Features and nuances of a dark room
The first thing that comes to mind when mentioning a dark room is the black shade that covers everything in the room. Therefore, the design is considered boring, which can be considered a mistake. The main thing is that the furniture and colors maintain harmony with each other.
Before you include such shades in your interior, you need to learn about all the most popular tones and their features.
The most important feature of this design solution is the ability to decorate any style. Black will not spoil the classic or modern style, but rather, on the contrary, it will decorate them and add zest. If dark colors are used, it would be best to complement them with original glossy furniture and decor.
It is important to understand which interior styles the noble shades will look most harmonious with.
However, you should not overdo it with black if such a design is created in small rooms or apartments. This will make them appear even smaller and the walls will begin to “press in”, which can lead to a feeling of depression.
Getting acquainted with ready-made examples will greatly simplify thinking through your own design.
Important! If you want to arrange a small room with this design, the best way would be to divide it into several zones.
When creating a dark design, it is important not to make a mistake with the choice of finishing, furniture, decor, and also to correctly combine them into one overall picture.
A dark color will look different in different rooms.
Another feature of this design is the creation of an atmosphere of mystery.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake when creating a dark room is filling it with black. This leads to the design becoming simply boring and monotonous.
Dark color can visually reduce space and darken a room.
The best solution would be to add some light colors to add variety to the design of the room. For example, paint the walls black and buy lighter furniture.
In general, professional designers recommend playing with colors, as this will help create a unique design.
An undoubted positive feature of dark colors in the interior is that they make the appearance of the room non-standard.
Why do designers love dark shades so much in interior design?
Benefits of dark living rooms
- Refined elegance of design. The combination of dark-colored surfaces with original decorative elements and glossy texture looks very impressive.
- Dark interiors are always fashionable, which is why they are popular among the elite of society.
- This interior adds mystery. The owners who have chosen the gothic direction of dark living rooms are sure that such an atmosphere heightens all the senses and gives an acute sensation. Psychologists are of the same opinion; these tones increase the sexuality of partners.
- With the right selection of shades, the design of the living room will be conducive to relaxation and will give a special atmosphere of relaxation.
Attention! Despite the many advantages of this interior, there are disadvantages. Take your time with your choice, study all the pros and cons before making your final decision.
Black and gray living room design
Disadvantages of living rooms in dark colors
- Using shades of black or gray requires high professionalism from designers. If you use the wrong combination of shades, you can ruin the entire composition.
- A basic dark tone works well in large spaces. It visually reduces space.
- Such interiors require a lot of natural or artificial lighting, otherwise the room will seem gloomy.
Advice! The predominance of one color (walls, furniture, floors, etc.) will give the feeling of a cave. Proper distribution of shades is important.
Surface design: walls, floor and ceiling
If the room is small, then you can play with contrast: paint one of the walls in dark colors and the other surfaces in white. Thanks to this solution, it seems as if the room has become larger, and the black color will add mystery. You can also enhance the mystery by adding a few decorative elements. For example, wallpaper.
Such colors can be seen in the apartments of brave, creative individuals who are not afraid to show their individuality.
It's also a good idea to add brighter shades to avoid the black-and-white movie effect.
Although the most important and effective way is considered to be the creation of a “white box”. That is, you need to paint the walls, ceiling and floor white. This way more light will be reflected. It will also seem as if the room has increased in size. This effect can be enhanced if everything in the room is completely white.
Black and deep gray will harmonize in the interior with any other colors.
However, a room that is painted entirely white may seem boring to many. In this case, you can dilute it with other bright colors. If this does not help, then you can try decorating the entire wall with black and white photographs or drawings, and also use different openwork patterns on the bed or cabinets.
Dark colors can be embodied in classic styles, such as art deco or English style, as well as in modern minimalism or even hi-tech.
For those who don't want to paint the walls white because they look like a hospital room, you can choose another color, like light yellow. The color does not have to be white, the main thing is its brightness.
Modern living room with dark furniture
The main effect of a room arranged in dark colors is restraint and conciseness. Soft panels of dark colors look good in the interior in combination with purple upholstered furniture and, say, a golden-colored lamp. The design and decor of a dark room can be very diverse. You can successfully show leather, stone and wood in the interior. Expensive wood species, oak, cherry look gorgeous. Today, Shimo ash is popular. When the main background is created, you can start decorating with accessories. You should choose interior items that diversify the interior.
It is important to remember the color scheme of accessories, using elements of light colors
How to spice up your design
- Stylish pillows;
- Antiques;
- Bright plaid;
- Fireplace or chest;
- Designer tableware;
- Original lighting.
Furniture should be fundamental and expensive. Everything should evoke nobility and style. The floor can be parquet or you can install laminate. It is important to remember that if the cabinets are dark, then soft sofas and armchairs should be selected in light colors. If the walls and floor are gray, then a round white table and pink accessories will remove the despondency. A dark lilac design will add carelessness and harmony to the interior. If you want to add brutality, then you need to choose upholstered furniture with a rough finish. Don't forget about carpets, they are still relevant.
Wooden panels will also add charm. You can highlight the walls using paintings and photos.
Furniture in a dark room
Furniture in a dark room is no less important than lighting.
- The first thing you need to do is deal with the sofa. If it is too bulky, under no circumstances should it be placed in the center. This is due to the fact that it will absorb light. It will also be ideal if you place a sofa with legs that will highlight the space between the floor and the bottom. This will create a feeling of lightness.
- Wardrobes, beds, armchairs, etc., like a sofa, must have legs. It will also be excellent if openwork patterns are applied to them. This will slightly dilute the darkness in the room. It is also better not to place a black sofa in the living room interior. This may make it seem too dark.
- If you are going to place a lot of furniture in the room, do not choose too dark shades. Because of this, a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere will arise in the room. You won't be able to relax in such a room.
- It is best to choose black or brown curtains. Light tulle and dark curtains will stand out.
Photos of living rooms in dark colors
The main thing is to remember to maintain the proportions of dark to light colors: 2:1. In a black interior it is important to use:
- dark furniture elements and the same color floor;
- walls in gray tones (medium);
- ceilings with light accessories;
A well-designed interior in the living room in dark colors will add luxury and unique beauty to your home.
Color options for dark room design
There are many color options for a dark room, but in this part of the article we will look at a few of them.
Brown
This color is very versatile - depending on how you use it, it can be warm or cool. In addition, it has many different shades, each of which can suit a specific design.
Deep shades allow you to focus on the beautiful details of furniture and accessories.
In large rooms that face the sunlit side, you can paint the walls in black shades, as they will stand out. In smaller rooms, on the contrary, light varieties of brown should be used. This will create the illusion that the room is larger than it seems.
Since this color was not created artificially, it goes well with various textures. For example, you can use a tree structure. This will help bring variety and individuality to the room, breathing freshness into it. You can also stick brown wallpaper in the bedroom.
It is important to consider interior styles before using dark colors.
Other colors will look good in a brown room. Don't be afraid to experiment, because this is the only way you can find the color mixture you need.
Brown beige
It is not surprising that brown suits beige so well, because these are almost related colors. This combination is very natural and calm. Thanks to them, you can create the illusion of increased space, as well as make it a little lighter. To add contrast, dark brown shades are usually added.
This combination will give the atmosphere greater aristocracy.
This combination is suitable for a classic style.
Coffee with milk
This color is very delicate. It is very pleasant to be in a room where the walls are painted this shade. Although it is most suitable for the kitchen.
However, no matter how good it is, professional designers advise adding contrasting colors. But the most important thing in this design is not to overdo it with the decor.
Dark colors can perfectly play accent roles in the interior, creating a whimsical contrast.
A living room in the color of coffee with milk would look ideal.
Coffee
A very soothing color that has a calming effect on a person. Psychologists believe that it is much easier to make difficult decisions in a room with coffee shades. Therefore, the choice of rich people who already know what they want from life falls on this color.
When dark colors are perfectly combined with other colors in the interior, it brings real aesthetic pleasure to being in such a room.
A living room in coffee tones will also look great.
Chocolate
The chocolate shade gives a feeling of protection, and being in a room with this color is uplifting.
But, despite the advantages of chocolate color, it is not recommended to paint the entire room with it. It would be best to choose furniture of this color or use it to paint the floors and walls.
Dark is often embodied in noble shades of brown, which can often be found in furniture.
Features of decorating a living room in black
Despite the fact that not everyone will like this solution, designers are increasingly using black in their design. The fact is that it is unique, multifaceted and always adds elegance to the design. In addition, it is often combined with other colors. Thanks to this, black color looks noble and becomes a real decoration of every room.
Experienced experts recommend avoiding combining black with brown, green or purple. Otherwise, the living room may turn out to be quite gloomy and even lifeless. At the same time, these tones can be appropriate as small accents in the form of decor. But if you replace them with lighter tones, such as coffee, light green or lavender, the room will look completely different. As for bright colors such as red, orange or yellow, they are not appropriate in this case. Since this combination is aggressive and rarely suitable for the interior.
As you know, black has several shades and each of them creates a different effect when decorating a living room. Texture also affects the visual perception of a room. It can be matte, glossy, varnish, mirror, velvet. All these options look beautiful in their own way.
Most often, the walls in the room are decorated with wallpaper. But if you use them in black, then there is a risk of creating a gloomy, dark living room. To prevent this, you need to carefully think through all the details. An excellent solution could be black wallpaper with light inserts or, on the contrary, light wallpaper with a black pattern. Often, designers suggest paying attention to wallpapers with fantasy designs, which look no less attractive. Among the neutral options that many people like is the monochrome design of the room. Due to this, the room turns out to be more solemn. It is believed that to add texture to the walls, you should use dark wallpaper with a convex pattern. To visually lengthen the room, wallpaper with vertical stripes is suitable. And to make the living room a little wider, buy wallpaper with horizontal lines.
Glossy paint is also often used for wall decoration. In this case, it is a kind of light reflector, thanks to which the room becomes spectacular. But even in this case, according to the designers, it is worth covering only the main wall with black. It will be a kind of accent. It should be combined with furniture in dark colors and various decorative details in contrasting colors. It can be gold, silver or white. It is better to paint the remaining walls in suitable light shades.
Design options for different rooms with a dark design
In this part of the article, we will look at how best to decorate different rooms with a dark design.
Living room
The living room is one of the most important rooms in the house. This is where the owners receive guests and spend most of their time. Therefore, the design of this room should be non-boring and relaxing.
It is best to make the living room entirely in dark colors, but also add some light and bright colors. For example, turquoise or vanilla.
Wenge, walnut, and dark gray with bright accents will look good in the living room.
You will also need to work with the lighting so that there are no places where there will be too many shadows. Because of this, the entire design can be ruined because of this small detail.
Bedroom
The bedroom is an integral part of the home. There a person rests, gains strength before a new working day. And therefore, white colors are most often used for it. However, black may work much better.
It is advisable to leave the ceiling in the bedroom light.
If you don’t really like black, you can choose a lighter one – gray or brown. You can also play with colors by decorating your walls with white, black and gray tones. You can also add lilac, but this combination is not suitable for everyone.
Hallway
There are many ways to make a hallway in dark colors, but the most effective of them is to replace the cabinets with compact storage systems.
To a greater extent, this option is acceptable in modern interior trends.
Dark colors do not tolerate massive furniture, so it is better to replace them. For example, use a wall hanger, shelves or cabinet. However, you should be careful with this - you need to keep the doors on the shelves in order. Otherwise, the accumulation of things can make the hallway even smaller.
Children's room
In the nursery, the child should feel safe and at the same time feel comfortable. Brown is perfect for this. In this case, you need to take care of the furniture, which should not be too bulky. A small brown crib would be ideal.
Brown and beige are a classic and discreet combination of warm shades.
The walls in the child’s room can be covered with brown wallpaper, followed by a light bed and a turquoise-brown table.
Bedroom interior with black glossy furniture. Photos and examples
The bedroom interior with dark furniture shown in the photo is a unique example of how to place dark furniture in a bedroom where the background is white walls. Dark window frames, unusual ceiling lamps and posters on the walls (an amazingly successful accessory and a bright element!) that you want to look at all the time. Fresh, bright and very well everything resonates with each other! Black furniture in the bedroom interior will be an excellent solution if you only plan to sleep and relax in this room. But this is what the room was invented for.
A bedroom design with dark furniture can be made fresher and lighter if you use light colors in wall decoration and textiles. You shouldn’t make the walls too bright - the atmosphere can be oppressive. At the same time, shades of beige - sand, ivory - are perfect for creating a calm, relaxing room for rest and sleep.
Decorative elements and accessories in dark design
Preference should be given to wall decorative elements. Photos or posters that are previously placed under glass are suitable for this. This will cause the light to be reflected. Yes, and in decorative elements you can use light shades, but without overdoing it. If you take three or four light-colored things, that will be enough.
The combination of purple and gray will be especially beautiful in a room with large windows and glossy ceilings.
White tulle is perfect for window decoration. However, it will be even better if you can refuse curtains.
How to properly decorate the lighting of a dark room
Professional designers name several important principles by which lighting is built in a dark design:
- Lighting should be multi-level. One chandelier cannot hang in a dark room. You need several lamps.
- Lamps should fill the entire room with light, so that there are no dark corners.
You will need to think about the wiring so that adapters stretched throughout the room do not spoil the overall impression.
Be careful when choosing lamps. The light from them should be soft and soothing. Regular incandescent lamps will not work.
A dark room has a positive effect on the human psyche - it calms the nerves and helps to concentrate on making important decisions. However, don't go overboard with black colors.
