Painting Rooms with Dark Colors
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I am an Art Consultant specializing in hospitality, and I work on residential and commercial projects as well.
I blog for Wallspin on Zatista.com, "the premier source for original art... More »
Let’s talk about rooms painted very dark colors – I’m talking dark, as in chocolate, eggplant or black. Could you live in one? I like to imagine that in a parallel universe I would paint a room in my house a really dark color. I would do it just for the thrill of accenting the space with dynamic colors in furniture, accessories and especially artwork.
I grew up in a house with a dark-chocolate brown powder room. It was the 70s and the art in the powder room had gold-leaf frames with avocado velvet liners. I was just a kid but even then I was drawn to this space. Now, I love looking at pictures of these strangely appealing rooms because everything is so dramatic just due to the paint color.
I grew up in a house with a dark-chocolate brown powder room. It was the 70s and the art in the powder room had gold-leaf frames with avocado velvet liners. I was just a kid but even then I was drawn to this space. Now, I love looking at pictures of these strangely appealing rooms because everything is so dramatic just due to the paint color.
by Terrie Hall
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Dark colors seem do-able in powder rooms, but what about those of you out there living with dark colors in bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens? How do you do it?
I would be hooked on the contrast.
The coziness is appealing too.
Most of all, I love seeing color pop off a dark wall.
Dark walls can be a perfect opportunity to showcase artwork. If you can play with color you'll create synergy in the room.
I like this elegant room but a strategic injection of color here could make this room sizzle.
Yum. If could get my hands on these walls I'd spice things up with artwork that interacts with the eggplant and the gold.
Another good example of how color plays in a dark room. Just the right artwork on the wall could tie this whole room together.
By now you won't be surprised to hear me say I'd love to see a bit of color in the artwork there in that cozy corner.
Could you live with a black bedroom?
How would you approach living with dark colored walls?
Ideabook published on May 7, 2010.
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Saying that, I'm not so sure I could live in a dark bedroom for a long time...
This guest bedroom is deep navy blue. The client asked for square and circular geometrics, which I rubbed on with silver paint.
My husband really enjoys the living room because I think it has a very masculine vibe to it....almost cave-like. On the one hand I love the coziness of it, but in Winter it can be very gloomy when it is cold and gray outside. He will not let me paint over the walls and so for now I have brought in LOTS of lights in the form of a large swag, table lamps, and floor lamps. The room is illuminated by about 600 watts (or rather the equivalent since we use the new lower watt bulbs). I have finally convinced him to add French doors to one wall so that more light can come into the room and we are also talking about skylights. It may be that my eyes are dimming as I age and that I need more light to see than he does but sometimes I think this room is simply too dark and would be just as beautiful and manly in perhaps sage green or stone, keeping the wood trim that compliments our woodland landscape.
Just to give a bit of cheer in the Winter, I painted our foyer, which had wallpaper when we moved in, a pale turquoise color and kept the dark wood accents.
I think that the key to a dark room is to have a balance of light to offset the gloominess it can bring and to make it feel welcoming to everyone. Also, punches of color help as well.
Whend, I wish you well with your new chocolate brown space. If you desire chocolate brown, I think you should have chocolate brown. It is a very comforting color and can be changed relatively inexpensively once you have filled your craving and are ready for something new. I am not sorry that I have a this dark room because everyone who visits our home says that the living room feels very comforting and inviting...like a haven.