Black walls are bold, daring, and elegant. This room went from bright white to black and the effect is stunning.
I love white. It’s bright, it’s clean and crisp looking and it’s the perfect backdrop to any style, any decor. And it has my heart. Probably always will. (You can see pics of my dining room in all it’s white glory here in this post.)
So WHY on God's green earth would I go and paint a room black??Click To TweetBlame it on the changing of the seasons.
Blame it on a wild hair.
Blame it on seeing one too many gorgeous dark rooms on Pinterest.
Blame it on just wanting to try something waaaaayyy outside of my “norm”.
Whatever it was, I gathered up my boys and dragged them along skipped gleefully to my local Home Depot to scrutinize all the different shades of black on the BEHR Marquee display.
*This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Full disclosure here.*
Which shade of black?
To be noted: there are as many shades of black as there are shades of white. It is both fun and overwhelming at the same time. But mostly fun. 😉
I chose Limousine Leather by BEHR Marquee – it was the blackest black I could find without any weird purple or brown undertones. With the woodwork in my dining room, I wanted to be sure it was BLACK – and not “purple-y or brown-y black”.
Here goes!!
Look at that wet paint! (Also, the real life happening with kids’ shoes and dishes in the background. When a room calls to be painted, everything else must be put on hold. That’s how we roll here.) 😉
But I got my one wall done and sent a photo to my Aunt Judy, not really sure what she was going to say. She’s been painting walls in homes for a living for years. I trust her….aaaand she encouraged me to do the whole room.
Say what?? LOL! Obviously, she loved the effect the black walls were giving me.
So after a little back and forth in my head, I dove in. My boys loved the color, too. “Go big or go home, right?” 😀
OH.
Did I mention that Mr. 1915 was gone for work for a couple days when I decided to paint this room? Yep. And he had no idea that I was going to paint it BLACK. Ha ha!! “Surprise!!????” (insert nervous laughter here)
This was either going to be the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back or he was gonna smile, shrug, and roll with it.
Only time would tell.
Note: As I mentioned earlier, I was just going to do one wall, so I didn’t think one wall was worth it to get out my HomeRight Paint Stick EZ Twist. However, had I known that I was going to do the whole room, I would have definitely used it. It would have saved me a bunch of time. Oh well.
To say I’m delighted with how my black dining room turned out would be a massive understatement. And with all the Fall decor that’s coming out of storage, these black walls are going to really highlight all the rich tones and colors of the season.
*Sidenote: I almost edited the tar out of the below photo. When the light hits this wall just right, you can totally see where there used to be a door…and a shabby patch job done by who-knows-who. (I didn’t even know it was there until I painted the wall black) You see, 1915 House used to be a duplex, back in WWII and these walls have seen a LOT over the past 100+ years. But I decided to leave the photo alone. This house has stories to tell – and walls where doors once were is part of her story. I love her in her imperfection and scars. (But I might do some board and batten down the road just to polish her up. She deserves it.)
And that chair? She’s pretty special, too. She was a gift to my Momma when she turned 16 and was learning the guitar. The chair needs work and love. But once again, I love her as she is. There is so much beauty in the imperfection, if we’re willing to see it, sweet friend. So look past the flaws and see the beauty inside.
This advice works for really well for people, too. 😉
When Mr. 1915 returned from his work trip, he walked in the door and immediately saw the black walls in the dining room…..I so desperately wanted to video his reaction but I didn’t hear him coming home…
He took one look, gave me a little smile and said,” Went black, huh?”
LOL!!!
Totally anticlimactic.
I’m telling you, he’s really hard to throw for a loop. He just rolls with all my crazy ideas and things I do in our home. God knew I needed a laid-back guy and Mr. 1915 is just that.
Praise be. 😀
For more paint inspiration and ideas, be sure to check out the projects from some of my friends below!
Join us the last day of each month for a different Inspired Makers Challenge
Follow with #InspiredMakers and #InspiredMakersChallenge to see more amazing projects each month!
August Challenge: Paint Changes Everything, with your hosts:
Lisa @ The Purple Hydrangea | Sarah @ 1915 House | Kim @ Farmhouse Made
Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim | Kimm @ Reinvented | Janice @ Sawdust Sisters
Denise @ My Thrifty House | Suzanne @ Shop at Blu | Susie @ The Chelsea Project | Susanne @ Pearl Street Designs
Oh how I live this!! We get eachother. Dark walls have my heart eyes.
They are pretty swoon worthy!! 😉 Your walls were major inspo, my friend!
Wow! I love black walls and yours are just stunning with your wood trim and piano!
Thank you, Dara!! I’m so glad you like them, too! 🙂
I think the black looks very elegant and it shows off your woodwork exceptionally well. I love it.
🙂 gwingal
Thank you so much, Nikki! I’m so glad you like them. 🙂
Just fab! If we had good lighting in this house I would have painted my music room black. As you know we have similar woodwork and I came very close to black about a year ago. Now it is a very, very dark, almost black hunter green, but I am getting ready to go lighter because the house is heavily shaded and we just need more light. It is most excellent for your home though!
I totally hear you, Amber. If I didn’t have a wall of windows that face east, I’m not sure I would have gone black, either. Honestly, I can foresee me repainting the walls light again, come Springtime. 🙂 I love painting rooms…
So, this takes my breath away! I am such a sucker for black and brown or black and wood tones. This is amazing!!! How dramatic and perfect with your Piano.
Hi, Deb!! Oh, I’m so glad you like it! It is a huge change, but I’m loving the cozy vibe it gives for the coming seasons… 😉 Have a lovely day!
Oh wow I just LOVE this! Followed your insta-stories.. i really think this looks perfect!
Thank you, Medina!! 😀 It’s such a fun change!
You are brave! But the result looks amazing and dramatic. I wanted to paint my bedroom black when I was a teen but my mother wouldn’t let me.
Ha ha!! I’m sure my mom wouldn’t have let me paint my room black when I was a teen, either! 😉 Have a lovely day!! 🙂
You pulled it off and it looks GORGEOUS!! Just that photo with the chair was enough to get me excited. Very brave lady you are lucky to have someone who supports you in your creativity. Let’s see what you are going to fill this room with now. And and we say perfection is overrated!!
Oh you’re so sweet, Mary – thank you so much!! 😀
WOW!!! LOVE the black! It looks absolutely perfect! I don’t think I am there yet to go black… but you have totally given me a nudge in the direction.
Ha ha!! Well, I’m so glad you like it, Anika!! 😀 Thanks!
Oh Sarah, it’s just GLORIOUS. I’ve only been brave enough for a small section of chalkboard paint wall in our kitchen, but you have inspired me to go further. LOVE IT!!
Do it, Kimm!! 😀 It’s only paint and it’s so fun to play with walls… I’m cheering you on!! And thanks for the kind words, sweet friend! Have a great day!
Girl, you have more guts than I do. I would LOVE to paint a room black but I do not possess those guts and my hubby would not “roll with it” very well. But it looks fabulous and all the beautiful wood work really pops now. Not to mention what it does for the furniture and accessories that are against/near the wall. Way to go, it looks awesome.
Ha ha!! Maybe one of these days one of my projects will throw Mr 1915 for a loop – but not today. 😀 I’m so glad you like it!! It’s a fun change for the seasons… 😀
Wow….amazing! I am more stunned at you going black since you are a die hard lover of white painted walls. Great job Sarah.
LOL!!! It sure is a fun color for the coming months, but I’m confident this room will be white again – probably come Springtime. 😉 It’s just so fun to play with walls! 😀 Thanks, Denise!
Girl…I though I had the wrong blog! BLACK???? I love it and it fits so well! Who would have thought?? Incredible!
ROTFL!!! Did you wonder where you were?? 😀 I’m just keeping you on your toes! LOL! I’m so happy you like it – thanks, Sue!! 😀 <3
Girl! You outdid me in the bold department with this one, I love it!! It looks so sophisticated, that color against the wood is absolutely stunning! Well played my friend 🙂
Oh funny! But I love how your shelves turned out, Susanne! Thanks for the kind words! Have a great day 🙂
Sarah, you are so cute my friend! My hubby is the exact same way. He holds all my lumber for me while I glue, screw, nail, what have you! And then he sits and watches the baseball game 🙂 I love the story of the door and the chair. Simply beautiful! Be glad you went black 🙂
Thank you, sweet friend!! You’re always such an encouragement. And aren’t we so blessed to have husbands who love and support us in our many projects?! 😀 Have a great day!
Sarah, beyond stunning! I love how your just dive right in and bring your dreams to reality! Sooooo inspiring!! ❤️
Ha ha!! Thanks, Cristen! It was fun to dive right in and make the big switch. I’m sure, come springtime, I’ll have the itch to go light again – but this sure is fun for the cooler seasons coming our way! Thanks so much for stopping by! 😀
OMG! I would never have the guts to go all black, I love white, but I´m loving your black walls too! They look stunning and just wow! What a transformation and change!
Thank you so much, Katrin! It was a big move, but so fun to play with. I’m sure I’ll change these walls a few times over the years!! I enjoy painting my home. 😉 And you know I love your style… 😉
Let’s hear it for Aunt Judy! Sometimes we just need a little affirmation that what we wanted to do anyway is a great idea. It takes courage to make such a dramatic change, and the results are so worth it! The woodtones in your trim, floors, and furniture look amazing. Enjoy it.
Thank you so much, Sharon – and you’re right!! Sometimes all it takes is a little cheerleading from someone to push us to go after something out of our norm. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment – I appreciate it! Have a great day-
lol… I love painting when my hubby’s gone. I don’t tell him. Then just wait and see if he notices. Now whenever he comes home after a trip he just walks around the house to see what I changed while he was gone!
LOL!!! I love that a few of us DIYers do this! And that’s hilarious what your hubby does when he gets home…he just “knows” you’ve done something!! 😀
I love the black walls! I think sometimes we just have to throw caution to the wind and try something outside of our norm. Beautiful job. Susie from The Chelsea Project
You’re so right, Susie!! It was fun throwing caution to the wind this time. 😉 Have a great day!
This room is just stunning! Your Aunt Judy’s advice was spot on. I need an Aunt Judy in my life.
Rock on girlfriend!
Thank you, Lisa! She is pretty awesome and I’m so glad I have my Aunt Judy. <3 Have a beautiful day!!