Black may be a neutral color, but to many it can be an intimidating wall color choice compared to clean whites and airy shades of greige. It makes sense: the bold hue commands attention and can easily become the focal point of a space. But for interior design lover, Mariah Shealy, a striking statement was exactly what she was looking to make. 

A bold juxtaposition to her all-white home in Aiken, SC, Mariah was surprisingly drawn to the idea of a black accent wall in a bedroom — especially for her “forgotten” guest space. Once used to house a collection of secondhand pieces, she was finally able to prioritize the room makeover and create the guest-ready “home away from home” she envisioned. So with just two short weeks, a can of our almost-black paint in Blackish and a handful of brass accent pieces, the space makeover was complete. Read on to learn more about how she did it!

Name: Mariah Shealy

Location: Aiken, SC

Type of Space: Guest Bedroom

Clare Color Used: Blackish

How would you describe your decor aesthetic?

I would describe my decor aesthetic as clean, simple, and timeless.

What should we know about this space before?

Our guest bedroom was the “forgotten space” as I like to call it. We had nothing on the walls, no curtains hanging and the furniture that was in this room was all from different places. Basically all of the hand-me-downs my husband Joshua and I accumulated over the years.

Describe your decorating process from start to finish.

It took us about two weeks to finish this project — mainly because we were working on a couple of other projects during the process and gradually completed this room when we had free time. I knew that I wanted an accent wall and I knew that I wanted it to be black. That was odd for me because my entire house is painted white, but I just wanted this room to have a cozy, “home away from home” feeling when our guests stayed here.

Mariah's mood board that inspired the look and feel of the space, and helped her determine the right pieces to pair with the black accent wall in her guest bedroom.

Once I decided on the most beautiful black (but not too black) color, Blackish, I knew that gold accents would look perfect with the wall. I also knew that I wanted to add some warm pendant lights to go on the wall - almost to give off a “staycation” feel. So we decided on a gold poster bed, gold pendant lights, and a brown dresser and nightstands with gold knobs to complete the space.

Tell us about the space now. How does it make you feel?

I love the space now! We had some family come and stay with us for a couple of days right after we finished the room and they loved it! They said they felt like they were staying at a boutique hotel and loved how cozy the room felt. Joshua and I even had to move into our guest bedroom while our main bathroom renovation was going on and we loved it!

How did painting a black accent wall in this bedroom help transform the space?

The accent wall is what makes the space! Everyone that walks into the room comments on how much they love the black wall and how much it makes the entire room pop!

What’s your favorite element in the room?

Definitely the accent wall with the pendant light combo! It just gives off the best vibe in my opinion!

Share the top decor tips or tricks that changed the space:

Keeping it simple would be my number one tip! I wanted this bedroom to be classic, so I knew that less was more. I think that helped me achieve the vision of the room while also staying within budget. Win-win!

Related: The black accent wall inspiration doesn't stop! Read A black and white bedroom makeover that's anything but expected for more bedroom ideas.