Virtually precisely one yr in the past, I made a decision to take my lounge partitions (proven beneath) from a crisp white to a deep, moody blue (Benjamin Moore Midnight, to be actual), and I haven’t seemed again. Moody paint colours like this may fully remodel an area, bringing depth, drama, and dimension—particularly in small New York Metropolis flats like mine. Whereas darkish partitions aren’t for everybody, they provide a daring various to the neutrals we see all over the place as of late. Plus, in the event you’re a renter like me, paint is an reasonably priced technique to make your house really feel extra customized with out worrying about your safety deposit. It’s the best technique to really feel such as you’ve moved right into a brand-new dwelling with out going wherever!
Should you’ve been enthusiastic about portray your house a darker coloration however are wavering a bit, that’s comprehensible, too. Right here, you’ll discover invaluable suggestions from inside design professionals relating to every little thing you’ll want to take into consideration in the case of darkish paint. However keep in mind: it actually is simply paint—in the event you change your thoughts in six months, so be it!
Featured picture from our interview with Kate Arends by Suruchi Avasthi.
Be Aware About Stopping Factors
Should you’re going darkish in a room that’s a part of an open ground plan, this tip from designer Anna Baraness is a key one. “It’s important to consider the starting and stopping points of the dark paint as it transitions into the adjacent spaces, especially if those adjacencies are painted a light color,” the founding father of Studio AK Interiors explains. “Ideally there is a cased opening, corner bead, or other architectural detail that creates a natural stopping point and logical transition to a different wall color,” she says.
Look to Your Room’s Measurement and Lighting
Darkish paint colours are in no way one dimension suits all. “Bright spaces thrive with bold blues or greens for drama, while warm browns or plums bring cozy vibes to dimmer rooms,” explains Elle Cole, the founding father of Elle Cole Interiors. In fact, anybody taking up a paint challenge ought to all the time choose up swatches of the shades they’re contemplating and be aware of how they seem at totally different occasions of day previous to committing to a coloration.
Shade Drench
Sarah McCarty, the founding father of Sarah McCarty Interiors, likes the concept of coloration drenching a room with a deep hue, portray the partitions, ceiling, and trim multi function shade. “Change the sheen to add some dimension,” she says. “This not only creates a cohesive look, but a major vibe shift!”
Add Wainscoting
However, perhaps you’re not able to go all in with a darkish coloration. On this occasion, you’ll be able to all the time add wainscoting to create a two-toned look, notes Rebecca Ward. Doing so will “break up the dark wall color,” she says, although remember that it’s a tactic higher left to those that personal, not lease! “This approach works beautifully in dining rooms,” provides the founding father of Rebecca Ward Design.
Beautify Like a Professional
You’ll need the furnishings and equipment you select in your house to properly complement the darkish paint coloration you choose. “Pair dark walls with light furniture and rich textures to keep the space striking yet inviting,” Cole affords.
Metallics and prints additionally make for excellent accents. McCarty recommends going for metallic-colored assertion artwork, throw pillows, or window therapies, including in some warm-toned lighting, and bringing in a patterned rug to spherical out a room with darkish partitions.
