Make Your Dark Hallways Brighter With These 9 Clever Ideas Add some light to your home with these brilliant ideas. "Color often tricks the eyes to make the room look larger," Yeo says. She's a self-taught decor expert who contributes to several publications. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. Home Decor Styles. Scroll through these wall decor ideas for every type of person: the DIY decorator, total trendsetter, penny pincher, plant person, vintage visionary, focused functionalist and … Paint the molding in the room a white or off-white color, or purchase a large white area rug to cover a darker flooring. Explore. When painting over dark walls with light paint colors, use a white primer. Washing walls with light helps keep the edges bright, so even if you have lots of pot … White is always the right choice when accentuating dark-painted walls. Install Multiple Light Sources. But traditional furniture doesn’t have to mean boring or old-fashioned style like in the bedroom shown here, with its navy blue walls (the paint color is Gentleman’s Gray from Benjamin Moore). Add accents for dimension. Partner the wall art with colorful decor elsewhere. ... A bedroom where all the walls are brown needs a brighter and lighter color so it would be nice to opt for white. This prevents a closed-in, cave-like vibe and helps maintain an airy feeling throughout the room. These 10 ideas are sure to inspire. A key factor when decorating with dark furniture is to pair it with light colours, both on the walls and … To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Washed out colors can be effective in some cases, but too many will … On the flipside, if dark brown walls feel too heavy, try using a light shade of brown on the walls and dark brown furniture pieces, and example might be to decorate the room with a dark couch and love seat in coordination with a patterned chair that have hints of brown, but other, vibrant accent colors throughout. Read on for tips on how to incorporate moody hues into any type of decor… Ad Choices, Every room looks good in black (or navy or gray). The sunburst mirror, patterned drapes, and unfussy light fixture add plenty of modern sensibilities to an otherwise traditional bedroom. I think I spent so many years in college and early work life in bland rooms with cream walls that I was ready to spread my wings! A tried-and-true trick to making a dark space feel brighter is to fill it with the colors of the sun, like reds, yellows, and oranges. Blank walls can be a total headache when you don’t have time, funds or ideas — but they certainly don’t have to be. While glamorous décor most often has a creamy, dreamy palette of light neutrals or pastels, black walls take it to a whole new level. If you decide to go dark on your bedroom walls but don’t want an especially modern feel, choose natural or painted wooden furniture rather than metal, plastic, or mirrored pieces. Use Wall Hangings You might assume that you can't decorate dark-paneled walls with photos, artwork and other wall decorations. Though it might seem counterintuitive, dark walls, when done right, can actually make a small room appear larger. This room has plenty of country charm. While bright red walls are typically too stimulating for the bedroom, muted … For much of my 32-year marriage I was a bright color girl in my home decor. 4 Paint the Ceiling the Colors of the Sky For example, paint the door white, the windows and maybe even the floor and use white for the furniture and decorations too. I love using … Start by hanging a series of prints with complementary color palettes above the sofa. But imagine it without those strong green walls: cute, but lacking the “wow!” that the bold color inspires. To avoid a somber effect, Freudenberger recommends painting the walls a dusky shade in just one or two rooms in a home. Michelle Ullman has written hundreds of articles on home decor since 2011. © 2021 Condé Nast. “Play around with mixing materials to give the space a cozy and layered feel. Use satin or eggshell finishes on walls, flat finishes on ceiling, and glossy finishes on woodwork to create shifts in sheen that boost overall interest. Think the darkest color of all is only for vampires or goths? If you have plain brown walls then adding some woodgrain furniture around the bedroom can provide some nice contrasting textures. How to decorate a bedroom with brown walls. Look at how the clean lines of the white metal canopy bed pop against the purple paint, while the patterns on the artwork and the shams add just enough contrast to keep things hopping. Although this room is small, it doesn’t feel that way thanks to the rich, warm paint, the white ceiling and bedding, and the eye-catching yet unfussy pattern on the rug and shams. If your walls are a darker grey, decorating in all whites will be a great way to bring in light. Rather than breaking up the darkness, light highlights it. Several mirrored wall hangings on the beige walls add an additional feeling of spaciousness. This is probably … It might sound odd but keeping your wall decor to one side will help your hallway feel wider. But she also loves inky walls for their versatility. A funky ceiling fixture is another way to balance the strength of dark walls. If you like a bit of drama and a touch of contemporary style in your décor, dark walls in an unexpected color are the perfect backdrop. Dark walls crave for mirrors and artwork that are bright and light, ready to reflect light and interrupt stretches of dark colors. While it’s true that dark gray walls are frequently found in minimalist or other contemporary decorating themes, there’s nothing minimal about the room shown here. How to Ace Decorating with Dark Walls | Architectural Digest If you want your entire room to pop, add plenty of metallic shine scattered throughout the space, a lush faux-fur throw blanket, a sumptuous velvet upholstered bed, and a celestially inspired light fixture like the one shown here. Bookshelves create a natural perimeter for wall art. Architectural Digest may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Additionally, keeping the palette limited to just two colors creates a feeling of airy simplicity. Match it to the bedding or a piece of artwork, and you can’t go wrong. “If the piece has a predominantly white background, this is particularly nice as it makes the focus of the room the artwork.”. This bedroom space is all about texture! Paint ceilings and woodwork bright white for a crisp finish that frames walls and amplifies the wall color's impact. Feb 11, 2015 - Because don't you want your dark wood paneling to seem lighter, brighter, and more NOW? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with white, pastel, or neutral walls, but if you’re playing it safe just because you fear dark paint will turn your bedroom into a cave, take heart. It may be because it is north facing, has a titchy window, or backs onto an exterior wall. So here are my tried and tested decorating ideas for coming up with an interior design scheme for a dark room. Filling a long wall in a living room can be a design challenge. Painting a room a dark color is one of the most fearless decorating decisions you can make, whether it’s navy, charcoal, or—for the truly brave—black. Light the walls. If you load up both walls with decor, that’s when things will start to feel cramped. Pink and leopard is one big yes! Consider using glossy finishes on trim, ceilings, and architectural details. You can create the same effect with light-colored flooring, too. No matter how dark you go, you can still have a bedroom that’s airy, glamorous, or contemporary...whatever style you like best. The finish is just as important as the color your choose, says Freudenberger. We asked Freudenberger to share her tricks for designing a dark-walled space that’s gorgeous, not gloomy. While bright red walls are typically too stimulating for the bedroom, muted shades of red, such as burgundy or the wine shown here (this color is Rookwood Dark Red from Sherwin-Williams), are equally dramatic, yet allow you to get to sleep at night. You can up the excitement factor with a few touches of bright color to play up the strong walls, but keep it under control by limiting those accents to a few pieces of artwork or bedding. Then contrast them with a warm color to brighten up the hallway instantly. 7 Ways to Decorate Your Bedroom with Brown, How to Choose the Right Paint Colors for Your Bedroom, Small Master Bedroom Design Ideas Tips and Photos, Beautiful Neutral Bedroom Ideas and Photos, 10 Design Ideas for Relaxing, Beautiful Bedrooms, 49 Decorating Ideas for Farmhouse-Style Bedrooms, 10 Contemporary Bedrooms to Inspire Your Home Decor, Decorating Your Bedroom With an Asian Theme. Here, the walls feature Valspar Signature™ paint … The furniture sitting on the floors should also be a light color. Large art pieces, gold framed or frameless, or a gallery of grouped prints, appear to float on the wall, creating different points of interest around the room. The white sateen bedding is from Tribute Goods and the muted artwork is from Tennessee-based landscape artist Megan Lightell. Whatever the cause of the dimness, one thing I can promise, is your room doesn’t need to feel dingy. Prev None of 30 Next. Not when you do black right, as in the gorgeous bedroom shown here. If you want the most decorating bang for your buck, it’s hard to beat the impact of a fresh coat of dark color. Whether you simply have too much space to properly decorate or your collection of art is on the small size, finding the perfect way to spruce up these empty spots may take a bit of planning. If you have dark floors, consider adding a white or light colored rug. Lonny Start Over See Full List. Using a primer will help to ensure that your color comes out true when dry, with no dark base color muting a light one or a light base color making it impossible to get bold color coverage. If you have dark-brown walls then some lighter pine woodgrain might be the ticket. The traditional look of wood balances the contemporary vibe of bold paint, keeping the overall appearance warm and friendly, as opposed to sleek and modern. Dark, modern furniture with clean lines and metal trim play second fiddle in this instance. Build some board and batten walls. Looking to add some spice to an otherwise nice-but-nothing-special bedroom or guestroom? Absolutely stunning. 2. Adding light to dark walls is a surefire way to make things pop. If you really want a gallery wall of artwork to pop, back it up with dark paint instead of white or a soft tint. Layer Up. The solution is as simple as a gallon of dark paint in your favorite green hue. Feb 11, 2015 - Because don't you want your dark wood paneling to seem lighter, brighter, and more NOW? Feb 8, 2018 - Explore MJ Clarke's board "upstairs hallway decor" on Pinterest. Using plenty of white in a dark-walled room helps prevent claustrophobia, while touches of shine bounce light around the space for an airy feel. Use Energizing Darks When deciding to go dark with a color palette it’s important to make sure to use some crisp, energizing darks. Whether you’re looking for the perfect backdrop for art or want a complete room makeover, dark walls can work magic. Dark modern lamps with light shades sit atop the black end tables with decorative gold drawer pulls. Stick to dark colors on the walls and lighter furnishings and linens to balance the room." There’s something effortlessly glamorous about pairing up pink and … A large light fixture like a chandelier can be a … Image via Studio McGee. One thing you’ll notice in just about every bedroom with dark walls is a white ceiling. The secret is balancing the strong wall color against the rest of the room’s décor. “The effect of going from a light-colored room to a dark room is critical to its interpretation,” she says. Walls In order to lighten a room with dark walls, add light colored artwork or light colored tall furniture. ED A-List designer Jaques Grange covered the walls in this Venice apartment with custom Marmorino Venetian plaster. How to Decorate with Dark Walls Start Slideshow. See more ideas about decor, house design, upstairs hallway. Check out the chocolate brown walls in the bedroom here (the paint color is Chocolate Candy by Benjamin Moore). Choose accessories such as white picture frames, table lamps, or paintings. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. There’s no need to let a dark wall color pigeonhole your decorating style. Focusing on the Ceiling Add a dramatic light fixture. “Even bold colors like pink or yellow look sharp and sophisticated with black.”, “If you want your artwork to really stand out, black or other dark colors work incredibly well and can make the piece pop,” says Freudenberger. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Dark Red. The woodgrain you use should be a different shade of brown to avoid too much uniformity, however. So if you are ignoring your hallway, here’s your chance to make it feel like home. “I love dark walls in a home because they show confidence, and that says a lot about the homeowner!” says interior designer Nina Freudenberger, owner of bicoastal firm Haus Interior. Dark Wall Home Decor Apartment Decor Decor Dark Living Rooms Dark Walls Home Decor Styles Decor Inspiration Dark Interiors Every Room in a Barn-Turned-Home Is Dark, Bold, and Spectacularly Sassy It's filled with dark paint colors, floral wallpaper, and lots of quirky decor. “They have the flexibility that white walls allow, potentially even more,” she says. If your home has dark walls, make sure that the floor is not also dark. A professional painter shares tips on how to paint over dark walls in your home including preparation, product and how to do it the right way! "One overhead light fixture just isn't enough to properly illuminate … A Sofa + 2 Chairs. Dark walls can help tie together pieces from different eras, giving the whole room a look that's cohesive and up-to-date. And there’s certainly nothing depressing or gloomy about a room filled with fabulous texture, metallic accents, ornate lighting, and whimsical touches, like the zebra figurine on the chair. Blank walls can be tough to tackle. All rights reserved. “Shiny walls allow for more glamour, while matte makes a room feel sharp and urban.” She’s also a fan of moody wallpapers, such as this charcoal one, for adding cozy texture. Our website, archdigest.com, offers constant original coverage of the interior design and architecture worlds, new shops and products, travel destinations, art and cultural events, celebrity style, and high-end real estate as well as access to print features and images from the AD archives. Black walls make a statement in the bedroom of a Washington, D.C., apartment, while French white oak floors help soften the room. That’s because dark colors visually recede, fooling the eyes into seeing the walls as further away than they really are. Dark walls actually have a leg up on white when it comes to injecting other hues into a space, says Freudenberger. Keep the decor to one side. Start with a great sofa, then place a pair of chairs across from it. 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