I am not a witch (at least not most of the time), but I do believe in black magic. No, not the black hat and broomstick kind of magic. I am speaking of the magic of the color black. As women, we all know that the “Little Black Dress” has magical properties. It makes us feel slimmer, sexier, and more confident. Black is always elegant, and it’s an undisputed power color. And black accents can have a similar magical effect on home decor.
As you know if you read this blog, we recently refinished our hardwood floors. After staining the floors a dark rich mahogany, the light oak banister now stood out like a sore thumb. We looked into having the banister stripped and stained to match the floors, but the price was crazy high. I did some research online and discovered that many people were using a product called gel stain by General Finishes. This product allows you to stain over existing wood without having to strip it. All that is required is a light sanding to take the shine off the polyurethane. I could have used a gel stain that matched the floor, but I decided to use an ebony stain that would tie in with the other black elements in my decor. The product is easy to use, but I warn you that the fumes are extremely noxious. It is best to use it on a day when you can open your windows.
Black is a strong color, and because of that, it is important to use it multiple times throughout your home to create balance. We have a black lacquered baby grand piano that is such a large dark element that if I didn’t use black elsewhere in my interior design, it would draw they eye like a great black hole.
Admittedly, I use quite a bit of black in my interior design because I enjoy the strong contrast of the color against the white and pale yellow of my walls and cabinets. But, even in a lighter more monochromatic color scheme, I have found that little touches of black can serve to ground the space and add punch to an otherwise neutral decor–no witchcraft required.
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Lisa, the stairs look great! I love putting in black accents too. We close tomorrow on our new home. I want to paint our bookshelves black. We will see! Im excited about putting my touch in our home. Hampton is a precious black accent!
Thanks so much Deborah. I am so happy about your new house. Congrats!
Somehow, black gives instant sophistication to any decor. Your black accents and accessories are very attractive!
Thank you so much for your kind comment.
I too am heavily into black magic, all I need is a hand of glory for my decor to be complete! I know a guy.
No joke though, your house is gorgeous.
Thanks so much.
I love using dark and light contrasts. Your stairs turned out beautifully.
Thank you so much for your kind comment.
What a beautiful home you have! And I love all of the black that you added and decorated with. Just a lovely look!
Thank you so much for your kind words about my “Black Magic” post. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Smitten with your beautiful stairs. The black touches in your home really are the ‘magical touch’. Your home is gorgeous.
Thanks so much for your kind words about my “Black Magic” post. I really appreciate it.
I love touches of black too. I have been SERIOUSLY thinking of painting some inside doors black!
Thanks for commenting. I would totally go for it with your doors. They add so much drama to your interior.
I love all your touches of black – and your dog is precious!
Shelley
Thanks so much for commenting. My dog Hampton would be the ultimate black accessory if only he didn’t shed so much!