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Black touches are a timeless accent, and they go with everything

Dark touches are a timeless accent, and they go with everything

By Mary Carol Garrity, Scripps Howard News Service

Published August 22, 2008 at 3 p.m.

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Using basic black in your decorating is an easy way to add depth and personality to your home. A catchy black skirt makes this dated bathroom sing.

Photo by Bob Greenspan From "Nell Hill's Stylish Weddings"

Using basic black in your decorating is an easy way to add depth and personality to your home. A catchy black skirt makes this dated bathroom sing.

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My friends know that when I'm in a black mood, it means I'm ready to add sophisticated style and a splash of panache to a room by practicing a little black magic. I adore black and use touches of it to add depth, interest and contrast to every room in my home. If you haven't dabbled with the dark side, here are a few reasons to give black a second look when you're decorating.

* Safe and sensational: When my sister Judy wanted to redo her bedroom, she experienced a classic case of color-palette paralysis. She painted her walls a lovely shade of green called Gooseberry, then froze up when it came to picking accent colors. Green and white? Green and blue? Pink and green? Pink and red? The more she pondered, the more overwhelmed she became.

Finally, I came to her rescue. As I began to pull out a medley of fabulous black-and-cream fabrics for her bedding - toile, fleur-de-lis, oversize checks - she began to get excited. At last, the decision was made.

If you're ever in a similar predicament when designing a room - bogged down by too many color choices - consider calling on black to save the day. Because black is such a timeless and safe accent color, it will remain stylish for years to come.

* The perfect pairing: Black looks great with just about any color. One of my all-time favorite combinations is black and cream, because these classic colors provide high contrast but aren't overwhelming.

My friend Ann's entire home is designed in black and cream, from the front door to the master bedroom. So when she decided to add a sunroom, she knew she needed to continue her black-and-cream theme.

But this time, she wanted to add a vibrant apple green. First, she painted her walls a soothing cream. Then she upholstered her furnishings in a large houndstooth plaid, adding a black leather ottoman. But the show-stealer was a set of apple-green wicker chairs grouped around a table. The combination of crisp black and lively green made for a fresh, clean room.

* Easy to add: It's easy to infuse your room with depth and drama simply by adding classic or modern black accents. Want to break up a boring wall? Hang a grid of artwork framed in black. Need mood lighting in a conversation area? Pick out a lamp with a black shade.

Another great place to add black accents is in the bathroom. When my friend Cynthia decided to decorate her neutral white bathroom, she gave it instant personality with the simple addition of a black-and-white fabric skirt affixed to the bottom of the pedestal sink. She added a black bookcase to hold towels, supplies and a few well- chosen accents, and her bathroom went from dated to dazzling.