Decorating
Colour: How to Make Dark Walls Work in Your Home
Darkest grey, navy and even black don’t need to be gloomy, as long as you pick shiny surfaces and shades that zing out against them
Making the move over to the dark side can feel intimidating. What if it makes a room feel depressing and dull? But fret not: if you make a point of adding gleaming metallics, standout lighting, interesting artworks and bright flashes of colour, you’re on to a winner.
Shine out with jewel shades
Luminous turquoise, emerald and mustard are shades you might not naturally be drawn to, but if you’re going to be living with a deep grey background, it will pay to look for furnishings in these rich, jewel shades. They sing out against the darkness in a way pastels or neutrals never can.
Luminous turquoise, emerald and mustard are shades you might not naturally be drawn to, but if you’re going to be living with a deep grey background, it will pay to look for furnishings in these rich, jewel shades. They sing out against the darkness in a way pastels or neutrals never can.
Find fabulous lighting flex
Dark walls can be surprisingly restful in a bedroom, but it’s the colourful flex that gives this room a real edge. If you invest in good-looking light bulbs, dispense with a shade altogether and let the flex make the style statement.
Dark walls can be surprisingly restful in a bedroom, but it’s the colourful flex that gives this room a real edge. If you invest in good-looking light bulbs, dispense with a shade altogether and let the flex make the style statement.
Pick art as a starting point
If you’re investing in a beautiful painting, take that as your key feature and view the rest of the space as its perfect setting. This canvas uses shades of copper, grey and blue, which are offset by the grey wall and bed base. Note how other tones in the room also echo the artwork, so it all works together.
If you’re investing in a beautiful painting, take that as your key feature and view the rest of the space as its perfect setting. This canvas uses shades of copper, grey and blue, which are offset by the grey wall and bed base. Note how other tones in the room also echo the artwork, so it all works together.
Have a sense of drama
Grey walls come with plenty of drama and atmosphere, so you can get away with oversized pieces of furniture that have a hint of fantasy about them. This pair of super-tall armchairs look elegant and impressive in contrasting white in this perfectly styled living room.
Grey walls come with plenty of drama and atmosphere, so you can get away with oversized pieces of furniture that have a hint of fantasy about them. This pair of super-tall armchairs look elegant and impressive in contrasting white in this perfectly styled living room.
Keep to a single colour
You don’t have to plump for bright, dayglow shades to make an impact with colour. This coordinated display of glazed ceramics looks fantastic against a grey backdrop. It succeeds by sticking to the single shade of turquoise green to create a simple, effective display that quietly stands out.
Tour 10 kitchens in deliciously dark shades
You don’t have to plump for bright, dayglow shades to make an impact with colour. This coordinated display of glazed ceramics looks fantastic against a grey backdrop. It succeeds by sticking to the single shade of turquoise green to create a simple, effective display that quietly stands out.
Tour 10 kitchens in deliciously dark shades
Contrast with clean whites
The clear winner with black is always going to be white. Exploit timeless monochrome magic by teaming black cabinetry with marble and icy white lights and details. White accessories are always easy to add to whenever you need to update your crockery or utensils.
The clear winner with black is always going to be white. Exploit timeless monochrome magic by teaming black cabinetry with marble and icy white lights and details. White accessories are always easy to add to whenever you need to update your crockery or utensils.
Work with wicker
The golden shade of wicker is shrugging off its 1970s image and showing it’s a winner all over again. The light brown hue is a good mixer against steely grey, adding natural tones to the dark shade. The deep purple carpet is another canny décor trick that has its roots in the 1970s: purple still rocks against grey if you’re feeling brave.
The golden shade of wicker is shrugging off its 1970s image and showing it’s a winner all over again. The light brown hue is a good mixer against steely grey, adding natural tones to the dark shade. The deep purple carpet is another canny décor trick that has its roots in the 1970s: purple still rocks against grey if you’re feeling brave.
Add interesting illumination
If you’re painting walls dark, you’ll need to think through the lighting. Pools of light work best, functioning as task lighting while also adding atmosphere. Choose florid, vintage sconces and shades for an eclectic look.
If you’re painting walls dark, you’ll need to think through the lighting. Pools of light work best, functioning as task lighting while also adding atmosphere. Choose florid, vintage sconces and shades for an eclectic look.
Say it with slate
Black can work brilliantly in the bathroom, with this slate tiling and grey-painted bath looking effortlessly glam. After all, a bathroom is always going to have plenty of glossy white sanitaryware and chrome to contrast with a dark background.
Browse more classic black and white bathrooms
TELL US…
Have you gone over to the dark side? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Black can work brilliantly in the bathroom, with this slate tiling and grey-painted bath looking effortlessly glam. After all, a bathroom is always going to have plenty of glossy white sanitaryware and chrome to contrast with a dark background.
Browse more classic black and white bathrooms
TELL US…
Have you gone over to the dark side? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Walls painted in deepest grey or black can tend to recede, so are well partnered with a feature wall in a contrasting texture. Brickwork painted white – plus natural-fibre flooring – really stands out against the dark here, which ends up being a surprisingly low-key element of the whole look.