20 Gorgeous Black Living Rooms

What’s not to love about a moody black wall (or several)? Incorporating this classic hue all throughout the home is always an inspired idea, but there’s something especially striking about a black living room . No matter if you live in a modern apartment, a historic Victorian , or a rustic loft, a black living room is always a good idea.

We rounded up 20 examples of exactly this—and while most of these rooms incorporate black in the form of painted walls, note that you can also draw in the color through furniture pieces, lighting, rugs, and accessories. Not to mention, there’s always wallpaper !

Another nice quality about the color black is that it’s just so classic. Just as black clothing is timeless, the same rings true when it comes to black living rooms. With traditional black, you can paint the walls once and rest assured that the shade will still be relevant years down the line. So what are you waiting for? Check out 20 of our fave black living rooms and get inspired.

1. Use black wall paint to make a living room feel like a cozy cocoon

Get hygge with it! Make a cabin-like space feel extra cozy with black paint, which is eye-catching, but won’t overwhelm the senses. To keep things interesting, opt for accent pieces in bright white or marble, as seen in this Atlanta loft (which belongs to none other than our Lifestyle Director, Taryn Williford!).

2. Or use black wall paint to give a plain living room drama

A layer of black paint spices up and adds drama to even the most cookie cutter of living rooms. If you’re worried about black walls feeling too claustrophobic, take a page from this California bungalow : Airy curtains and an assortment of plants keep the space feeling full of life.

3. Choose a black accent wall to make a large space feel more intimate

If you’re looking to make an open floor plan feel a bit more cozy, a dark color like black is an excellent choice for the walls. Using black wall paint will make an expansive space feel just a bit smaller and intimate. Special architectural features like wood, industrial style windows, and exposed brick still shine in this Chicago loft , which benefits from a large black accent wall.

4. Or make a small space feel larger with black paint

On the contrary, you can also use black paint to make your tiny studio feel more spacious than it is. The color can blur the edges of a space and fool the eye. It’ll make a small room seem more expansive, not to mention it just looks oh-so-chic!

5. Opt for a single black wall for a statement

Statement walls often bring to mind funky wallpaper or a bright-colored hue, but black paint can be equally magical! The shade also helps camouflage the oversized television in this Austin living room , creating the illusion of a more formal space.

6. Paint everything in your living room black

If a statement wall isn’t for you, you can always go all in and paint your entire living room black—and that includes built-ins and the fireplace! This room in a California house looks nice and moody, and we can only imagine how lovely it would be to curl up by the fire with a good book. Using a matte black paint over multiple surfaces has the effect of modernizing an outdated space’s features.

7. Apply black paint to “hide” a feature you don’t love

Black is an excellent color to use when you’re looking to do a bit of camouflaging! If you don’t love your fireplace, built-ins, or some other element in your home you can’t change, consider painting them black to help minimize their appearance, as seen in the Missouri home above.

8. Pair a black surface with a large piece of black furniture

If you love the color black but your rental agreement bars you from repainting the walls, have no fear! You can still incorporate the hue in your living room in the form of furniture and textiles. A black sofa paired with a black rug is a recipe for success, as demonstrated in this South Carolina home , and will add plenty of dramatic dark color to your space without painting the walls.

9. Use black to emphasize rustic features

This New York home is full of architectural charm (beamed ceilings, we’re looking at you) but also features modern touches in the form of furniture, lighting, and yes, black walls! The hue provides a contrast to the natural wood while still giving the beams the attention they deserve. This helps modernize the room to match the furnishings, while still letting the beams shine.

10. Paint bookshelves or built-ins black to enhance your collections (and camouflage your tech)

Painting built-ins not only looks stunning, it means that white and brass accents will contrast and pop against their dark backdrop. The color also helps hide tech items of the same shade, such as record players and speakers, as this U.K. home demonstrates.

11. Employ black to make art stand out

Similarly, black walls will allow for your artwork to truly stand out, particularly if you’re hanging images that are comprised of lighter colors. The photographs displayed throughout this living room in Argentina captured our attention immediately, much more than they would if they were displayed again a white wall.

12. Choose wallpaper with a black background

If you’re looking for something a little less severe than a solid painted black wall, paper featuring cheerful prints atop a black background can be a nice alternative. We’re all for the pattern mixing going on in this St. Louis home , too!

13. Consider shou sugi

A shou sugi wall (a traditional Japanese method of wood preservation that involves charred wood) adds not only lovely texture to any room, but also a dramatic black accent, as seen in the Scandinavian-style Dallas home above.

14. Go goth

This Victorian home in Virginia is certainly full of intrigue, and while it may be off the beaten path, the Gothic look honors the space’s historic roots. We bet this would be a pretty amazing setting for a Halloween party.

15. Embrace vintage Victorian vibes

If a vintage feel is more your speed, you can 100 percent recreate that look in your Victorian home. Black walls, a glass chandelier, and vintage-looking furniture and accessories will transform your home.

16. Use it to bring harmony to a maximal space

Love to feature a large display of your artwork and decorative finds? Black walls can help tone down a more maximalist space to ensure it looks curated, not cluttered. The setup in this Bay Area apartment strikes the perfect balance.

17. Chose a blue so dark it’s almost black

Not ready to go all the way? The right shade of blue can definitely pass as black depending on the lighting in your space. Deep blue looks wonderful paired with most neutrals, as seen in this U.K. rental , and also looks fabulous alongside brass pieces.

18. Combine with bright colors for a surprisingly energetic space

Take black walls and then add pops of color in the form of throw pillows, lighting, wall art, and the like to keep things looking low key and cheery. This Chicago rental proves that a little bit of brightness can add energy to your living room’s decor.

19. DIY a black wall pattern

Jazz up a solid black wall with some fun decals or craft a geometric pattern for an instant artful touch, like in this DC living room . Use stencils, tape, or wallpaper cutouts to create something unique.

20. Match your sofa to a black wall to let the accessories take center stage

When you pair black walls with a dark colored sofa, your other accents will shine, so choose them accordingly! This English home is full of quirky pieces that speak for themselves.

Love what you see? Check out more black living room inspiration in Apartment Therapy’s Color Search tool!