A black living room is dramatic and chic, with an enveloping atmosphere that is instantly relaxing and surprisingly inviting when done right. From true black paint colors with no undertones to nuanced shades such as charcoal, brown-black, blue-black, or green-black, there are variations of this moody shade to suit any space.

Paint your walls, ceilings, and/or moldings and trim in a matte, textured, or high-gloss black to create a base. Then, enliven the room with metallic accents, mirrors, warm lighting, and touches of color on furniture, curtains, rugs, wall art, and decor.

Check out these black living rooms in a range of sizes and styles for inspiration on how to pull off this bold design move.

All-Black Living Room

Try an all-black palette for a sophisticated contemporary living room. Sissy + Marley Interior Design combined textured black walls and ceilings with black furniture and flat pile carpeting in this moody modern space. The palette would work equally well in a TV room, media room, or home theater.

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High-Gloss Black Ceiling

Mix matte and glossy finishes to add dimension to a small black living room. In this New York City duplex living room from PJCArchitecture, charcoal-black grasscloth walls and window shades are topped by a high-gloss painted black ceiling. The dark elements are set off by a modern pendant light for a moody feel.

Black Gallery Wall

Black is an excellent background for a colorful gallery wall. Chalk paint inventor and designer Annie Sloan covered this living room wall in a lightly textured charcoal black that sets off antique furnishings, a mix of colorful throw pillows, and a wall of portraits and landscape paintings.

Bright Black Living Room

Paint the walls, ceiling, trim, and fireplace built-ins black to create an enveloping feel in a traditional space. Caroline Andreoni Interior Design modernized this classical French living room with dark paint that complements the original black marble fireplace and adds contrast with oak herringbone patterned flooring.

Tip
Paint a room with an abundance of natural light black for a cozy quality that doesn’t feel too dark. Hang black-out curtains, drapes, or window shades to block out the light when you want to go into dark mode.

Traditional Black Living Room

Use black paint to unite a living and dining room combo. Rincon Rd paired black walls with antique furnishings and decor in this open-concept space for a modern traditional look.

Midcentury Modern Style

Update a midcentury modern living room with black paint. Louis Duncan-He Designs painted these living room walls in a saturated shade of true black that highlights the wraparound windows and statement fireplace. Leaving the ceiling white brightens the overall tone.

Eclectic Black Living Room

Soft black walls are an ideal canvas for vintage furniture and decor. Erin Williamson Design decorated this eclectic space with a sectional upholstered in floral fabric, an animal-print rug, and a vintage chandelier. A portrait painting in a round black frame brings dimension to the side wall.

Mixed Black Wall Finishes

Slabs of dramatic black stone aren’t reserved for kitchens and bathrooms. Interior designer Maite Granda paired black paint and black quartz panels with large white veining to give the walls of this high-end, contemporary, Florida living room a luxurious feel.

Small Black Living Room

Paint a small living room black for an ultra-cozy feel. Jessica Nelson Design covered the walls, ceiling, and built-in bar in this inviting space in a saturated shade of black. A large u-shaped sage green velvet sectional and plenty of wall art and decor objects on open shelving lightens it up.

Can you paint a small living room black?
Painting a small living room black will create an enveloping ambiance. The dark paint will blur the line where walls and ceilings begin and end. Surprisingly, it adds visual depth that can make a smaller room feel larger.

Black-and-White Living Room

Black-and-white living rooms are a classic pairing that complements any style interior, from traditional to farmhouse, modern, contemporary, and beyond. Louis Duncan-He Designs combined black walls and furniture with white trim details on the coffered ceilings, moldings, open shelving, and fireplace accent wall of this cozy living room.

Rustic Black Living Room

Paint shiplap walls and ceilings matte black for a modern rustic living room. The dark walls of this Canadian lakefront cabin from Michelle Berwick Design highlight the view from large picture windows and create a cozy feel.