With Halloween fast approaching I decided to draw some inspiration from one of the most outrageous holidays we celebrate here in Ireland. From colourful costumes to engorged pumpkins there is one colour that truly defines Halloween, black. Black is considered a staple in any man or woman’s wardrobe as it is timeless, empowering and sophisticated. It therefore seems apparent that black is the ideal colour to use in your home.

If you have a look around your home you may be surprised at the amount of black that is already present. T.Vs, kitchen cabinets, soft furnishings and accessories are all quite commonly available in black, so why not take the next step and use this colour in your interior design scheme. Black can be a great way to add some glamour into your home without splashing out on expensive furniture or extravagant wallpaper.

Crown Paints has a number of polished black shades that lead into midnight blues, another core colour of the Halloween pallet. Examples of black tones to consider include Elegant Mascara, Black Cat and Dark Passion. The shade you choose will ultimately depend on your own personal style and taste not forgetting the ambiance you wish to create in your room.

There are numerous ways to incorporate black when using it to paint walls. The first painting technique to consider is to use black on the bottom half of the four walls of your chosen room. This will work to elongate the room and raise its height also. If you are looking to make a bold design statement, red works especially well with black, by choosing a matte red such as English Pout to paint on the top of your panels the room will ooze instant chic. If red seems a little too fiery for your tastes try a soothing cream like Magnolia and let the black command all of the attention.

Another way to use black on your walls is to paint just one wall of the room using the colour. This will draw the eye towards the painted wall so take the opportunity to really create something unique. Choose a piece of artwork or furniture to place against the wall and use it as a focal point in the room. As black can be dramatic it works well in dining rooms or bedrooms to create a striking, memorable room.

Black and darker ‘spooky’ shades are a great backdrop so if you have a design studio or a bustling home office black is a great choice to display your work in progress or picture-boards. If you are the type of person who loves taking photos and using them around your home but you are never sure of how to display them in a tasteful style, black may be the answer. Begin by painting a wall or all four walls in your chosen black shade, next select some of your favourite photos in different sizes. White photo frames really stand out against a black backdrop but choose whatever colour you feel suits the room. Arrange the photos on the wall in a slightly disordered manner for an organised yet mildly cluttered look.

Black doesn’t have to be scary in fact in can be quite bewitching which is something I think we would all like our homes to be. So this Halloween take a step back from all of the scary goings on and look at black from a new perspective..

Happy Decorating,

Neville