While Scandinavian-style designs with lots of light wood, white walls, and pops of pretty greens and yellows are certainly popular, that type of color scheme is not the only way to bring sophistication into your home. When we think of blacks and grays, they can feel damp, cold, and unwelcoming, but in the hands of the right designer, they are anything but. The two homes featured here use black, gray, and white (with the occasional color) to great effect, creating spaces that are sleek, simple, and stylish but still functional and even welcoming. Take a look inside and you just might rush out for your own bucket of black paint.
It isn't every family that wants a brightly colored and sunny living room. For some, soft gray carpeting and unique floor lamps make for a perfectly welcoming space.
The dark walls and heavy curtains make it easy to close in the living room for a perfectly cozy night at home, screening movies.
And when the curtains are open, the room does get a good amount of light -- there just aren't that many surfaces off of which it can reflect.
Still, the homeowners are obviously not without their sense of whimsy, since two furry dining room pendants hang over their sleek dining table.
Different shades of gray add interest and dimension to the overall design with darker colors on the walls and lighter for the furniture and rugs.
The kitchen is a bit brights, utilizing a white wall for the appliances and a white countertop as well. Even dark color aficionados have to be able to wake up in the morning.
Here's a closeup of the fun, textured dining room pendants, dangling over a white table and chairs.
Houseplants are always a recommended way to bring color into a home, and they go with absolutely anything, even black.
The herb planters in this kitchen are the right size for the kitchen island -- not so big as to take up too much counterspace.
In this first bedroom, not only do we get a sense of the homeowner's personality but we get plenty of (one) color.
The bright yellow walls and furnishings in this bedroom are nearly garish with their brightness. The Star Wars decor thrown in underlines the 'dark side' vibe here.
No one who spends even a single night in this bedroom will ever forget the importance of hard work.
While the kind of "tough love" messaging scrawled across these walls isn't for everyone, you cannot deny that it's a little bit motivating.
Black, yellow and white are certainly not the most calming colors, but they do make for a memorable bedroom together.
One small, flat bed is all that indicates that this space is a bedroom at all. It could perhaps be used as a home office with a bed to fall asleep on when you are feeling particularly "weak."
A lot of natural light is necessary to brighten up a space with black walls like this one.
The matte black walls almost seem to absorb light.
The other bedroom in this home is a bit more soothing with its use of gray and black, from the bed linens to the neat black light fixtures.
The bedroom pendant lights are again the most whimsical feature of the room's decor. They look at bit like acorns or artichokes dangling by the side of the bed.
A textured wall above the headboard resists the same light absorbing feeling of the other bedroom.
Recessed lighting above the bed is also a practical and flattering touch.
This comfortable-looking and unique chair could easily be used for a bit of work or as a cozy vanity.
With the curtains pulled back, it's in the perfect place for someone to apply makeup.
The bathroom has the most color with this truly unique mossy backsplash.
The white and green design in the bathroom nearly doesn't fit with the rest of the house, but some dark wall paneling brings it into harmony.
White and dark gray are more common in bathrooms than living rooms, and you can see how well they work.
The second home is not quite as minimalist as the first, but the design does revolve around the same colors: black, gray, and white.
In the living room, an oversized tufted sofa takes center stage, while a small kitchen and dining area in black and white are off to one side.
The kitchen brings in just a few copper elements to pop from the blacker than black walls. Notice how the same mysterious lighting is used throughout - from floor lamps to dining overheads.
A black dining set perched on top of a black carpet could evoke something much more gothic than we see here, lighting and style make it much more contemporary.
The overhead lighting in this home is not nearly as whimsical, instead taking a much more practical and subtle approach.
Copper kitchen accents fit perfectly with the black and white surfaces.
Black countertops with white cabinetry could feel outdated or old-fashioned, but not how they're here, with total sleekness.
In the bedroom, the style is a bit more relaxed, bringing in a bit of patter and texture with the bed's headboard and hanging tapestry.
We are fans of the Husk chair by Patricia Urquiola featured here. In fact it makes it to our list of the most comfortable reading chairs.
Finally, a black and white bathroom with reflective walls, a clawfoot tub, and patterned tiles completes this home of cool contrast.
