Design Line: Black beauty

The romance of a white bedroom is given a subtle edge with black and silver.

Neutral bedrooms promote relaxation and tranquillity with the right mix of finishings.

No conflicting strong colours, just off-whites and natural tones to rest and energise the mind and body. Boring, you may say. Well, depends on how the room is dressed and your chosen style.

Black, white and grey are considered neutrals. But think matt black walls, shaped crisp, white ceilings that follow the roof line, matai floors in high gloss, downlights and no window treatments. The bed is dressed with crisp, white bed linen and a white angora throw. The bedside tables are French Country tin and iron on one side with a decorative antique cabinet on the other. Knick-knacks and treasures sit comfortably on either side, beneath black bedside lamps. black and white striped towels on an antique towel rail, and a set of solid timber drawers completes the look. A large crystal bowl of fresh lilies - bright-green stems with white flowers dusted in a hint of yellow pollen - sit on top of the drawers and a large, round fish-eye mirror in gold gilt highlights the black wall.

It's a restful room that creates a little bit of drama and romance. Black in a bedroom doesn't sound romantic but adding delicate detail changes the atmosphere and takes the sharpness out of the black.

Pure grey is a mix of 50/50 black and white teamed with black carpet and white ceilings. I love rooms with interesting ceiling lines. Can you imagine it? The room is small and an unusual shape, so the space needs to be opened up. A large mirror, the full width of the bed, replaces the headboard.

The gilded silver frame helps lengthen the room and brings the outside in by reflecting the windows opposite. The bed is dressed in white linen and a grey angora throw adds inviting texture. Again, a bowl of flowers (this time it's roses), with the odd ink sketch as artwork. The room is simply furnished with wrought-iron bedside tables, topped with a heavy marble floor tile in soft whites. Bedside lamps are black, trimmed in silver. Simple lightweight white curtains add a little romance to the room.

If that's not for you, what about a white bedroom?

Well, this one isn't totally white. Crisp white walls and ceiling with a black, textured carpet. The windows are dressed in sheer-white roman blinds. White pillows, white linen, and a quilted white spread are piled on the bed. A white shag pile rug provides contrast to the black carpet. Simple wall lamps, no bedside tables - the room isn't quite big enough - and a large set of drawers containing family photos. A large crystal and iron candle holder sits in the corner.

To make a white room work successfully you need texture and pattern. If all the finishes are the same you have no focal point, no texture, no surprises.

Or is it soft whites you prefer? Just a hint of colour on the walls and ceiling, neutral soft shades of cut pile carpet. The bed is layered with soft tones of white and creams, just a hint of colour, but textured colour. Simple sheers cover the windows and move softly in the gentle breeze. The bedside lamps are trimmed in silk and crystals.

I've slept in the black, grey and white bedrooms.

Each of them are inviting in their own way, simple in colour and relaxing, and the secret to these rooms is texture.

Consider a change in gloss level with the paint or polyurethane finishes from flat to full gloss or vice versa on the walls and the floor.

Also, the texture of the carpet against the smooth paint work and the crispness of the white sheets against the textured bedspreads and throws.

So would this work for you? My bedroom used to be a rich, deep red, painted over textured wallpaper, teamed with a purple bedspread and hot pink, orange and red horizontal striped taffy drapes. Now it is white with soft, draping, sheer drapes and duet blinds behind as they have excellent thermal properties.

Aubergine cut-pile carpet is simply a dream to walk on, and I use crisp white linen in the summer and a deep-red bedspread in the winter.

Terry Lobb is an interior/kitchen designer and personal colour and style consultant who takes a holistic approach to living with colour, texture and style. email: terry@terrylobb.com; website: terrylobb.com