How to get a black and white colour palette just right

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Modern design is about being bold. Designers use striking colour combinations that are commanding yet complimentary, and one of the best ways to achieve this is the black and white palette. But black and white isn't restricted to the cool and modern, traditional styles use black and white to evoke warmth and comfort. Asian design has always used the yin and yang interplay of black on white, while in Germany traditional farm houses incorporated black exposed rafters on a white exterior to fabulous effect.

But it's not always easy to know how to go about it. Black can suck the light out of a room, while white can end up looking bland and unimaginative. We're going to look at some designs that have incorporated a black and white colour palette to perfection, and give you some great tips for using it in your own home to stunning effect. 

1. Use black as a feature colour

As any designer will tell you, white creates a sense of expansiveness. This is especially important in modern apartments, where space can be limited, but we still want to feel comfortable. However if you go all white, sometimes the design can feel a little dated and boring. This designer has opted to use black as a feature colour, creating drama, framing the windows, and drawing the eye to some fabulous minimalist furniture choices, while the room itself is still flooded with light.

2. Use geometric patterns

The first thing your eye catches when looking at this room is the fabulous contrast of the white floating staircase on the black feature wall. We love the way it breaks up the wall, and the glass bannister reflects light, while not interrupting the pattern. In fact this whole room has used simple right angles to make the most of the space in an unobtrusive but creative way. We especially like how the furniture inverses the feature wall concept, using white for the couches and coffee table, and black for the accent pieces like the vase and magazine box.

3.Tie the whole room together

Really committing to a solely black and white palette is a great way to achieve a modern feel in your home, and it's important to consider everything from the linen to the ornaments, just like the designers have in this fantastic bedroom. And it's not just the colours that are contrasting; we love how the design pairs up rudimentary shapes in the square picture frames and the circular ornament with the abstract splashes on the bedspread.

4. Use bold shapes

To get the most out of the interplay of light and dark get creative in the design of your house. We love how the architects of this home have split the facade into triangles with the intersecting lines of the first and second floor, but we really love how they've drawn attention to it with the black and white contrast. One of the best aspects of the black and white look is that its simplicity allows you to get more creative with form, so don't be shy to try out something bold!

5. Try out a traditional Asian design

Chinese and Japanese design has always featured the opposing forces of light and dark, and those same principles can still be applied in a modern setting to sensational affect. With black rafters outlining the white walls, this home harkens back to the screen doors of ancient times. The key here is to keep it sparse, creating a flow to the room and promoting tranquility and reflection.

6. Use nature to your advantage

It's important when designing your home to consider the entire environment, and where possible to incorporate it into the aesthetic. With glass walls looking out to the garden this home had some design choices made for it before they even applied a coat of paint; natural browns and greens were always going to contribute to the look and feel of the interior. Black and white provides a great canvas for these natural colours to stand out, and we love how the potted plants tie the inside of the home to the garden outside.

7. Nothing is just black and white

Do you love colour, but don't want to overwhelm your home? In the same way that the house above used black and white to accentuate the natural colours inherent in the design, this kitchen uses black and white as a base for some splashes of serious colour. And remember black and white goes with everything. The lime green feature looks stunning, but it's hard to imagine using it for the whole kitchen without throwing back to the 1970's. By using a black and white palette for the dominant features of the room, the designers were then free to appease their more quirky tendencies with bright fun colours.

Have these black and white designs got your creative juices flowing? For more on simple but highly effective colour palettes, check out this great article on neutrals.

What do you think of these great black and white designs? How would you use them in your own home? Let us know below!

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