In the art world black is considered a 'non-color', which is something I can never grasp. For such a non-color it makes a dramatic impact on the world of interior decorating. A black rug has an amazing ability to solidify a color scheme, use it to pull together disparate furnishing and give your home a touch of suave elegance.
Use a black area rug in a pastel colored room to balance it out from being too dull or too feminine. A black rug is fantastic used in an eclectic decorating scheme to provide cohesion and pull the whole look together. And black with beige just screams sophistication.
Don't be afraid to try a little black in your decorating, you will be amazed at the dramatic results.