Today’s post celebrates design inspiration and decor finds for folks who love living with casual style, a neutral palette and contrast. Let’s face it, color trends come and go, so why not live with tried and true tones that may not trend yet keep the backdrop livable? Casual Black and White Decor With Natural Wood + Ideas to Get the Look provides plenty of texture and blurs the line between traditional and modern. This winning combo often adds one more quality: CALM.
Casual Black and White Decor With Natural Wood: Get the Look
Crisp White Walls + Black Trim
Ever lived with black doors or trim? It can be a bit daunting to dip the paint brush in black (knowing how hard it will be to go back to a lighter tone!), but worth it if you’re going for more of this:
Rustic Light Wood Tones With Black & White
Something magical happens when the edginess of a black and white scheme meets warm wood.
So much texture in one space!
Black & White Checkered Floor
We’re still seeing them everywhere, and this classic pattern is not likely to really ever fall from favor since it is so classic. A laundry room is a space where we can take some risks with pattern, yes?
Bathrooms too can be areas we can try a new color combination or level of contrast.
These rooms usher in calm, and calm is oh so welcome in the 2020s, oui!?!
Let’s pause for a few wise ideas for calm from Brene Brown’s amazing podcast…I found this extremely helpful:
(PUSH PLAY)
But Which Black Paint Color?
Check out THIS POST for paint color ideas.
Will This Color Scheme Work in a Small Space?
Did you see this post which is less about a neutral interior color palette than the wonder of a house under 500 square feet (and designed by Jeffrey Dungan!)?
Modern Rustic Interior Inspiration With Black
Black kitchen cupboards are becoming commonplace, and if you’re thinking about the prospect, start with a piece of cast-off furniture first. Live with it and see if it’s for you.
Bear in mind there isn’t just one black. There’s a wide range just like for white paint colors.
We often see dark moody colors in rooms where there is low light (sort of like, why fight it?), but the scheme can work in spaces with abundant natural light as well.
Even a simple pot painted black in a space can make a statement with natural green foliage.
Black Marble With White Bath Fixtures
Would you dare?
Black and white can be both sexy and soothing in a bath.
Black Painted Beams in a Rustic Cabin
It’s less common to see black on a ceiling, but if you want to direct the eye up…
All of the light wood accents keep the look casual and less modern.
Classic Family Room With Livable Luxe
This is sort of perfect if you love the combination!
And no one I know does this color story better than designer Sherry Hart:
Do I Live With Much Black & White?
Now that we are in a new home, I am experimenting and stretching so soft black is showing up! I’ll be sharing peeks soon.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
I mean I have happily lived with black bistro sets and Frenchy black stripes:
But since I am always striving for low contrast and gentle interior moments, black has historically been rather absent from my rooms. But white?
Decorating with white is another story!
A handmade sign reminds of trips to come for fresh from the farm goodness. (Here’s a wonderful way to support a small business!).
I love that this rustic trunk comes in various sizes…how useful for smart looking storage!
Comfy Neutrals to Wear
Layering Pieces
Black & White Finds
While this next find is neither black or white, it can actually add ‘natural’ to your makeup routine. (Or is ‘makeup routine’ just sooooo 2019 you want to smack me?) I especially appreciate how this water-light product evens my complexion!
Also I apply this with my fingers, not a brush, and it stays on all day!
How fast can you pin this next silly pin?
Ha!
Are your closets and pantries and shelves looking more orderly these days? I CANNOT WAIT to someday get to the organizing stage. Right now, it’s a lot of renovation chaos.
Let’s Keep Encouraging Each Other
Knowing what fresh concerns the 2020s have held, maybe decor is the furthest thing from your mind…or perhaps it brings a little bit of normalcy and pleasure to your days.
In either case, be gentle with yourself. Mixed feelings are completely normal and certainly don’t define us.
I Couldn’t Resist
These slant jars remind me of the penny candy store we frequented in childhood – I like storing treats like cookies and bars in mine.
Oh, and just a reminder to keep breathing.
Really.
In times of stress and anxiety, we may unconsciously hold the breath. And when I say “we,” I mean I tend to do this as a response to tension.
Deep inhales from the belly…exhale all the pessimism and worry if you can.
We’re muddling through so much together, and unknown blessings are already on the way.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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I’ve been thoroughly enjoying your blog during my newly found downtime. My husband and I are going to start painting our bedroom tomorrow and after much research are going with Benjamin Moore White! I was curious the finish you used? Your home is indeed…LOVELY! 😊
Author
Thanks, Amy! Nice to meet you. We used flat for walls and satin for baseboard and trim. If you are buying non-Benjamin Moore paint and have trouble having them mix the white, you can always just use Behr Ultra White off the shelf at Home Depot which also is a base without the undertones. Keep visiting me and dig in my archives (click THE ARCHIVES button at top of menu choices) to discover more inspiration!
I love the way you take care of you…. In doing so you seamlessly help those around you take care of themselves. Getting my 2nd vaccine on the 15th. We didn’t have any bad effects from n the first ( thank you Jesus) good thing as we are endeavoring to train our brand new puppy – what were we thinking ???? It certainly isn’t as easy as it was 16 years ago when we brought our dear sweet (best dog in the universe) Phoebe home. But sadly Phoebe died back in January and as you know your house turns very quiet and extremely sad when that happens. Now we are enjoying, loving ,caring for ,and training – or trying very hard to our brand new bundle of ENERGY. She is a havanese like Phoebe and we named her……wait for it ……. Mia Belladorable and call her Bella or Bell or Bellsy Wellsy or Bella boo boo bear and on occasion we may refer to her as That Dog! Ain’t as easy at 61 as it was at 45 but she will be a great dog before we know it and has filled our house with noise , action and laughter once again.
Author
What a lovely new chapter for you with Belladorable – surely this is just the type of new joy we all need to welcome into our homes and lives. While we haven’t welcomed a pet since Bellaluna, we are enjoying our sons’ kitty (Snoopy) and dog (Evie). I bet you’ll do just fine with your 2nd vax since the 1st went okay. I’m feeling a bit better today so that’s a relief! Thanks so much for adding to the beauty here.
Another beautiful post this morning! Thank you ❤️ I hope you start feeling better soon after the second shot. Also I, praying for challenges you are facing 🙏🏻 On another subject, are you familiar with Kelly and Co.? If not, I think you might enjoy her posts. She is on Instagram—she recently remodeled her home at Corona Del Mar here in California. What she has done to her home is pretty amazing. Wishing you all the best. ❤️
Author
Thank you so much for your support and prayers – feeling a bit better this morning so onward and upwards! I will check out Kelly and Co. and am sending you peace right where you are. 🙂
Thank you for the Oak+ ideas… Perfect timing, Michele. My home is over 100 years old with original natural oak woodwork and I’m in the process of redecorating a couple rooms. I’m a bit more of the “Let’s up the ante.” kinda girl, rather than “Calm down.” Luckily, I love wicker with both, so we shall see. LOL Hope you’re better soon. My guess is you feel like enough is enough already! Being ‘down’ just takes too much energy.
Author
Ooooooh, sounds so amazing, Carole. New buyers love natural woodwork as much as my generation wanted to erase the brown with paint! How wonderful to celebrate its warmth, character, and patina. Thanks so much for the kind words – I have recovered and can now celebrate that I’m through the side effects. Getting lots of exercise now as we fix up a tiny house we bought a week ago. We fix up one little area, and it makes the balance of the place look so much worse – a virus for sure! 🙂
Glad you’re out on the bright side, Michele!
Tiny house? I love the tiny house you featured on the 7th. Of course, with that location and landscaping and one more bedroom (somewhere) please. Can’t wait to hopefully see yours and hear the lessons you learn.
Author
Thanks! Oh that my little bungalow could look anything like that Jeff Dungan masterful low country luxe tiny mansion! Since this house needs to become a son’s temporary home, our fixing up is going to be in stages. So for 1.0, some of the ugly textured walls and ceilings have to stay, and we won’t upgrade every floor until 2.0. I am learning so much with each little project. Can’t wait to begin addressing the exterior!