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When Lick, a home decor brand, and MAC, a makeup brand, announced their collaboration, it felt like a dream collaboration. However, I must admit I was a little surprised when they announced the color they were teaming up on.
M·A·C Black40 is the limited edition shade Lick released to celebrate MAC’s 40th anniversary. The shade is inspired by the iconic MAC brand and the new M·A·Cximal Silky MatteLipstick in the shade Caviar (aka Black). This is essentially the black lacquer version of Brilliant White, an unabashedly rich, matte jet black.
In a year where color trends were dominated by bold and playful colors, celebrating black seemed like an unexpected move. But Tash Bradley, interior designer and color psychologist at Lick, successfully convinced me that black is actually the perfect complement to these new, bold color schemes.
“M·A·C Black 40 is the color that everyone can have in their home. It’s truly versatile: it adds dimension and contrast to any room and will effortlessly accentuate your furniture and decor, no matter what your style is,” she says.
“Black goes with any other color, so you can play around with it a bit. Pattern play helps open up a room, and vertical stripes will elongate your space. Whatever your style, black is a really versatile color with lots of potential for creativity.”
Our editor-in-chief Heather Young’s black-painted living room is a perfect example of this. Far from being dark and dreary, the black allows the room’s furnishings to shine and the walls to recede into the background, making the space seem larger.
Tash explains that black is actually a great color for a small living room as it can easily make a room appear larger. “A splash of black helps to create a very calm environment. If you have a small, north-facing room, this is a great option as black absorbs the shadows, tints the edges of the room blue and adds tons of personality.”
I had the opportunity to see MAC Black40 in person and try out a small test pot of it at home. I can’t stress enough how rich and velvety this matte shade looks in person. As a renter, I want to use my test pot to upgrade some of my furniture and use it as an accent in my living room.
The limited edition shade is only available on Lick.com and in store at Lick, 65 Northcote Rd, in 2.5 litre cans.
I agree that anyone can use this black paint in their home, but will you take Tash’s advice and try it on your walls?
