When it comes to clothing, dark color is a true classic that never goes out of style. The same goes for interior design. The living room, made in dark shades, has always been and remains at the peak of the trend. Dark colors are used when it is necessary to create a sophisticated and elegant room. It is accepted that only professional designers work with dark shades, since decorating such a living room is associated with many difficulties. But in fact, you can try to create a comfortable design with your own hands. Let's look at how to properly use dark colors and how you can decorate such an original room.
Interior of a dark living room with a dining area in the interior of a studio apartment
Why are dark shades popular in modern living room interior design?
There are a number of reasons why designers like to decorate a room in dark colors. It’s worth taking a closer look at what advantages dark colors have:
- A dark living room is especially beautiful and sophisticated. Dark furniture surfaces with glossy fronts and the same accessories look original. Their magnificence is immediately remembered.
- A dark living room is, above all, stylish and fashionable. Recently, dark living rooms are at the peak of popularity.
- The dark interior of the living room is considered the most romantic, sexy and mysterious. Owners of dark living rooms decorated in Gothic style claim that they enhance the senses.
- If you manage to choose the right dark shades for decorating your living room, then in the end you will get an atmosphere for good rest, relaxation and bliss.
Basic shades of brown used in the interior
The many-sided color scheme of brown allows you to choose soft and trendy tones for the design of the room, from dark to soft and delicate pastels. A number of the most popular shades of chocolate are skillfully woven into the decoration of the room, and a harmonious combination with other colors allows you to make the interior not boring and memorable:
- Chocolate and coffee shades are perfect for spacious living rooms with plenty of natural light.
- Pastel tones of mocha, cocoa, cappuccino and elegant beige are indispensable for small rooms in city apartments.
- The color of cinnamon makes the room cozy, and accents of a yellow or red palette can make the atmosphere of the interior more dynamic and energetic.
- All shades of natural wood, imitating its real natural pattern, fit harmoniously into the decoration, made in a classic style. Positive energy hovers in such an interior, tuning the owner into harmony with nature and himself.
The smaller the living room area, the lighter the main shade used for the design should be. An excess of dark tones can visually make a room smaller.
Disadvantages of a living room interior in dark colors
Speaking about such advantages, we should not forget about the disadvantages. Knowing all the pros and cons of dark colors will help you make the right decision. Here are a few main disadvantages:
- Use dark shades in the living room interior with extreme caution. If you are off by even half a tone, the overall impression of the color will be ruined. In the worst case scenario, you'll have to redecorate your living room all over again.
- As the main background, a dark color can be used in large and spacious living rooms. It has one unpleasant property - narrowing and squeezing of space.
- Dark color in the design of the living room requires a lot of natural and artificial lighting. Without the right light, the living room will turn out gloomy and uncomfortable.
Brown floor in the living room
Living rooms with wood floors have an unmistakable charisma and are incredibly attractive. Depending on the size of the room, it is advisable to carefully select finishes in brown tones. Walnut, wenge or smoked oak are suitable flooring options for light-filled rooms. As with any color, it is advisable to test the appropriate shade of brown in both daylight and artificial light. For example, espresso brown takes on a reddish tint under artificial light, so it won't suit every taste.
If you use color gradients in your design, you can also make the atmosphere more dynamic by using different materials. The wood of the table, which captivates in dark brown and lighter caramel shades, matches the fabric of the sofa and the sand color of the chairs. Dark brown in a living room can also have a different effect through mixed textures. Painted, varnished, glossy or matt, the brown surface provides variety. See for yourself by checking out the presented photo gallery.
Vertical and horizontal surfaces of dark shades in the living room interior
In the interior of the living room, you can decorate any surface with dark shades, but not all at once. Otherwise, the central room in the house will look like a cave. Dark colors should be distributed correctly. There are several basic principles for decorating a room:
- If you decide to make the walls in the living room dark, then the flooring should be lighter. But it’s better to make the ceiling pure snow-white. Dark walls look harmonious with a light ceiling and floor. As you can see, at least one surface must be light.
- If you decide to use dark furniture in the living room as an original addition, then the background for it should be several tones lighter. Otherwise, the furniture will merge with the walls and all the originality of the design will be lost.
- If you decide to make the floor in the living room a dark color, then light furniture will look beautiful on it. However, such furniture should be used with caution. Light objects can significantly brighten a dark interior. This will ruin the entire dark composition.
Design secrets
To get the necessary atmosphere in the room, you should adhere to a number of rules that involve working in the right direction, based on:
- living room size;
- contrast;
- lighting.
If the apartment area is small, you can resort to a technique that involves dismantling the wall. But indoors you shouldn’t be too fond of black. It is better to dilute it with white shades to make the room lighter and brighter.
Usually the walls are painted in the main tone. White color is a great contrast to everything else.
Cabinet and upholstered furniture in the interior of a dark living room
When choosing upholstered furniture for the living room, you need to follow just one rule. If the walls and floor are made in dark shades, then the poufs, sofa and armchairs should be of any light shades. If the surfaces still have more light colors, then the furniture should be dark.
Living room interior in dark gray shades with light furniture
Therefore, the same principle applies to choosing cabinet furniture for a dark living room, but with some additions. If there is a large piece of furniture in the living room and it takes up a lot of free space, for example, a huge closet or wall, then it should match the color of the walls. Accordingly, if cabinet furniture is miniature, then there may be different options in the color scheme of the furniture.
Black furniture against a background of black walls, white ceiling and beige floor
Living room in brown tones - chic design options
Arranging a living room in brown provides a lot of possibilities - mainly because this color of walls, furniture or floors harmonizes perfectly with other colors. Warm chocolate tones, red, beige combined with shades of white or gray are good ideas for arranging an elegant living room. Brown is the color of the earth, trees, and therefore everything natural.
Lighting in the interior of a dark living room
To illuminate a dark living room, you need to follow one rule - the more light, the better. This is important to observe, since dark textures absorb a lot of light, so there should be as much of it as possible.
Modern interior of a monochrome living room with gray upholstered furniture
It’s another matter if you used glossy surfaces in the design of the living room. In this case, all light sources must be carefully selected and correctly placed. Gloss reflects light and changes the perception of the surrounding space. In such a living room it is better to use combined lighting sources. For example, the main light from a chandelier can be combined with spotlights in certain areas of the room.
A white ceiling and a lot of light will help brighten a living room in dark shades
How to use lighting in dark rooms
Designers advise using a large number of different lighting fixtures in dark tones in rooms, including living rooms.
Typically, living rooms combine a single chandelier with many spotlights scattered across the surface of the walls, which are designed to illuminate individual areas.
In the room you can use many original spotlights, as well as floor lamps hidden from view. To reflect the daytime sunny color, you can use mirrored, crystal objects and furniture.
A room design in dark colors will add beauty, originality, brightness to your home and make it luxurious.
A palette of dark shades for decorating the living room interior
Dark shades can primarily be found in English classic interiors. Here you will definitely find noble wooden furniture and luxurious textiles in such shades as:
- coffee-chocolate;
- bottle;
- cherry;
- royal blue.
Against the background of black walls and floors, light gray furniture and a fluffy carpet will look beautiful.
If dark wallpaper was used to decorate the walls, then against such a background the following will look luxurious:
- large and luxurious chandeliers with crystal pendants;
- gilded objects and accessories;
- fabrics with metallic fabrics;
- mirrors in massive shiny frames.
All these items together make the living room comfortable and welcoming.
Light beige cabinet furniture looks original against a black wall
The ideal shades for decorating walls, textiles and furniture facades are:
- black;
- asphalt gray;
- dark green;
- Navy blue;
- violet.
Most often, this color scheme is used to decorate the interior of a living room in the style of minimalism and hi-tech. These shades can be combined with glossy furniture surfaces and metallic shine of accessories.
Modern black and white living room interior with dining area
A stylish design can be achieved using a black and white color scheme. The walls can be decorated with plain wallpaper and paintings in a graphic style. Black and white photographs or, conversely, bright and catchy paintings would look appropriate here. All images will look especially impressive with LED backlighting.
Bright decorative elements can liven up a dark living room.
The loft-style living room does not have a particularly light palette. Here, the terracotta-colored brickwork looks good with the grayness of the concrete and metal. This color scheme can be slightly diluted with bright colors.
A white ceiling, a beige sofa and fresh bright flowers in vases will help set off the dark chocolate walls.
Living room of different styles in brown colors
Bronze in a modern living room is a minimalist glamor style. This decor will allow you to furnish an elegant living room. The dominant colors are black, white and brown. With a light floor and a dark sofa, a brown rug and other accessories go perfectly together. The living area has a dark brown sofa set against a light rug.
Arranging a brown living room will also look great in eco-style. Furniture made of rattan and wood, against the background of brown walls, will look very natural. The bronze hall is a natural basis for decorative elements. Brown in eco looks good in combination with greenery. Green may dominate the walls, while furniture and accessories may be beige or brown or the opposite combination.
Arranging a living room in brown and beige tones is an interior in a romantic Provencal style. Light, muted colors optically expand the interior. The Provençal atmosphere in a brown living room is achieved thanks to light furniture and stylized accessories. Light brown color can dominate the seating area; it can be a white table, as well as soft, brown armchairs and sofas.
Original ideas for decorating a living room interior in dark colors
If the living room has one free wall that will not be filled with furniture, then it can be decorated with photo wallpaper. An image of a night city or a retro image of an ancient street will fit stylishly and originally. And for brave people, you can bring futuristic decor into the living room, for example, an image of space.
A black ceiling will help make your living room truly unusual. But here it is important to know that this technique is allowed to be used only if the ceiling height approaches three meters. For low rooms there is also a solution - a glossy canvas that will act as a mirror. It will reflect the decor of the living room, which makes the room feel more spacious.
What is the appeal of brown colors?
The interior of a brown living room will appeal to those who prefer a leisurely and calm pastime. With the help of this color you can create a peaceful atmosphere of a cozy nest or convey the strict working atmosphere of an office.
Brown and all its shades acquire such properties because:
- pleasing to the eye;
- do not cause irritation, but at the same time serve as a bright accent;
- often found in nature, so they allow you to create a natural design.
In such colors it is difficult to imagine a children's room or a studio apartment, where cheerful companies often gather for friendly gatherings.
But if your goal is to recreate a classic or modern interior for warm family communication, then brown color will help in this endeavor.
