Artwork, whether it’s a painting, a framed photo, a really col mirror or any other element is thought for some reason to look better if displayed on a white walls. So out question is “Does artwork need white walls to stand out or is it just a matter of contrasts and harmony?”. As it turns out, artwork can look just as cool, if not even more, on dark walls.

Turn a black accent wall into a gallery and display framed paintings, photos, posters and anything else you want. If either the frames or the artwork itself features colors that contrast with the wall behind them, they’ll stand out beautifully.

Display a single large piece on a wall.

Creating a gallery with all sorts of pictures and photos is an interesting idea but if you prefer simplicity then you can choose to display a single piece such as an over-sized painting or a piece with an interesting shape above the fireplace or on a separate wall.

Play with white-black contrasts.

A black wall is perfect for displaying white or light-colored artwork. You can highlight this combo by also using similar contrasts elsewhere in the room as well.

Strong, crisp contrasts.

The white vs black contrast can be highlighted by using simple, clean lines and by not necessarily including patterns and prints into the design. You can also add a third color in the form of a single bold piece.

Black and gold.

The black and gold combo has the tendency to look glamorous but only if used correctly. You have to be careful when choosing the textures for your gold accents and also when spreading them throughout the room. In this case, the artwork takes a step back and lets the other accent details stand out.

Smooth transition.

Strong, crisp contrasts are one way to go but you can also choose to display artwork in colors closer to the shade of the wall so the transition is smooth. It helps if the painting, for example, doesn’t have a frame.

Vary the styles and concepts.

Don’t think of artwork only in terms of paintings. Lots of things can be artwork and this means you can vary the concepts, mix and match. This bedroom features 4 different types of wall accents.

Be subtle in the bedroom.

You want your bedroom to be relaxing and having a black accent wall or ceiling is actually a very nice idea. The artwork you display there shouldn’t stand out that much.