What to know before painting your walls black

Would you paint the walls of your home black? A bedroom? Living room? Powder room? We're not talking blackish brown, as in bistre or chocolate. Or dark gray, a la charcoal or arsenic. Or deep red — rosewood or wine. We mean pure black: achromatic color of prehistoric cave paintings, ancient Greek pottery and fictional 1980s album art. (Remember the all-black LP cover from "This Is Spinal Tap"? To quote lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel, "It's like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black.")

It's a bold move in interiors but one that, if executed with care, sets an unexpected tone of moody elegance. Here, interior designers share some tips to know before going noir:

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Take extra care figuring out how you'll light the space. "Black literally absorbs light, so you won't get reflections from the walls bouncing the light around," says interior designer Summer Thornton of Chicago's Summer Thornton Design. "It can be a beautiful look, but you want to be able to see too!" To ensure proper illumination, she suggests adding some lamps and a decorative overhead light or sconces with plenty of wattage. "By putting everything on dimmers, you can create a really amazing mood — either dark and sultry for evenings or bright and light for daytime."

Darken all the details. A black room can feel super-sophisticated, but the polished effect is lost if the hue (or lack thereof) isn't carried through completely. To avoid this, the pros behind Chicago-based interior design firm Studio Gild recommend replacing all visible light switches and outlets, including cover plates, with a dark-finish switch and plate. "Otherwise they can become an eyesore and distract from the overall design intent," says co-founder/principal Kristen Ekeland.

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Finish matters. A matte finish is not always the best choice for dark paint. "Fingerprints and scuff marks can end up leaving a chalky residue," Ekeland says. Instead, go for a paint finish that is eggshell (halfway between satin or semi-gloss) or a higher sheen. "It's more durable and successful at retaining the rich, deep paint color over time."

Laura Pearson is a freelance writer.

lpearson@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @tislaurapearson

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The idea of painting a room or even just one wall black is intimidating, especially because the cardinal rule of making your space feel bigger is to steer clear of dark hues. But once you get over the mental hurdle, it’s anything but scary. Black paint can be cozy, transportive, and, in some instances, quite welcoming and warm. So how do you implement the color without overpowering a space? We tapped two experts at PPG to clear up some frequently asked questions. Here, senior product marketing manager Jenny Burroughs and senior color marketing manager Dee Schlotter share their top tips for painting with one of the most dramatic hues.

The Number-One Rule to Painting Walls Black

Jenny Burroughs: Priming is key when moving from light or medium colors to black or vice versa. Some homeowners may be hesitant to paint walls black because it is thought to be more difficult to paint over later; however, with proper priming, it can be covered rather easily. A gray or deep-hued base primer is recommended if you want full coverage in fewer coats.

The Gist on Undertones

Dee Schlotter: The indigo undertones of PPG’s Black Flame make it a cooler black, while warmer blacks pull red and brown undertones. Both cool and warm blacks are anchors for other softer colors. For example, a cool tint serves as a great anchor for trim and doors against colors like Olympic Paint’s Burnt Red and soft blues like Glidden Paint’s Arctic Blue.

The Finish That’s Hot Right Now

Burroughs: Matte finishes continue to rise in popularity this year, particularly with kitchen appliances. As this trend continues to expand, there has also been a rising interest in using flat paint sheens to achieve the same luxurious matte finish on walls in the home. For high-traffic areas, higher-sheen products like eggshell and satins offer more durability. They can withstand repeated cleaning and touching, so we recommend using in a playroom, a kitchen, and bathrooms—rooms that are exposed to a lot of activity. Flat finishes are excellent sheens to hide imperfections and can easily be touched up, making them a great choice for either ceilings or dining room walls.

The Technique Pros Swear By

Burroughs: When applying paint to a roller, ensure it is sufficiently covered in paint. Then roll in 3- to 4-foot sections at a time in a W motion. Move quickly to maintain a wet edge in each of the sections. To finish, run the roller down the wall from ceiling to floor without adding pressure to the roller handle in order to even out the stipple and blend each area together. For any touchups, use the same type of applicator that was used when the paint was originally applied, as well as paint from the same bucket to ensure the finish and color are both uniform to the original coat.

The Trick to Pulling It Off in a Small Space

Schlotter: No matter the color you select for your small space, utilizing one color for all the walls makes it look larger. Additionally, repeating colors in a room at least twice creates a unified flow and makes your space feel more open and cohesive. By using your wall color at least one other time, either in a rug or a small accent piece, you’ll not only pull your style together but make your room appear more spacious.

The Surprising Place to Use It

Schlotter: When thinking of nursery decor, your mind may automatically go to soft pinks and blues and whimsical pastels, but over the past couple of years, nursery colors have become much more mature. To add instant sophistication to your baby’s space, pair it with a pale pastel on the ceiling and an off-white trim.

There are endless possibilities to integrate this classic hue into your home, but here are a few suggestions:

• Modernize your kitchen by incorporating black matte lower cabinets with upper open shelving to add elegance to your cooking space.
• Paint your wainscoting black and the wall above a nuanced neutral to infuse a room with drama while maintaining a cozy atmosphere.
• Color helps to corral clutter—paint the back of shelves black and exhibit your white or pale collectibles in front.
• Who says ceilings have to be white? Draw the eye upward with a chic black ceiling paired with a beautiful light fixture. These elements are sure to command attention.