Interior design dark rooms


Dark living room ideas: 10 design rules for brightening a dark space |

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

Dark living room ideas need not be dull, dreary or dated.

There are a plethora of sophisticated ways to enhance a dark space, so dress your living room with deep navy blues, smokey greys, gorgeous greens and earthy tones for a space that is cosseting, cocooning and oh so stylish.

These daringly dark living room ideas will help you brighten your dark space and have you reaching for the paint chart.

Dark living room ideas – how to brighten a dark space

Whether your dark living room is expansive, open-plan, a shared home office space or on the compact side, there are a multitude of living room paint ideas and design tricks to create – and enhance – a dark living room scheme.

1. Go for contrasting colors in a dark living room

(Image credit: Future/Brent Darby)

If you are stuck with how to decorate a dark living room, then look no further than the color wheel.

Apply color theory to decorating and reveal a whole new way to enhance a dark space. When choosing a living room color scheme, your first port of call should always be the color wheel.

It provides a clear and instant visual for exactly which hues contrast and coordinate, to help you to devise harmonious, tonal or contrasting looks.

By taking shades that sit opposite each other on the wheel, such as orange and blue, you can create a rich, vibrant scheme packed with drama and energy. This pairing works particularly well in small living rooms.

2. Embrace dark colors in a small living room

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)

If your living room is north- or east-facing, or if it lacks natural daylight, your choice of decor – and color scheme – can change its mood dramatically. 

This is where green living room ideas can come in use: it's a transformative color that can connect indoors with outdoors, and make a room feel brighter and more cheerful, even when the tones you choose are quite subtle and sophisticated.

Employ color theory (see above) when choosing color pairings for a dark scheme. Here, subtle touches or coral, yellow and blue are standout additions.

Marianne Shillingford, Dulux 's Creative Director says, ‘Creative decorating techniques like layering, adding shapes and painting the ceiling in a color rather than white can completely alter the appearance of a room and make it unique to you.’ 

3. Go for a gorgeous gray color scheme

(Image credit: Future / Polly Wreford / Sally Denning)

'For centuries gray has been regarded as a workmanlike, utilitarian non-color,' says Kate Watson-Smyth, author of Shades of Grey . But in fact, gray living room ideas are supremely practical as this color doesn’t show the dirt easily, making it perfect for family living rooms. 

While it may seem counterproductive to use an all-over grey in a dark living room, the best decorating choice is embrace the darkness rather than trying to force a look that just isn't working.

By using the same color, but in both its palest and deepest incarnations, you can create a rich, cosy living room that is co-ordinated.

4. Light up a dark living room – artificially 

(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby)

The right living room lighting ideas can not only make a dark room look brighter, but also highlight architectural features, provide dramatic decorative effects, create illusions of space and define zones in open plan areas. 

Create a thoroughly modern scheme with statement neon lighting. They give a dark living room a gentle glow, and set against a dark wall, they are guaranteed to stand out. 

5. Go for white walls – and surround yourself with natural materials

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)

Neutral living room ideas are versatile, and the color shown above is one of the most popular shades for dark interiors. It offers a blank canvas that brightens dark spaces and makes even the smallest rooms feel spacious and airy.  

A basement living room is the perfect place to use neutrals as a base. After years of living in a 'throw-away society', we’re celebrating taking a 'less is more' approach by decorating with a neutral color palette, natural materials and plenty of greenery in the form of houseplants. 

6. Opt for a symmetrical layout

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

Symmetry in interior design is a trick used to create smart-looking rooms – and it's perfect for small or dark spaces. 

Symmetry creates balance and a feeling of calm when used in interior design. And while it is wonderfully elegant in large rooms, it can also create a feeling of enhanced space in smaller rooms, and these that are very busy, such as dark living rooms and kitchens, too. 

7. Create a feature wall

(Image credit: Future )

Turn a dark living room into something to marvel at with smart gallery wall ideas that include your favorite artwork or photographs. 

The space above the couch itself can often be forgotten, but it needs just as much attention as other areas. Choose prints that coordinate with the overall scheme of the room and hang in an assortment of matchings frames. Group in odd numbers – three is a great place to start – to create harmony and visual interest. 

8. Find furniture to fit the size of the space

(Image credit: Future)

Select room seating that is in proportion to the size of your living room – oversized couches and chairs can make a small room feel narrow.

Make sure you arrange your  chairs at an angle to create a sense of depth to the room, as shown here. Otherwise, if you place all seating against the walls you might end up with a narrow 'bowling alley' look.

This layout is great for intimate conversation, informal entertaining and dark living rooms.

(Image credit: Future / Lisa Cohen)

If you are planning a dark living room, and lack a little confidence with your color scheming, let us introduce you to the 60-30-10 rule. This foolproof design theory will ensure that you never go wrong when it comes to choosing colors.  

60 represents 60% and is the main color you are using in the room. Here, that would be the deep black on the wall. This shade will anchor the room and be the backdrop for your 30 color, which is the vivid yellow in this space. 

Use this color half as much as the main color. This is likely to be seen on accent chairs, curtains, or even a feature wall.

The 10 is your accent color, which will be represented by about 10% of your furnishings, showcased here through gorgeous green foliage.

10. Hang mirrors to reflect light

(Image credit: Future / James Merrell)

Mirrors are a wonderfully versatile design feature, adding instant intrigue and interest, while maximizing light and boosting the sense of space in a dark living room. 

‘We always recommend going for the largest mirror you can afford to make the most of every ray of light from your mirror’s reflection,' says Lucy St George of Rockett St George .

Plus, not only are mirrors great for reflecting light, they can also give you the opportunity to create a vignette, especially when hung as a gallery, creating a light-reflecting, space-enhancing focal point.  

How do you decorate a dark living room?

Decorating a dark living room is no east feat, but it is not impossible to create your dream scheme. 

The first, and most fundamental thing to consider is lighting. Get your lighting right and the rest of the scheme will follow. The right living room lighting ideas can not only illuminate a dark living room, but will also enhance the feeling of space. 

Color (even if you’re using neutrals) should be high on the list of things to consider when starting to redecorate. Ensure your chosen hues work well in your room by applying testers of paint onto sheets of white paper, then tacking them onto each wall you’re thinking of using that color on. 

Finally, add bold color with furnishings. It might seem niche, but we recommend employing the 60-30-10 rule when planning and designing a dark living room. 

What is the best paint color for dark rooms?

Traditional or contemporary, white paint is an ideal option for a dark living room.  

There’s nothing cleaner or crisper than pure white paint; it’s a look that lasts, no matter what the latest craze is. If you’re minimalist at heart and love a clutter-free aesthetic then white paint is undoubtedly the best option for a dark room. 

However, many an interior designer will often recommend going with – rather than against – the darkness in your space to create a cozy living room. In which case, choose a neutral paint color. This can be a range of taupes, beiges, blues, greys and browns for a smart, tailored look.

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

How to Brighten a Dark Room

Remember what amateur photographer and Beetlejuice love interest Lydia Deetz told her father when he offered to build her a darkroom in the basement? “My whole life is a dark room. One. Big. Dark. Room.” Well, to each their own and all that, but for the majority of us, to have a light-filled home is preferable. It’s not always easy, however. In fact, brightening up a dark space is a common challenge when designing a room. Thankfully, there are foolproof tricks that interiors professionals like Jessica Schuster, Dan Mazzarini, and Gary McBournie use to add light through details. From painting the ceiling to layering in accessories, we asked them for some tips to help you let the light in.

1

Paint Your Floor White

Courtesy Dan Mazzarini

As if you needed a reason to cover those midcentury parquet floors that came with the apartment. “White painted floors reflect light around the space,” Mazzarini says. “I like Armorseal Rexthane by Sherwin-Williams.” Here, the designer juxtaposed snow-white floors with black furnishings and accents for an edgy, graphic look.

2

Choose a Bright Rug

Ricardo Labougle

A large, multicolored area rug, like this one in Juliana Lima Vasconcellos’s pied-à-terre, is not just a solution for defining a specific area in a home. “I love colorful carpets,” McBournie says. “They have the ability to both draw you in and create a distraction.”

3

Ditch the Heavy Curtains

Douglas Friedman

“I will opt out of using draperies and instead use a solar or Roman shade to give the appearance of less fabric while still finishing the windows,” Schuster says. To wit: Get rid of heavy, dark curtains that absorb light. Here in the designer’s own apartment, the curtain-less look accentuates the natural light that floods in.

4

Select Bright Art

Douglas Friedman

While dark rooms can be cozy, adding vibrant artwork will elevate the mood and look of the space. For added brightening properties, McBournie says: “Don’t forget to add some picture lights or spotlights.”

In this cozy den in San Francisco, designer Nicole Hollis made a bright artwork by Doug Aitken the mesmerizing focal point of the largely dark room.

5

Hang a Mirror

Stephen Kent Johnson

Double the amount of sunlight in your room by bouncing the light off reflective surfaces. “It helps to completely mirror a wall or to add a decorative mirror opposite the windows to bring in the light,” Schuster says—just as Gabriel Hendifar did in his sultry New York apartment, shown here.

6

Try a High-Gloss Ceiling

Roger Davies

One of the best ways to bring more light into a room is with a high-gloss paint color, and a ceiling is the perfect spot to experiment with this design choice. “High-gloss paint can add another reflective surface to a dark room,” McBournie says. Here in a Beverly Hills home, designer Oliver M. Furth painted the ceiling in Pratt & Lambert’s high-gloss lacquer in Gun Powder.

7

Take Your Room’s Temperature

Stephen Kent Johnson

When it comes to lighting, color temperature matters a lot! And according to Mazzarini, 2700K bulbs are recommended as you enter the world of LED lights. “If budget allows, use a warm-glow technology dimming bulb,” he adds.

Lighting designer Lindsey Adelman would know: Here in her Brooklyn townhouse, she selected her own Drop System chandelier to create just the right ambience.

8

Incorporate Metallics

Annie Schlechter

Using shimmery gold or silver accessories is an easy way to transform a dark and dreary space. “I have successfully used metallics on the walls, ceilings, light fixtures, and accents of furniture,” McBournie says. “Just be careful—too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing.” In a bedroom of a South Florida home, for example, designer Rodney Lawrence incorporated just the right amount of silvery accents in the lamps and de Gournay wallpaper.

9

Choose Light-Wood Floors

Nick Glimenakis

When a space is in need of additional light, it’s best to choose light-wood flooring to brighten up the room. “A lighter floor contrasted with a colorful wall can help to ‘push the walls out’ and make the space feel larger,” McBournie says. Designer Delia Kenza did precisely that in her recent renovation of a Brooklyn townhouse, shown here.

10

Embrace a White Lampshade

Philippe Garcia

White paper wraps rock...and everything else when it comes to lightening a room. “White paper is your friend,” Mazzarini says. He suggests not holding back from bringing white paper lampshades, lanterns, and pendant lights into your dark space. Take this bright bedroom in a Belgian retreat designed by Olivier Dwek, for example.

11

Opt for a White or Neutral Color Scheme

Silvia Foz

A dark room isn’t the place to try out a moody, dark color palette. “Light hues on the walls and ceiling can really help lighten a naturally dark space,” Schuster says. If your walls are neutral, paint the ceiling a shade lighter to help light bounce around the room. That strategy helped this New York apartment designed by fashion veteran Carly Cushnie feel extra airy.

12

Supplement Your Daylight

Joshua McHugh

Indirect lighting aimed upward can make up for lack of light on the ceiling, especially toward the end of the day. “This is an opportunity to be creative,” McBournie says. “For the interior library of a New York apartment, I created and strategically placed a faux light shaft with an iron grate on a focal wall.”

Another excellent example? Here in a pint-sized kitchen designed by Cochineal, vintage sconces take the place of humdrum task lighting.

13

Clean Your Windows Regularly

Amy Neunsinger

Yes, we know. This one seems a tad obvious, but simply cleaning your windows will have a major effect on how much sunlight streams into the room. “It is amazing what clean windows can do for a room,” McBournie says. “I recommend doing this every spring and fall, or more often. ” You can see how the strategy pays off in this light-filled living room designed by Nickey Kehoe.

14

Hire a Lighting Designer

Those sad fixtures your landlord likely pulled out of a Dumpster aren’t doing you—or that dark room—any favors. “Often, a lighting designer can trick the eye to make the light feel more voluminous in a darker space,” Schuster says. The lighting in this moody Richard Mishaan–designed powder room strikes just the right note.

Charles Curkin Articles Editor, ELLE Decor Charles Curkin is ELLE Decor's Articles Editor, covering everything related to the architecture, interior design, real estate, and travel industries, and has previously written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Paris Review.

Given: dark room. How to make it lighter?

Being in a dark room can be pleasant: twilight gives rest from bright light, relaxes, promotes falling asleep quickly and helps, if necessary, create a romantic atmosphere. However, everything is good in moderation. The darkness is annoying and depressing. Prolonged exposure to dark rooms can lead to stress and even depression. Particularly harmful are dark rooms in which people work, do business, read. This applies not only to offices, but also to kitchens, nurseries, living rooms.

Rooms with small windows or with a loggia/balcony are dark, especially if they dry clothes. If the windows face the north side, cold twilight usually reigns in the rooms. How to make a dark room brighter? How to work with rooms with windows facing north? How to add light and warmth to the interior?

1. Choose a light finish

Nothing makes a room as bright as using tones close to white. The lighter the ceilings and walls, the more light in the room.

Pure white is ideal for a ceiling in a dark room. For walls, you can use paint or wallpaper in both white and light beige.

If the windows face north and the weather is almost always overcast , bright white walls may be perceived as gray. This will make the room cold and uncomfortable. For such rooms it is better to use a cream finish. In a rectangular room, one of the short walls can be painted yellow - the room will immediately warm up and be filled with spring optimism.

Dark floors absorb light. If the room is dark, but large, you can make the floors darker. For a small dark room, this is a bad option. Here it would be more correct to lay a light floor covering.

2. Decorate windows with light-colored curtains

One curtain (tulle, organza) should let in maximum light - this is a daytime option. Let the second curtains (the so-called night curtains) also be light, but dense. They will let in little street light into the room, but will not absorb indoor lighting, unlike dark draperies.

For a very dark room, choose white curtains.

If the windows of a dark room face north, the owners are disturbed not only by twilight, but also by visual coldness. Light yellow curtains flood the room with warm light. There will be an impression that the sun's rays burst into the room. Yellow curtains are a very effective solution for dark and cold northern rooms.

3. Choosing the right furniture

Tall and large pieces of furniture (for example, a massive sofa and a closet to the ceiling) must be light. Small items, such as a desk, armchair, coffee table, can be dark.

The light comes from above, so everything above half the wall from the floor should be close to white.

How to make a dark room brighter? Refuse large dark furniture

Furniture that reflects light will also help to solve the problem: polished, glossy, mirror. Glass furniture is another effective tool: it allows light to pass through, allowing it to “circulate” freely in the space.

As a rule, it is enough to change the dark finish to as light as possible, hang new white curtains and update the furniture to make a dark room bright enough. These are the most important steps that should not be neglected. Compare for yourself how differently the same room looks with dark and light filling.

However, there are other secrets to keep in mind when designing a dark room.

4. Remove light barriers in the form of blank partitions

Zoning in a dark room should not be carried out at the expense of blank partitions or transversely installed cabinets. They block the way for light, interfere with its flow. If possible, it is better to abandon any dividers: the more spacious the room, the brighter it is. If you cannot do without a partition, you can opt for something light and bright: for example, a white lattice screen or a glass block wall will do.

If it is possible to remove the doors between rooms, it is worth doing it. If this is not possible, you should choose bright doors with large-scale glass inserts.

5. Add lighting

A good move is to install LED lighting under the ceiling around the perimeter of the room. You can install "warm" lights directly above the window - so that they are behind the curtains. When dusk thickens, curtain the room and turn on the near-window light - there will be a feeling as if the sun is warming outside, and its rays penetrate through the fabric of the curtains.

6. Use mirrors

One or two mirrors will suffice, depending on the size of the room. It is desirable to arrange the mirror so that it reflects and multiplies the light - ideally opposite the window or so that the chandelier “looks” into it.

7. Introduce "rays of color"

A monochrome white or cream room looks bright but not joyful. To make the room not only bright, but also sunny, you can add bright accents of yellow, blue or turquoise.

A yellow rug can be placed on the floor of a dark room with a north-facing window. It will look like a bright sunbeam penetrated inside and drew a yellow circle on the floor. The room will become spring-like bright. You can add a few more yellow accessories, but in limited quantities.

Blue or turquoise accents will also make the room visually brighter due to the association with the daytime sky and water bodies sparkling under the rays of the sun. But, as with yellow, you should not be too zealous - there should be few color accents in a dark room.

Yellow and blue colors can be introduced through the use of art objects, namely posters or paintings of the sun and sky. This is a sure step for a dark room with a lack of warm sunlight.

Author: Alina Kapinskaya

See also:

White doors in the interior

Narrow bedroom design

How to create comfort in the house?

Narrow kitchen design

White bedroom

White bathroom design

living room and bedroom interior in brown and coffee tones However, this is not true.

This article will present design options in such a design.

Dark colors are in demand for many styles.

Features and nuances of the dark room

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