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They make rooms feel small....
The lighter the better....
Black?.....NO!
These are but a few responses I receive from clients when I first meet with them or on any given project where part of my design presentation consists of less than traditional color schemes or suggestions. But I love to work with dark color palettes and surprisingly for many clients they feel the same way after I pull an entire design together.
Using dark tones can add drama or a sense of envelopment or even comfort to any room. It all depends on the colors you choose, how you use them and on what surfaces they are used. For example, I chose hi-gloss black walls for a living room with two walls of windows, one of which is floor to ceiling, in a high rise overlooking San Francisco's Financial District. We left the ceiling and trim an off-white/beige and the floors a honey toned bamboo. Because the windows face South and East, the black walls during the day tone down the constant stream of light. The most dramatic affect is at night when the walls blend in with the night sky and one actually forgets the walls are even there.
The reason the black works is that there is a balance struck with light. So if you want to use dark colors without the fear of making a room feel small, the more light there is, the more opportunity you have to use dark colors. Another way to balance out dark walls is to use light or lighter tones on the furnishings.
But if an entire room with dark walls is still abit much to handle, the next best thing are accent walls. Choosing one wall to paint or cover in a dark color can still add drama to any room.
However, if painting or covering your walls in dark blues, reds, greys or black aren't your cup of tea, you can still bring in dark tones through flooring or by built-in furniture and cabinetry. Espresso and ebony stain floors are a good alternative to dark vertical surfaces because you can cover them with rugs, again creating balancing.
So don't be afraid to use dark colors in your home, whether it's a downtown high rise apartment or a restored Victorian. Just keep in mind how much light, be it natural or artificial, you have.
Designing with dark colors may now make you say:
The room doesn't feel small....
Let's try something abit darker....
Black?.....Sure!
The lighter the better....
Black?.....NO!
These are but a few responses I receive from clients when I first meet with them or on any given project where part of my design presentation consists of less than traditional color schemes or suggestions. But I love to work with dark color palettes and surprisingly for many clients they feel the same way after I pull an entire design together.
Using dark tones can add drama or a sense of envelopment or even comfort to any room. It all depends on the colors you choose, how you use them and on what surfaces they are used. For example, I chose hi-gloss black walls for a living room with two walls of windows, one of which is floor to ceiling, in a high rise overlooking San Francisco's Financial District. We left the ceiling and trim an off-white/beige and the floors a honey toned bamboo. Because the windows face South and East, the black walls during the day tone down the constant stream of light. The most dramatic affect is at night when the walls blend in with the night sky and one actually forgets the walls are even there.
The reason the black works is that there is a balance struck with light. So if you want to use dark colors without the fear of making a room feel small, the more light there is, the more opportunity you have to use dark colors. Another way to balance out dark walls is to use light or lighter tones on the furnishings.
But if an entire room with dark walls is still abit much to handle, the next best thing are accent walls. Choosing one wall to paint or cover in a dark color can still add drama to any room.
However, if painting or covering your walls in dark blues, reds, greys or black aren't your cup of tea, you can still bring in dark tones through flooring or by built-in furniture and cabinetry. Espresso and ebony stain floors are a good alternative to dark vertical surfaces because you can cover them with rugs, again creating balancing.
So don't be afraid to use dark colors in your home, whether it's a downtown high rise apartment or a restored Victorian. Just keep in mind how much light, be it natural or artificial, you have.
Designing with dark colors may now make you say:
The room doesn't feel small....
Let's try something abit darker....
Black?.....Sure!
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I totally love this room. The color scheme of is well thought out and very masculine. The use of mirros helps bounce light into the room from windows and recessed lighting.
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The deep blue of the far wall and the dark stained wood ceiling really sets off the room. The natural light and the light furnishings are well balanced.
by Pierce Allen
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The deep eggplant focall wall pops! The mix of furnishings and finishes adds a new contemporary dimension to an otherwise traditional space.
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I love how the burgandy pulls out a nice undertone from the granite countertops creating an inviting feel. What would a beige or white wall color have done to space?
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Grey/green and gold is such a modern, luxurious combination.
by Pierce Allen
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I have grown fond of purple when used in interiors. Depending on the light it can transition from deep blue to almost black. It's a great color!
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This modern kitchen uses deep tones of red both in the cabinetry and in the floor mixed with the accents of black/wenge and light grey walls.
| Ebony floors and black cabinets are set off by crisp white details. The balance is fantastic. |
Comments
Julian Green thankyou for shedding some light on the art of darkness
4 years ago · Like
liz Even though it's too much for me to design with many dark colors, i really like the cabinets in both kitchens and the dark floors.
4 years ago · Like
Leoalbertus I love interiors with dark colors; it's the way to go if you're after a masculine look. On the practical side also, scuffs and dirt marks are less noticeable with dark colors (except on a black floor). Artificial lighting is crucial--when well-executed it adds plenty of drama in the evening.
3 years ago · Like
isajo Lovely to read this as have a tiler coming tomorrow to lay charcoal grey slate look rectangular tiles thru my house and have been a little apprehensible as everyone is telling me it will be too dark?? just like the reaction you mention??? I love black so have fingers legs and eyes all permanently crossed until my house is finished....any suggestions on wall colour???-I've done kitchen pure white and it looks lovely with red futon and 3 black mirror backed shadow boxes on wall...new room has 2 walls of stacker doors which all open to a deck overlooking a small lake.....had planned on white walls with several mirrors throughout house to keep it light and airy as not the lightest lit house..I'm in Aussie sub tropics so is mostly warm...Thanx for any imput.
3 years ago · Like
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