Black is back: Home design turns to the dark side

A stark, dark style of home design is trending for both the interior and exterior of houses in Southern California.

More homeowners are choosing to paint their houses black, the Los Angeles Times reported. Since 2017, the design firm Benjamin Moore Paints has seen almost a 30% jump in the usage of black for interior and exterior, their experts say.

The appeals lies both in the ability for hues like “Midnight Oil” “Black Beauty,” and “Graphite” to absorb light and heat, and in the distinct contrast the colors lend their structures compared to the surroundings. Neighborhoods like Venice and Silver Lake in Los Angeles are among the areas that have seen the most black homes pop up, according to the report. Home designers say reflective paint can cool homes by about 10%.

Compass agent Stephanie Younger told the Times that black homes appeal to tech executives, young professionals and buyers with a “design-forward sense.” They enjoy the soothing, “restful nature” of black houses.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Color Institute, said black is trending for home interiors, too, with accented walls, doors, furniture, faucets, accessories and in cabinetry.

Design trends have shifted in other ways in the luxury real estate market. For example, celebrities have been passing on mid-century designs for more contemporary homes and furnishings, often by local designers. [LAT] — Gregory Cornfield