Dark Paint Dark Walls Should I go for it?

My home has been many colours over the years. We’ve been light and minimal (hated that and blame the husband). We’ve also been Laura Ashley circa 1990’s (better but still not me). And dark but colourful, thinks reds, greens and navys. But that’s the great thing about decorating our homes. It’s an extension of our personalities. And whilst some aspects of our personalities remain constant others ebb and flow. And one of those that changes is our taste in clothing, colours and decor. For me the question of dark paint dark walls should I go for it? Came as a direct, I think, revolt against our light and minimal phase. It felt sterile, I never felt quite at home. And so this post is all about yes, you should go for it. And the reasons why painting a room dark works.

the home of @littleedwardian via instagram

But before we go into why it works, let’s take a look at how the ‘Dark Side’ of interiors came to be. You see interior fashion is a fickle thing. It’s the type of friend who moves on to bigger and better things and somehow manages to forget about you along the way. With each season comes a new fashion. All of a sudden we’re supposed to just throw away yesterdays flamingos and embrace today’s peacock! There is always a new look to follow. But over the last few years people are starting to shun the old ways.  They’re beginning to embrace their own style (you only have to look on Instagram or Pinterest to see this). A movement to stamp a bit of personality on our own four walls.  We’re transforming houses into real homes rather than the carbon copies the retail interior giants would impose on us. This backlash against conformity is seeing a rise in the use of dark paint. And with it the retailers are now following us.

the home of @relovedmcr via instagram

my bedroom complete with gold fireplace

Moving over to the dark side of interiors is such an enlightening experience too. But what are the benefits of dark interiors? Well for one, rather than rooms feeling smaller they appear larger especially if it’s a small room to begin with. The fact is that dark colours recede (look as though they are further away) therefore opening up a space. By using dark paint colours in small rooms they become more spacious before your  very eyes! Dark paint colours literally have a ‘Tardis’ effect.

the home of @mad_about_the_house via instagram

Your room won’t necessarily  feel darker as many people would think either especially if the room has little natural light.  A dark room with little light isn’t going to get brighter just by painting it white. White paint needs light to bounce it around, that’s what makes it feel lighter. In the absence of light it will feel cold and grey. And whilst we’re on it, dark paint on walls rather than being depressing actually feels calming and relaxing. You feel snuggled, somehow cocooned and safe. Everything will look more interesting, art work and other objects now seem to pop. And just like black high street clothing looks more expensive than other colours. Dark painted walls elevates everything around them. There is something truly etheral too about the way the light changes thoughout the day in a dark painted room. The shadows cast are magical.

the home of @the_idle_hands via instagram

A dark home somehow feel grander in nature too, more sophisticated. And if like me you’re on a budget, it makes everything around it look not only more interesting but more expensive too. Take the dark paint in my kitchen for instance. I used dark paint for not only my kitchen cabinets but my walls as well. Moving to the dark side of interiors literally transformed it! I now love to sit and relax in it where before I would always feel the need to be ‘doing’ and not really knowing why. It now feels warm and cosy, yet at the same time elegant. And where as it once felt cramped (it is tiny after all) painting it dark has magically made it feel much bigger. It now feels much more spacious.

my kitchen painted dark

my monochrome with a pop of gold in my own hallway

So what other styles work well with dark homes? Well dark colours work fabulously well with jewel colours. Think Ruby Reds, Emerald Greens, Mustard Yellows and Sapphire Blues. The dark background allows these colours to shine. They literally leap out at you adding another layer of sophistication to any setting.

the home of @artynads via Instagram

Dark walls also work well with bold, bright colours or neons too. Bright yellows, hot pinks, vivid greens, the choices are endless. Pops of bright colours create a happy, that doesn’t tip over into feeling manic.

the home of  @patirobins via Instagram

Dark colours also works well with softer hues and pastel colours. Baby pinks, pale olive greens, pale powdery mustard yellows. They have the ability to pare back a dark scheme. They’re a perfect combination where you would like a softer, more gentle vibe.

the home of @house_of_chester via instagram

You can also go minimal, pared back. Allow the colour on the walls to speak for itself. Use bold, over sized or one off pieces and let them just be. Allow them to shine, standing prominently against the dark room, allowing them to show off with a ‘look at me’ attitude.

the home of @thehousethatblackbuilt via instagram

By contrast you can also go maximalist. Have all the things in all the places. It’s not a style for everyone but when curated carefully a maximalist interior just flows. Carrying a person from room to room in a natural and progressive way. An underlying colour them helps here as does the dark backdrop that acts as a glue to hold the design together.

the home of @jazziere via instagram

A dark interior can be formal, relaxed, glam, boho, eclectic,  you name it. But there are a couple of handy rules that apply to any dark setting. If you’re thinking of dipping your toes into the murky depths so to speak there are a few things to consider before starting. First up is choosing your colour. Now with dark colours in particular, it is really important to buy a tester pot and paint a huge sheet of paper with it. Then blue tack it to a wall. Leave it there for 24 hours making sure to keep checking in on it throughout the day. The reason? Dark colours change drastically throughout the day depending on their base pigment. So for instance you may feel you’ve found that perfect shade of dark grey paint only to find that by 2pm  that it actually looks blue. Or perhaps you’ve opted for a dark green paint that by 11am looks grey.

the home of @ingewatrobski via instagram

Keep going though until you find that perfect shade, the one that works at all times of the day in your particular room. Once you find that shade repeat the 24 hour process on every wall. And once it receives four big fat yes’s (just like Britain’s Got Talent) then that’s the colour for you. Try though when using it in your room to paint the woodwork and doors in the same colour too. Contrasting the woodwork in white somehow breaks up the space making it feel disjointed. Remember also to layer up your lighting. Overhead, floor lamps and table lamps. The more the merrier in fact. you’ll be amazed just how many combinations you can use come evening to change the atmosphere of the room at a flick of a switch.

the home of @alexcrabtreepr via instagram

My final three tips are my secret weapon. Add in metallics. For me it’s gold and brass but for you it may be chrome, copper or bronze. Less is more though, don’t overdo it and risk stepping over into the realms of tacky. Finding just the right balance will magically bring a room to life. Next add in some greenery. A house always feels more like home with house plants. Not only do they look good against the dark back drop but the also tend to cheer you up too. If like me though you’re are a serial plant killer do what I do and fake it with faux! My final trick is to create focal points. One for every wall in the room. So wherever you eyes land they see a beautiful display, feature or artwork that leaps off the dark backdrop and draws you in.

the home of @layered.home via instagram