How to Style a Black and White Dining Room

A dining room is a great place to gather, whether with a whole gaggle of friends or just your own family. A dining room that looks beautiful and welcoming can make all the difference. When designing your dining room, consider using black and white for timeless elements that work with any aesthetic.

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Why Style With Black and White

Black and white elements are popular for a reason. Because they’re neutral colors, they can go with anything. This has made them a great combination for a variety of aesthetics. You can even repurpose your black-and-white elements if you decide to redecorate in a totally different style.


Black dining furniture such as tables and sideboards are popular because they don’t show wear and tear as easily. Small imperfections seem to blend right in, making your furniture last longer before it needs to be repaired or replaced. White walls and accents add depth, making rooms seem larger than they are. White also reflects light in a way that makes a space seem brighter and cheerier. 

Styling a Dining Room With Black and White

A dining room is a great place to add some black and white. These colors can be styled in many ways, from a modern, minimalist room in full monochrome to a cozy farmhouse with lots of colorful accents.

Choosing a style

Black and white dining spaces go with a lot of different aesthetic styles. You can complement everything from bright bohemian to modern minimalist, cozy farmhouse to sleek industrial. If you don’t have an aesthetic already in mind, research some design styles and see which ones speak to you.


Once you have a style in mind, decide whether you want the dining room to be exclusively black and white, or if you’d like to have some accents in other colors. You can also use black and white as the accents in a more colorful room to provide contrast.


For a room that’s not strictly monochrome, consider what types of colors you’d like to pair it with. Bright colors paired with black and white make for a fun space that really pops. On the other hand, black and white also works very well with natural elements such as wood and stone. Metallic accents such as gold, silver, copper, and bronze also look sharp when placed against a black and white backdrop.

Creating balance

In any design, you’ll want to make sure you create some balance. Black furniture and accents are easy to clean and maintain, but too much black can make a room seem dim or small. Likewise, white is a great way to add depth and light to a room, but too much white may seem boring or plain. Striking a balance between the colors creates both depth and interest for a room that captures the eye in just the right way.


Using white for the walls is a classic choice that can make a room seem larger, but if you find pure white walls boring, you can try a patterned wallpaper, or painting an accent wall in another color.

Adding interest and accents

Adding some color to your modern black and white dining room is another dimension to consider. If you add too many or too few pieces in the accent color, it won’t pop as well. Too much color, and it will look like just another part of the color scheme. Too little, and it might not be noticeable. Worse, it might look out of place, like it’s not an intentional part of the design at all. A few pieces, scattered at fairly even intervals can help balance the color across the room.


Of course, adding color is not the only way to make a monochrome dining room interesting. Choosing furniture or decor with interesting patterns or shapes can also capture the eye. Consider a strikingly patterned wallpaper, a uniquely shaped vase, or an intriguing light fixture to give the room character.

Add Some Class to Your Dining Room With Black and White

Whether you want a dining room fully decked out in monochrome, or you just want to balance out an otherwise colorful space, decorating with black and white is a great idea. Black and white dining room furniture works with any aesthetic, making such pieces a great long-term investment. Consider adding some black and white to your own dining room design.

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