Black may seem a risky decorating move, but as the stylish spaces of a new Lehi home prove, the payoff can be huge.

Remember when we were all afraid of the dark? More specifically: We trembled at the idea of decorating with sombre black. Not anymore. Black has stepped out of the shadows and has become a favorite among today’s top decorating trends. Forget dim and depressing. In the right hands, black turns dull to dramatic, bleak to chic. For proof, we present a family home recently completed by Murdock Builders and House of Jade Interiors. These pros collaborated to create a stylish, livable haven for homeowners who have a taste for the dark side.

Black Beauties

SWATCH WATCH

Take the easy route – designers turn to textiles to capture the timeless, eye-catching beauty of black and white. 

STRIKING STAIRCASE

Black rails, glass panels, engineered white oak and gray-pinstripe carpeting come together to create a striking staircase, equal parts function and form.

3-D WALL

Applied molding energizes a black wall, creating dimension and exaggerating the wall’s scale. “The molding expands the wall visually, making it look taller and wider,” Kransen says. What’s more, the molding creates shadows that are accentuated by sconces.

PLAYFUL PATTERN

“I love this fabric,” says Kransen, who used a whimsical black-and-white bunny print to upholster the daughter’s daybed. The classic black-and-white combo allows this space to be lighthearted but prevents it from seeming silly.

EXTERIOR

The exterior’s carefully curated palette of materials defines the home’s design from the get-go. Black accents and white walls make a strong, somewhat graphic statement while elements of wood and gray tile help to warm and slightly soften the decidedly bold facade.

ARTSY ACCENTS

A wood hand chair and black fireplace orbs add surprising forms to the white-walled living room area.