Black and white is a classic color combination with endless possibilities. It can be elegant and sophisticated like an old photograph, but when styled with bright hues and varied textures, it can be quite contemporary. Look at the following 10 rooms to see how designers use the versatile pairing, then get tips to create the look at home.

Yellow, Black and White Dining

Designer Erinn Valencich anchored the dark lacquer dining room table in this space with a bold-patterned black-and-white square rug. The floor-to-ceiling curtains, also in black and white, frame the windowed doors that lead to an outdoor area. Mustard-yellow fabric on the chairs, along with the centrally placed orchids, brings some of the natural life outside into the home.

Get the look: Even when you use black and white in busy patterns, the colors do not distract from a bright accent hue, like the yellow and green highlighted here.