But it certainly can be. And it can make a dramatic statement. Bathrooms have become less and less the simple utilitarian room of your parents and more an expression of taste. Why should all of the design dollars go to the kitchen, living room or bedroom? A person should be relaxed, comfortable and proud of their bath as well. One way to accomplish this is to make a statement with color. Using a minimal color palette such as black and white can be quite visually expressive.

Using only two colors in a room of small to moderate size like the typical bathroom usually means employing a primary color and then an accent color to add visual interest. Attempting to balance the colors equally can lead to a very busy looking room. The first choice, therefore, is deciding which color is your base color and which is your accent. In the case of black and white, while a bathroom could be done with a base of black, this present several design challenges that are hard to overcome in a smaller space. So the easier choice to make is a white base with black accents.

Having made this decision the obvious pitfall is making a bathroom that feels too institutional. This can easily be overcome. Deciding on a base of white does not mean choosing simply one shade. Again, though, choosing too many shades will result in a room that is confusing to the senses.

Selecting three well thought out shades will provide visual appeal and set the tone for your room. For example selecting antique whites will typically provide a warmer feel when contrasted with the black accents. Using the shades in large defined areas is also recommended. A good rule of thumb is the brightest shade should be used as the back drop for your accent color, to provide for the greatest contrast and thus visual appeal.

One of the things that are often overlooked when working with a minimalistic color scheme such as black and white is texture. Textured tile is a great example of this. Whether stamped with a repeating monochromatic pattern, silhouettes or scenes, individual tiles located in strategic locations can provide visual appeal without creating a busy looking bathroom.

The black accents can appear either in statement pieces within the bathroom such as the sink, tub or toilet, or in smaller touches around the room. These touches could include a tile border, limited trim, black and white artwork, shower curtain, or other bathroom decoration. The rule here is that the black should comprise no more than 20-25 percent of the surface area of the room and it should always appear on a white background. You would not want, for example, white tiles to have a repeating black pattern.

The combination of two colors such as white and black can make an appealing visual statement. If not done correctly, however, the result can be overwhelming and confusing to the eye, especially in the confines of a smaller area. So be careful but have fun and let your creativity show.

Heather Mitchell writes for the specialty site UniqueLightFixture.com, where you can find the most unique lighting fixtures including rustic antler lamps!

Heather Mitchell writes for the site http://www.UniqueLightFixture.com, where you can find the best accents to match your new black and white bathroom!

Author Bio: Heather Mitchell writes for the specialty site UniqueLightFixture.com, where you can find the most unique lighting fixtures including rustic antler lamps!

Category: Home Management
Keywords: black and white bathroom