Objects that absorb all light waves are perceived as black when we view those objects, as no light is reflected. The darker a color, the more light waves the object is absorbing. Black is the darkest color and absorbs all light waves, while no other color on the spectrum does.
The more light waves an object reflects, the lighter the color we perceive. On the other end of the spectrum is white. Objects that reflect all light waves are perceived as white, as no colors are absorbed.
Because the color black absorbs almost all light waves, a room painted black will need increased lighting or else it will appear very dim. Black and other very dark colors will also make a home or rooms seem much smaller. To help reduce the effect, you can use light trimming or a light floor covering. This is why black and white are often used together to balance the light waves that are absorbed and reflected. A white floor will help a room look spacious, whereas a dark floor will not.
There are many things that affect the colors that we perceive: the amount of light that hits an object, the angle which the light hits the object, nearby colors and the amount of light waves reflected. Any time you place two colors next to one another, both colors will change. Reflection of light from a surface close by can also change a color. For example, if you hold a piece of white paper up to a glass of orange juice, the glass will transmit the color orange onto the paper. If you look through the paper, it will have an orange tint.