:

• soft textiles – high-quality fabrics, a thick blanket, a decorative pillowcase or an elegant table runner will make relaxation in the living room more pleasant;
• green plants – we are talking about fresh flowers, as well as botanical and floral motifs on wallpaper, upholstery fabrics, curtains, etc.
• favourite accessories – paintings, posters, graphics, souvenirs from your travels or a collection of books will not only diversify the decor, but above all, they will give it an individual character, in line with the preferences of the household members;
• baskets, containers, storage boxes made of natural materials (wicker, rattan, jute, wood, sea grass) will fulfill a practical function and at the same time introduce a cosy atmosphere to the living room.

Regardless of the interior style, all of the home accessories mentioned above work fantastically with black furniture.

Carpets, curtains, pillows - soft textures and light colors balance the depth of black

An elegant living room with black furniture will be complemented by accessories in lighter colors. Noteworthy are, among others, pleasant to the touch pillows, throws and other textiles with soft textures. Light velvet curtains or extremely fashionable boucle fabrics in shades of beige will balance the dark decor. They will be a counterbalance to the black furniture, exposing its depth.

Are you decorating an interior with darker color accents? Feel free to combine colors, structures, patterns. Treat current interior design trends as signposts. Do you prefer maximalism to minimalism? At Furnitop.co.uk you will find a wide range of products that fit into the aesthetics of glamour, art deco, modern classic and many others.

Stylish inspirations - in What styles does black furniture work best in?

Dark furniture, like black interior accessories, corresponds with many styles. They will look great in a project maintained in the spirit of dark academia, reminiscent of Victorian architecture, Gothic style and 19th-century decadence. Designs drawing heavily on old eras combine classics with modernity. A black display cabinet will present unique exhibits - an intriguing bust, an antique vase or framed volumes. In such a setting, chests of drawers, wardrobes and tables in darker shades will work perfectly. An example is the unique DANTE collection. Rounded shapes, subtle milling, jewelry handles and legs with gold inserts are the quintessence of refinement. An ideal proposition for lovers of dark academia or eclectic glam aesthetics.

Modern minimalism, industrial, glamour, japandi

A modern-style living room loves black, which can be found in many projects inspired by Scandinavian, loft, minimalist, and even Japandi aesthetics. Maximalist interiors with a touch of glamour are also often bathed in dark colors, complemented by patterned textiles, wallpaper prints, expressive moldings, and gilded accessories. Black upholstered furniture looks tasteful and is extremely functional. The SAFIR reclining armchair covered with velvet fabric is proof of this. Equipped with an electric reclining function and a USB port, it guarantees the highest comfort of rest. Place it in the TV corner, by the bookcase in the living room or in the work space and enjoy comfort at any time.

Do you prefer naturalness in interiors? Go for the Japandi aesthetic, which is a combination of Scandinavian and Japanese style. Both trends have a common denominator: emphasis on natural materials, neutral colors, simple form and practicality. In this setting, black furniture and accessories will also find their place.

Are you looking for black furniture for an elegant living room? Do you want light solutions that will lighten the space? Get inspired at Furnitop.co.uk!