Go to the Dark Side When Decorating Your Home

Go to the Dark Side When Decorating Your Home

The Hot trend in decorating a home is to rethink painting all your walls white and not to be afraid of the dark!

Most homeowners avoid decorating with dark colors because they falsely believe it makes a room appear gloomy or might lead to depression. Others feel that a dark room takes on a claustrophobic characteristic because the space feels smaller than its actual square footage.

However, when conducted correctly, the use of dark palettes can actually create a warm and inviting space bursting with life. Dark colors like black and dark grays can create drama, contrast and be very eye-catching.  Here are our tips you can explore to decorate your home when it comes to darker color tones.

Picking Dark Colors to Decorate

When thinking of dark colors, you are probably envisioning gray or black, but a host of dark colors exist that can truly create a memorable mood and appearance. Consider dark colors that are bold and rich such as maroon, brown, dark blue, or forest green. You can use the colors together or separately.

Develop a Room Color Plan

Consider developing a color plan. Figure out exactly where and in what moderation you’ll use when forming your palette to create a cohesive appearance.

Build the foundation in your room using darker colors. You can work in dark upholstery in moderation within the room. Also, you might want to consider painting the walls in dark colors or creating an accent wall. Do not use overly deep colors in the entire room or it could easily become overwhelming. Remember, when using dark colors, you’ll want to focus on moderation. You can use tints and tones to create balance in the room to make everything less overwhelming. Add more than a single dark color to the space. You can also focus on accessories and accents in dark shades. Why not pick a darkly colored rug.

Unify the Room with Dark Colors

Use bold, deep shades to bring together the room’s elements. You can create an eclectic design with dark walls, furniture, and window treatments.

Dark Colors for Rooms of all Sizes

Yes, you can use dark colors in small rooms (despite what many people believe). Decorating in dark colors makes the room more dramatic. It can make a small room feel larger. Yes, light colors are usually said to create a feeling of expansive space, but when done correctly, dark colors also work well.

You can also decorate large rooms using dark shades to warm up the expansive space and make them feel homier and cozier. If you have ever noticed, home libraries are often decorated in rich leathers and dark woods because the designer wants the room to feel like the perfect place to curl up with a delightful book. The dark hues provide a great deal of warmth to the space. 

Develop Contrast & Balance

If you have a dark room, then you’ll want to create a sense of contrast to make everything feel balanced and fluid. Use a variety of materials and textures to blend well with the room’s hard surfaces. You can use light colors items against a dark background or choose to take a dark room and place light or bold-colored furnishings and items within the room to compliment the shapes, sizes, and appearances of the room’s objects and space.

Limit the Use of Patterns

Yes, you should have some patterns in the room, even if the decor is dark but you need to limit the patterns to only one or two. Dark rooms already feel dramatic, so you don’t want to take things to the edge and overdo it. Think about textures like rattan, wood, or metal. You can also focus on fabrics such as suede, linen, and velvet to create an impression of greater. Patterns can make a room look cluttered so only use them in moderation. The number of patterns that you can use in the room does vary and depends on the space, shape, and room appearance. If you want to use patterns, then you’ll need to take things slow and weigh each decision carefully.

Architectural Details

In many dark rooms, you’ll see a wide array of architectural details such as crown molding, applied molding along the walls, or decorative ceiling medallions. The details immediately capture interest and bring even greater depth to the space. In fact, highlighting the architectural details makes the room interesting instead of dull or mundane.

Energize the Space

If you have decided to decorate your home in dark colors, then you’ll want to pick crisp shades that energize you. Why not go with a glossy finish on the ceiling, trim, or other architectural details? Avoid washed-out colors which can make a room feel overly dark. Focus on keeping the space fresh and alive by embracing bold accents.

Creating Calmness

Many people want to decorate in dark hues to create a space of calmness. In many regards, they are seeking a retreat. If you want to add warmth to the room then try terracotta tones, browns, and dark beiges. You can use the dark color combination in a bedroom where you are trying to promote rest, relaxation, and coziness.

Using Black

Yes, you can use black paint but be prepared for the strong blue undertone that black creates. Blue makes black a cool color instead of warmth. You can always try to source the black with a brown undertone, but it is very risky.

Choosing the Space

If you want to try a dark decor color scheme, then you’ll want to pick the right room. You can go big or small. One of the best rooms to try is the powder room. It’s small and you don’t spend a great deal of time in the space. You can easily experiment using bold color schemes without making the space feel overwhelming. Other room options are dining rooms, media rooms, or libraries.

If you want to decorate in dark colors, then start out small like in a powder bath and if you like the results can branch out to other rooms in your home!