Dark & Moody: Is it Scary?

 

So often I hear clients say they are afraid of color.  They don't want to make the wrong decision.  Dark colors will make a room feel cramped and small.  What if it looks awful?  I hear you and I'm here to help you.

 

The first question you need to ask yourself is, "How do I want to feel in this room?"  Why is this important?  Color psychology.

 

Colors have very real impacts on our emotions and our bodies.  Advertising has used color to impact our decisions for decades.  Warm colors like reds, oranges, and yellows can not only make us feel warm but can increase our pulse rate and lead to feelings of happiness, hunger, and even anxiety.  Think of all the fast food restaurants that use those colors in their logos.

Cool colors like blues, greens, and purples can lead to feelings of relaxation, trust, or importance.  Think of all the brands that use those colors: Pampers, Samsung, or Hallmark.

                                    

 

The room you are painting matters as well.  Once again, consider how you want to feel.  This leads me to Dark & Moody.  While this is an up and coming trend it's not really new.  We've seen this look in high-end executive offices, stately home libraries, and man caves for as long as they have existed.  But how do you bring this look to your living rooms, bedrooms, or kitchens without plunging your home into total darkness?  My answer: A total commitment to color.

 

Bet that spooked you a bit.  I'm not suggesting bathe every single room, top to bottom in a dark color.  This could mean using your dark color, strategically, throughout your home.

 

Let's start with the living room.  This is where size matters.  If you have a large room with tons of natural light then I actually suggest using the dark color as an accent. Now, I'll bet you thought I was going to tell you to saturate the room with color, top to bottom.  I think that works best in smaller rooms.  I love the idea of a dark focal wall with a floor to ceiling fireplace flanked by dark rich bookshelves.  Deep rich colors for the larger furniture pieces to anchor the space.  Now, just like any blog post before I'll add my usual disclaimer: This is your house, do what you love.  But try being adventurous!  

 

Using the dark color throughout, including the ceiling and trim, prevents your eye from stopping on the light color and makes the room appear larger while cozy at he same time.  Of course, natural light is key to making any room feel like the warm inviting space you desire.

 

                    

 

 

Now what about a dark & moody bedroom? This is where I would avoid any bright warm colors like red, orange or yellow.  If you love those colors, you can use them just tone them down to create a calm, warm space.  Your bedroom is your sanctuary place where you go to rest.  You wouldn't want the wall color preventing you from a good night's sleep.

 

 

                     

 

 

These types of colors can work in any room of your home.  Making the right decision about how much color, the right color, and creating the feeling you're looking for may require some additional help.  Cu29 Designs will be happy to help you find those answers!  Contact us for a discovery call!