skip to main content
SPRING RENOVATION EVENT
0
Your shopping cart is empty.
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
GET IDEAS
PHOTOS
Kitchen & DiningKitchenDining RoomPantryGreat RoomBreakfast Nook
Bed & BathBathroomPowder RoomBedroomStorage & ClosetBaby & Kids
LivingLiving RoomFamily RoomSunroom
OutdoorLandscapePatioDeckPoolBackyardPorchExteriorOutdoor KitchenFront YardDrivewayPoolhouse
WalkwaysStaircaseEntryHall
Bar & WineHome BarWine Cellar
UtilityLaundryGarageMudroom
More RoomsGame RoomHome OfficeBasementCraftLibraryGym
Popular Design IdeasKitchen BacksplashFirepit
FireplaceDeck RailingPergolaPrivacy FenceSmall Closet
MAGAZINE
Stories and GuidesPopular StoriesRenovation Cost Guides
DISCUSSIONS
Get AdviceDesign DilemmasBefore & After
HOUZZ TV
HOUZZ RESEARCH
FIND PROFESSIONALS
PROFESSIONALS
DesignArchitects & Building DesignersKitchen & Bathroom DesignersInterior Designers & DecoratorsDesign-Build FirmsLighting Designers & Suppliers
RemodelingKitchen & Bathroom RemodelersGeneral ContractorsHome BuildersTile & Countertop ContractorsMasonry & Concrete ContractorsExterior & Siding ContractorsStair & Railing ContractorsFireplace Contractors
RenovationCarpentersCabinetry & Cabinet MakersFlooring ContractorsWindow ContractorsDoor ContractorsGlass & Shower Door ContractorsCarpet Contractors
OutdoorLandscape Architects & DesignersLandscape ContractorsDeck & Patio BuildersFence ContractorsDriveway & Paving ContractorsSwimming Pool BuildersHot Tub & Spa Dealers
ServicesPaintersRoofing & Gutter ContractorsOrganizers & Closet DesignersHome StagersGarage Door ServicesWindow Treatment ServicesPaint & Wall Covering Dealers
Appliances & SystemsAppliance Sales & ServicesHVAC ContractorsHome Theater & AutomationOutdoor Lighting & AV SpecialistsSolar Energy Contractors
All ProfessionalsAll ServicesFor Professionals
SHOP BY DEPARTMENT
KITCHEN & DINING
Kitchen & Dining FurnitureSinks & FaucetsKitchen AppliancesTabletopCabinets & StorageKnobs & PullsKitchen LightingTileCookware & BakewareTools & GadgetsView All
FURNITURE
Living RoomKitchen & DiningHome OfficeOutdoorBedroomStorageBathroomView All
BATH
Bathroom VanitiesShowersBathtubsBathroom LightingFaucetsBathroom SinksTileBath AccessoriesBath LinensMedicine CabinetsView All
DECOR
RugsMirrorsWall DecorDecorative AccentsArtworkPillows & ThrowsHoliday DecorView All
BEDROOM
Beds & HeadboardsBeddingDressersNightstandsBenchesBedroom DecorLampsCloset StorageFutonsChaisesView All
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HardwareTileBathroom FixturesKitchen FixturesHeating & CoolingBuilding MaterialsTools & EquipmentView All
LIVING
Coffee & Accent TablesRugsSofas & SectionalsArmchairs & Accent ChairsTV Stand & Media StorageHome DecorLampsArtworkBookcasesFireplaces & AccessoriesView All
OUTDOOR
Patio FurnitureOutdoor DecorOutdoor LightingPool & SpaLawn & GardenOutdoor StructuresOutdoor CookingView All
LIGHTING
ChandeliersPendant LightsFlush-MountsBathroom & VanityWall SconcesCeiling FansTable LampsFloor LampsKitchen & CabinetOutdoor LightingView All
MORE
Storage & OrganizationHome OfficeBaby & KidsHome BarCleaning & LaundryPet SuppliesHoliday DecorView All
Looking for the perfect gift? Send a Houzz Gift Card!
SALE
ON SALE - UP TO 75% OFF
Bathroom VanitiesChandeliersBar StoolsPendant LightsRugsLiving Room ChairsDining Room FurnitureWall LightingCoffee TablesSide & End TablesHome Office FurnitureSofasBedroom FurnitureLampsMirrors
SPRING RENOVATION EVENT
Free Shipping
Large Appliances 
Bestsellers
Toilets, Tubs and Showers 
Up to 50% Off
Kitchen Sinks & Faucets 
Up to 40% Off
The Vanity Sale 
Decorating Guides
Decorating Guides
Your Guide to 12 Popular Decorating Styles
Top Ideabooks
Your Guide to 12 Popular Decorating StylesHow to Decorate a Coffee TableHow to Decorate a Living Room10 Tips for Getting a Dining Room Rug Just Right
Appears in
Latest From Houzz
See also
LightingColorOrganizingSmall SpacesFurnitureArtHouseplantsHolidaysDIY ProjectsAccessoriesWall TreatmentsDecorating StylesPatternGreen DecoratingEntertainingTastemakersBudget DecoratingRoom of the DayWorking With an Interior DesignerDecorating 101
Color
Color
8 Ways to Use White in the Bathroom
Top Ideabooks
8 Ways to Use White in the BathroomAn Editor and a Designer Discuss Pantone’s 2021 Color PickPantone Picks an Uplifting Combo for Its Color of the Year 2021What Kitchen Countertop Color Should You Choose?
Appears in
Decorating Guides
See also
Color PalettesOrangeTurquoiseBlueGreenGrayBrownBlackWhiteYellowPurpleNeutral ColorsBold ColorRedPinkColors of the Year

9 Ways to Use Rich, Dark Paint

See how deep colors — navy blue, charcoal, dark chocolate — can bring out your home's best details

Jason Ball
Jason BallJanuary 27, 2012
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Color plays such an important role in interior design. A room's entire mood can be enhanced or completely ruined by one decision. The wrong decision can mask interesting design details, help create an uninteresting space or throw everything out of balance. But, when the color is just right, everything comes into focus. Art pops, interesting architectural details are highlighted and drama is created.

This ideabook is all about using dark colors. I'm talking about navy, dark chocolate, black, charcoal — all colors we typically shy away from because we're not sure how to use them appropriately. Here are 9 ways you can use these rich paint choices to great effect in your next interior design project.

More: Navy blue walls | Charcoal walls | Black walls | Dark brown walls
SH interiors
1. Pick the right room. Darker colors immediately make a room feel more intimate and cozy. For some rooms, such as a parlor, bedroom or large living space, this is the desired effect. The deep charcoal gray on these walls set the mood for a perfect gathering spot for an evening with friends around the piano, or having cocktails and great conversations.

Try Sherwin Williams Peppercorn (SW7674) for a deep gray-brown tone.
Ragan Corliss
The design of this master bedroom creates a cocoon-like environment. Chocolate brown walls paired with crisp white linens and warm wood tones create a comfortable, relaxing space.

Work with an interior designer to create a cozy master bedroom
Tracy Murdock Allied ASID
2. Create contrast. The deep reddish-brown tones on the upper portion of these walls are offset by the white wainscoting and the white wood ceiling. There’s no better way to greet your guests than with a room rich in comfort, a little drama and all the amenities.
Erica Islas / EMI Interior Design, Inc.
3. Use a dark wall color to highlight the other design elements in the room. With any other color on these walls, the stunning cabinetry and marble counters would look washed out. By pairing these design elements with a deep navy, each element gets a chance to be noticed and appreciated.
Jamie Laubhan-Oliver
4. Use wall color to create an art gallery. The palette in this stunning hallway is simple: white and deep gray-brown. The wall color acts as a perfect backdrop for all the white design elements. Simple white picture frames, white console table and a “porcupine quill” mirror all stand out beautifully.
Elizabeth Gordon
5. Consider a deep neutral tone to highlight bright colors. Some might say using a deep brown in a nursery is crazy. I beg to differ. The particular tone of brown is a perfect backdrop for all the colorful toys, artwork and furniture that makes this room a perfect space for your baby. And it’s neutral enough that you could decorate for either a boy or a girl — just imagine pink and brown, a classic color combination.

Benjamin Moore’s Riding Boots (CSP-300, from their full-spectrum colors) makes for a perfect deep brown.
Kayron Brewer, CMKBD / Studio K B
6. Use dark tones to highlight architectural features. This well-appointed vintage powder room is really about the contrast between the walls painted in Devine Paints' Truffle walls and white architectural elements: window trim, crown molding, shutters. Because of the contrast, we really notice the cute little window, which I think is the real star of this bathroom.
7. Consider your lighting plan. No matter the room, thinking through the lighting plan upfront, especially if you’re remodeling, allows flexibility in using a darker tone on the walls. In this master bedroom remodel, we designed a full lighting system based on the eventual location of the clients’ artwork. By spreading the light around the room, rather than just having a central ceiling fixture and couple of nightstand lamps, we were able to use a more dramatic shade on the walls.

Find a local lighting designer

We used Woodstock Tan (HC-20) from Benjamin Moore’s Historical Colors collection in this bedroom remodel.
REFINED LLC
8. Use a darker color to define the function of a space. In this grand master bathroom, the tub area is called out with a deep brown tone, setting off the white tub nicely.
Space Harmony
9. One dark wall might be all that's needed. There is something about this room that is incredibly special. It's simple, clean and uncluttered. The charcoal gray wall is used to great effect, helping make the room seem a little larger. This type of treatment is a good starting place if you're hesitant to paint all the walls a dark color.

Tell us: Which dark paint most attracts your eye?

More: Stepping Into Black
Wallpaper: Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
See 37 comments
Explore Related Topics
Decorating GuidesColor
Read Related Stories
Your Guide to 12 Popular Decorating StylesYour Guide to 12 Popular Decorating Styles
By Laura Gaskill·77
Decorating Styles
How to Decorate a Coffee TableHow to Decorate a Coffee Table
By Yanic Simard·76
Living Rooms
How to Decorate a Living RoomHow to Decorate a Living Room
By Yanic Simard·213
Most Popular
10 Tips for Getting a Dining Room Rug Just Right10 Tips for Getting a Dining Room Rug Just Right
By Laura Gaskill·164
Most Popular
How Much Space You Need (and What to Do if You Don’t Have It)How Much Space You Need (and What to Do if You Don’t Have It)
By Yanic Simard·64
Standard Measurements
How to Create a De-Stress Zone at HomeHow to Create a De-Stress Zone at Home
By Gwendolyn Purdom·13
Feel-Good Home
High-Impact Houseplants for First-TimersHigh-Impact Houseplants for First-Timers
By Lauren Dunec Hoang·60
Houseplants
How to Buy a Quality Sofa That Will LastHow to Buy a Quality Sofa That Will Last
By Fred Albert·332
Furniture
How to Decorate a Small Living RoomHow to Decorate a Small Living Room
By Laura Gaskill·213
Living Rooms
10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors
By Maya Anderson·120
Houseplants
36 Home Design Trends Ready for Takeoff in 202136 Home Design Trends Ready for Takeoff in 2021
By Mitchell Parker·67
Trending Now
10 Ways to Add Warmth and Personality to Your Bathroom10 Ways to Add Warmth and Personality to Your Bathroom
By Yanic Simard·45
Bathroom Design
8 Things Interior Designers Want You to Know8 Things Interior Designers Want You to Know
By Laura Gaskill·168
Working With Pros
How to Mix Patterns Like a ProHow to Mix Patterns Like a Pro
By Yanic Simard·46
Pattern
10 Easy Ways to Give Your Entryway and Front Yard a Holiday Boost10 Easy Ways to Give Your Entryway and Front Yard a Holiday Boost
By Lauren Dunec Hoang·30
Fall and Thanksgiving
Shop Related Categories
Sofas
Sofas
Paint & Wall Coverings
Paint & Wall Coverings
Sponsored
SK Interiors
44 Reviews
Loudoun County's Top Kitchen & Bath Designer I Best of Houzz 2014-2021
People who liked this story also liked
Your Guide to 12 Popular Decorating Styles
Your Guide to 12 Popular Decorating StylesFull Story
How to Decorate a Coffee Table
How to Decorate a Coffee TableFull Story
How to Decorate a Living Room
How to Decorate a Living RoomFull Story
10 Tips for Getting a Dining Room Rug Just Right
10 Tips for Getting a Dining Room Rug Just RightFull Story
How Much Space You Need (and What to Do if You Don’t Have It)
How Much Space You Need (and What to Do if You Don’t Have It)Full Story
How to Create a De-Stress Zone at Home
How to Create a De-Stress Zone at HomeFull Story
High-Impact Houseplants for First-Timers
High-Impact Houseplants for First-TimersFull Story
How to Buy a Quality Sofa That Will Last
How to Buy a Quality Sofa That Will LastFull Story
How to Decorate a Small Living Room
How to Decorate a Small Living RoomFull Story
10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors
10 Top Plants to Grow IndoorsFull Story
Sponsored
Bull Run Kitchen and Bath
158 Reviews
Loudoun's Expert Kitchen & Bath Renovation Firm I Best of Houzz 2018
  • United States
  • ABOUT
  • CAREERS
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FOR BRANDS
  • SELL
  • Privacy & Notice
  • Terms
  • © 2021 Houzz Inc.