Dark colour scheme advice

4 years ago

Hello!

I’m looking for some colour advice for my loft bedroom please (see pics). I want to create a dark, cosy boudoir feel and am planning to paint it Farrow & Ball Railings on the back wall where the bed is (the darkest of the paint tests I've done by the bed) and also on the wall opposite that.

The window walls at each side I thinking of painting F&B Cornforth White (if I go dark on all 4 walls my partner will kill me!). I have hot pink and bronzey-gold as accent colours.

My questions are: will this work and what colour do I paint the skirting and two door frames? Also I paint the radiator the same colour as the wall (Cornforth White)?

Thanks :)

Featured Answer

sarah_r_brierley
Original Author

3 years ago

Here you go!

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Comments (17)

PRO
Rukmini Patel Interior Design
4 years ago
Hiya - If you are going for railings on the back wall, I suggest you change your headboard to a different colour, otherwise your room could look a bit too heavy. Changing the headboard will also make your bed stand out against the darker colour which is what we do when designing a scheme like the image below. Unless of course, you want the headboard to blend in, in which case style your bed with variations of your accents (pinks, bronzes, golds) so that it doesn't start feeling like a big black hole!

To answer your question if you want the wall opposite your bed to have a seamless look. paint your skirting, wood work and door the same colour in Railings

And yes paint your radiator the same colour as the walls - Cornforth white, use a metal undercoat primer first then use the acrylic eggshell colour (paint for woodwork) and you're good to go.

Cornforth is a great choice against Railings, I used Cornforth in my latest project and everyone keeps asking about it!

Hope that helps!

Rukmini Patel Interior Design
sarah_r_brierley thanked Rukmini Patel Interior Design
minnie101
4 years ago
If I'm honest I wouldn't. Your bed is dark but so is the rest of the furniture and art on those walls unless you want it all to blend in. Plus the room is narrow so painting the longest walls will accentuate that. There's a lot going on in the room with niches, doors, sloping ceiling etc so I'm wondering if you're better off just going for one colour.

can you take photos Which include the ceiling behind the bed?
sarah_r_brierley thanked minnie101
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sarah_r_brierley
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you both so much.

Rukmini, Good point re the headboard but I can't change it as it's an expensive bed I got from Heal's last year and we love it. I forgot to say that I plan to do the alcove above the bed in a contrasting colour as a feature - either using paint or a patterned wallpaper. Do you think this would help? If not I am stuck as to which colour paint to use on that wall, as I've tried loads and matching/complementing both the bed and the carpet is so hard! Or do I flip the colour scheme a

and do Railings on the window walls and Cornforth White on the bed and door walls? Thanks!

minnie I will try to take ceiling pic later.
minnie101
4 years ago
ignore the styles (must be my choice of words for google search) but I was going to suggest a panelled headboard that went up to the ceiling that you could wallpaper with grasscloth or whatever and then use a lighter paint everywhere else. I'm not sure if that will appeal though given you were intending to paint the alcove? I must admit I wouldn't personally highlight it as it will break the bed up and I think the bed area would look better being zoned and made a feature of?

sure
sarah_r_brierley thanked minnie101
PRO
Rukmini Patel Interior Design
4 years ago
Hi Sarah - Ok on the alcove section, I think you need to move the books out of the way, wallpaper it and hang a print of some sort, maybe with the hot pink you liked. I think the remaining walls looking dark will look too weird, so yes flip the walls and paint the eaves in railings and the other walls in Cornforth.

I think this Osborne and Little wallpaper will do the trick for that little alcove as I get the feeling you are going for a modern vibe:https://www.osborneandlittle.com/minaret-wp7.html

A print like this could look awesome on the wallpaper! https://printclublondon.com/shop/be-bigger-artist-proofs/
sarah_r_brierley thanked Rukmini Patel Interior Design
rinked
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Use the darker color as your closet for both window walls and ceiling. White on all trim, the window boxes (sides), bed wall and wall with doors. Add some more gold/bronze, like a pendant and some gold paint inside the alcove over the bed (with natural wood shelves).
PRO
Brandler London
4 years ago
To answer your original question, I would paint the skirting and door frames in white. A little tip to bear in mind; once you paint,or wall paper, the walls use acrylic at the joints between the skirting/door frames and wall. This gives you a nice clean professional finish and prevents cracking, etc. This is what we do on all of our high end/luxury residential, retail and commercial projects and it looks great!

With regards to the radiator this is a difficult one as using emulsion, as many people do, can give you a sloppy finish which discolours and damages easily. As such you may want to consider buying an enamel paint (aerosol type is best), which has a similar colour so you have a "compare" rather than a contrast.

By the way, it is always best to paint behind the radiators completely. If you are using a painting contractor then make sure that they do this as any other way is not professional. If you are painting this yourself then have a look on youtube.com for tips on how to swing your radiator down without completely disconnecting it. This does involve draining the system but this is generally a relatively easy thing to do.

Bets of luck with your project!
sarah_r_brierley thanked Brandler London
sarah_r_brierley
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you so much everyone, really appreciate the input :)
PRO
Law Unto Ren Designs
4 years ago
I'd make a feature of the alcove but instead of painting it a brighter colour I would us the darker instead. I would extend the headboard with to cushion panels in the same fabric to create the effect minnie101 suggested as this will give a grand but still cosy feel to the bed area. It will also make the ceilings feel higher as this is the tallest part of the room. Cushion pannels will double as a compfy head rest.

I think the shelving in the alcove would work but I would paint these the dark colour as well so the items stand out as the feature and not the shelves themselves - this will add more storage and remove the need for bedside tables making the room more spacious. I would go for books, gold or copper ornaments and abstract painting on the top shelf.

I would paint the bed wall in one of the lighter colours you've chosen (one of the blue/grey/teal colours immediately above headboard) and the opposite wall in the darker colour (the 2nd one down by the wardrobe) including the doors, door lining and skirting. This will make that wall feel further away when your in bed and will make the wardrobe (which I love be the way) blend in so it does not stick out into the space so much, again making it feel bigger.

Move the artwork above the light to the right of the bed so it stands out on a light wall and accents the opposite wall. Move the plant to where the laundry basket is currently. Change the blinds to a full length curtain in a light (cream/white) colour as this will give the illusion of height to the gabled roof. DO NOT paint these walls in a dark colour it will instantly make the room feel small and celings low!

It will also draw attention to the radiator which could be easily covered by the full length curtains. Painting radiators (and walls with radiators is time consuming and would improve the room overall - even a great paint job with paint designed for radiator will look rough in a few years and need re-doing).

The second alcove nearest the window to the left of the bed would be a great place for built-in storage or vanity unit with a stool.

I would accent the room with golds/copper, lighter bed sheets (but not white) and a dark sheepskin rug (you can get great ones for cheap online). Also use mirrors to bounce light arround, it will also give you a splash of light colour on the dark wall and vice versa.

I think you have made a great start on this and I love the bed and wardrobe. If you need advice for picking decorative items for the room or another space please get in touch - I'd love to help.
sarah_r_brierley thanked Law Unto Ren Designs
PRO
Feature Radiators
4 years ago
A short cast iron radiator would look fab in the space, and we do these in colour matches to all the Farrow & Ball range at no extra charge. Just ask if you would like a free quote. Warm regards :)

Etonian cast iron radiators · More Info
sarah_r_brierley thanked Feature Radiators
PRO
Hampstead Design Hub
4 years ago
Hi there! I love your idea. I recommend you to check https://www.design-seeds.com/seasons/summer/color-seed1/ .Design Seeds have a fantastic and very inspiring colour palettes for any shades. Please share with Houzz your finished room. Best of luck!
sarah_r_brierley thanked Hampstead Design Hub
sarah_r_brierley
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks so much again to everyone for their advice. I ended up painting the entire room Railings black, including all woodwork and ceiling, building some panelling behind the bed with a large secret cupboard and adding some mustard accessories. Still a few accessories to add but we LOVE it 😊
Jules Mc
3 years ago
Any photos Sarah?
Jules Mc
3 years ago
What a transformation. It looks fab. If you're going dark you've got to embrace it completely. Have you kept the alcove for added storage or covered it over?
sarah_r_brierley
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks! The middle 6 panels are a large concealed cupboard - loads of storage
Jules Mc
3 years ago
Very clever. Really well concealed - you'd never know unless you saw the before photo.
Love the mustard too. Great job.