THE classic black and white combination never goes out of fashion. It looks good everywhere and on everybody. Black and white encompass the entire palette -- they are the most general and generous colours, "the first” colours. Maybe for that reason, they are also very eloquent while being succinct.

Decorating an entire room with only white immediately reveals an ascetic intent; a completely black room -- though hard to imagine -- conceals a threat and a dark secret. To get the most out of the two you need to mix them up -- it’s amazing how many emotions they can convey and how clearly they do it.

The most obvious option is to paint the walls white and to offset them with black furniture. This boring decor choice once represented venerable minimalism in design, but today it tells more about minimalism in creativity. I do believe that white walls and black furniture can still work together -- only when the walls are not rectangular, and the sofas and the armchairs are also of unconventional shape. But most homes lack such flourishes. Wall art, on the other hand, contains them all, and more.

When people begin thinking about living room decorating ideas and making changes to their home, whether it be one or two rooms or even the entire house, the first thing that usually comes to mind is ‘what colour’. Usually, people choose colours that they like or those which match pieces of their existing furniture. When searching for living room decorating ideas, one idea which is perhaps too often overlooked is decorating with the two basic colours (or shades, to be accurate) ” black and white.

Black and white, used in home decor shows style and creates drama and pizzazz. Top decorators say that every room in the house can benefit by using a touch of black. Black is a colour which anchors and grounds a room. Bringing sophistication, black is definitely a colour that demands attention.

Stylish home decor ideas for a home using black may include accessories such as light fixtures, trim or furniture. Black serves to add definition to focal points in a room. Black is just one colour that stands out or makes a statement, but it is definitely one of the most outspoken.

Decorating with the shades of black and white in your living room decorating ideas, lends a clean, fresh, elegant environment. This combination can be added to any room in a home making it a sophisticated space. Black and white are often used in contemporary interior design and often used to highlight other colours. It may be hard to visualize but there are many ideas for decorating a home using combinations of only these two basic shades.

The floor is a great area to start when you’re having living room decorating ideas. Black and white vinyl tiles laid alternately make a beautiful chessboard pattern and give a clean and elegant appearance. Black marble used on the floor, accented by wide white baseboards is another beautiful idea for decorating a home.

Laying white ceramic tiles with a black border or simply painting the floor black or white and using stencils of the opposite colour for decoration is also stunning. These all are fantastic ideas for decorating a room.

Can you imagine anything more perfect than white walls? Painting the walls white or even an off-white would make a perfect backdrop for accessories such as shelving framed in black. What magnificent living room decorating ideas!

Elegant black window surrounds or black shutters against a clean, crisp white wall would definitely create an air of sophistication. Maybe a glass-topped table with a black iron rim and black chairs are among terrific ideas for decorating a room using only black and white.

Imagine a bedroom decorated using only black and white – that would be beautiful stylish home decor too. A black or white iron bed-stead, covered with a striped black and white blanket or eiderdown. The pillow cases could be either all black or all white and you could add throw cushions in the other colour.

A chunky leather black or white armchair in the corner would certainly accent the room’s stylish home decor. Then you could have the white walls with an elegant piece of artwork, framed in black hanging on it. That would surely add to the contemporary feel of your stylish home decor. Black furniture against the crisp white walls would look really neat and tidy and you could jazz up the room with accessories such as pewter or silver candlesticks, jugs or vases.

If you think the stylish home decor needs a little colour to complete the look, perhaps a throw or cushion in a bold colour like red or gold, for the chair in the corner of the room would be enough to accent the room. Ideas for decorating a home are numerous.

However, finding one that suits you and those that live in your home with you is important. It’s nice to do something radical and off-the-wall but remember you must be able to live with it for quite sometime.