There is an inside joke about me within the team of MassaRossa Luxury Homes that everything I do is black. I will admit, I wear a lot of black, my nails are black, my work bag is black and even my master bedroom is painted black. While I know color is good and needed in life, I gravitate towards black and I have to make myself choose a color! Especially when I go shopping. I have to purposefully not look for black items. You just need a good black blazer, tee shirt, sweater, jeans, the perfect black dress, etc. Should I go on!? When I saw Heidi Klum wear black nails I was elated because if she can wear them and look classy, I can too! LOL

I have had black in my personal home design choices since my 20’s. The main reason is because it just never goes out of style. It also feels sophisticated and I like high contrast. All the personal preferences aside, you see black in design more and more these days. Or do we? As you study design and the use of black you actually see the use of checkered black and white tile from centuries ago. It’s in ancient Roman design, European Cathedrals and found it’s way in America in the 19th century by European immigrants. The use of black and white dates back to when early human history started to appreciate design.

What I love most about black and white is it’s versatility. No matter what style you are or love, black and white always works and adds a touch of class and timelessness. Don’t be afraid to add a little in your home or go bold and let it be the theme… I promise, it will NEVER go out of style.

A few black tips:

Black isn’t just black:
Black can go green, blue and red. So study the color and make sure the hue you select is the color you’re going for. My favorite black paint color is Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams because it’s a soft black that doesn’t feel harsh. I can use it on every style of house and I’ve never regretted using it.

When you paint with black:

Make sure you choose the right paint finish. If you want that glassy look, go high gloss. But on walls and cabinets a more matte finish tends to look better.

A touch of black:

Adding a touch of black to your home can ground the design and actually make other elements pop. Bringing weight in with the color black can actually help make a room feel more cohesive (the same goes with white).

I hope this helps with your love or aversion to black. No one can deny it’s versatility and timelessness!

Designer with a purpose,

Micah Abbananto