15 Chic Black Houses That’ll Make You Want to Come to the Dark Side

updated Sep 19, 2022
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It’s one thing to take on the challenge of picking out a paint color for the inside of your home — you know, sifting through beiges, grays, and muted greens — but it’s an entirely different experience choosing to paint your home black. It takes a fearless soul to look at the most daring shade and watch as it gets rolled onto the siding. 

While a black house may scare off traditionalists, we have proof in the form of 15 homes, that this mysterious color deserves a fair chance in your lineup of house paint swatches. Why? It can feel cozy, warm, and welcoming despite its moody disposition. Or, a black house can feel modern and stately if that’s the look you’re going for. 

So, take a breath, push up your sleeves, and prepare to be convinced that this deep and dark tone is the chicest color out there to cover your home in.

1. Black Beauty

We can all agree that this home by @villanordrevik would be stunning in just about any color. But the elegant darkness of the black exterior really adds to the whole scene, juxtaposed against light decking and a sparkling blue pool outside. 

2. Modern Contrast

Home designer Kate Walker (@katewalker_design) chose black for the exterior of this modern home, then wisely incorporated a light-colored stone chimney as a focal point. It combines nicely with the surrounding landscaping for a beautiful aesthetic. 

3. Black and White

This craftsman-style home from @hatcliffconstruction features Hardie plank siding in black, but the designers chose to use white for the windows to create a beautiful contrasting appearance. 

4. Mixed Medium

This gorgeous and serene black house from @christinadstorm seems to be crafted from brick and cedar shake siding, both painted black for a modern feel. But don’t think that everything about this home is dark: the interior features almost completely white decor throughout. 

5. Tone it Down

Designer @modernbymiles knows how to incorporate lighter tones to soften a black exterior (or a black table, as it were). His use of light wood tones and light-colored tiling makes the black house seem less severe, while the pink flowers pop against the black outdoor table. 

6. Angular and Sleek

Everything about this set of houses from Dave O’Brien, interior designer and project manager at RJ O’Brien Building Contractors, serves as reason enough to consider using black on the exterior of your home. While it may look trendy, the color is most certainly a classic that’ll look good for decades to come.

7. A Nod to Mod

A black home is the epitome of modern, especially when the house coated in it is from the most fitting era of all. Kayleigh Scholten of Our Well Designed Life explains that she DIYed this with her family over the summer. The space is a one-story ’60s ranch, which wears black oh-so-perfectly.

8. A Cozy Cabin

Even the most outdoorsy folks will find that black can fit perfectly against a backdrop of trees, as shown by The Catskill Cabins. We’d argue that this is an elevated step above your usual brown log configuration. Add a few lights and a warm, sunshine yellow door and you’re set for spending days forest bathing.

9. Black on Black on Black

Forget trying to source different shades to pair with your black exterior. Follow the lead of Laura Hendricks of Fifth and Sixth and keep the dreamy monochrome theme going with things like planters to really amp up the drama and keep your home looking sleek and uniform.

10. A Hideaway-Worthy Hue

Mowery Marsh Architects used an attention-grabbing matte black to take an already stunning house to a home with that “it” factor. While black can come off as cold, the wooden entryway instantly cozies up the space, giving dwellers a warm welcome upon crossing the bridge.

11. Some Victorian Whimsy

You might be thinking that the combination of black paint and a Victorian home is the formula for a perfect haunted house—but you’d be very wrong. Aly and Adam of Black Brick on the Corner chose to go all out with black and what resulted is an ultra chic dwelling reminiscent of a bygone era.

12. A Mix of Old and New

It’s difficult to remodel a home from the 1750s while maintaining its historical integrity. But Brie & J of Center Chimney on Main managed to crack the code thanks to the help of a little (or quite a bit of) black paint. This instantly transported it to the 21st century, but the wooden doors, window frames, and antique lanterns serve as artifacts from the past.

13. A Mid-Century Twist

Alli of The Hoss Homestead turned her split-level into a dreamy mid-century modern-inspired home thanks to a lick of black paint on the cool rectangular shape. The pop of color from the wooden door only helps its cause, making it stand out from the more muted forest palette that’s behind it.

14. Lake House Chic

Paul Bates Architects is the firm responsible for this stunning lake home that feels like it’s ripped from the pages of a fairytale. It’s as serene as that classic cottage exterior you’d expect to come across on a lake, but it has a sharper twist that doesn’t skimp on style—which can be attributed to that ultra saturated shade.

15. Scandi Done Right

Major Nordic vibes emanate from Sophia Fanciulli of The Oak House’s black abode. The black paint and corresponding cladding make it feel edgy, but still inviting. The half-glass, half-metal facade also makes it the perfect candidate for soaking up summer sun or cozying up with a book while it snows.