I've made a list of my pros and cons of going to the 'dark side' to help you decide if it is the right thing for you in your home: It makes art and other objects against the walls stand out - The dark hue provides a perfect backdrop for art, photographs and other decorative items as it really highlights them and draws the eye. There are three full baths and one half that we are looking to paint. "When using a dark color on walls with a low ceiling, paint the trim the same color as the walls. ‘We recommend you paint on a wall that doesn’t get direct sunlight and one that does,” Trainor says. Paint sourced from Little Greene Paint Company – Purple Brown Number 8 – can be bought direct or from Designer Paint** This room has such a great feel to it and is a lovely showcase for the picture wall and the white furniture – whereas the large brown sofa blends into the b… The reason that I did this, to be honest, was because I was actually scared of painting the whole room dark. Great if you are someone who loves to share pictures of their home on social media. Please note that this post contains an affiliate link. It's not as imposing as you think it might be - I don't walk into my office and think 'whoa - that's dark', which was something that I initially had concerns about. If in doubt, I would choose lighter! It's a bold and brave statement - Why be like everyone else? So, the office, once completed a few months ago, looked like this: The chimney breast and gallery wall are painted in Railings by Farrow & Ball. However, that's not the only reason you're better off sticking to lighter exterior house colors. This will not only help to dull the dark paint color but also give your wall some grit. Right off I knew I wanted the space to feel either bright & crisp or deep & dark, I narrowed it down and selected 5 of each. The dark background in the Sweetpea & Willow showroom frames the wall mirror and items on the table perfectly. However, there are environmental and psychological factors that play into changing what is “true” to “how something appears”. Final Thoughts on Using Light Paint on Dark Walls. So, if the room has a ceiling that's more than 9 feet high, you may want to consider painting the area above the rail a darker color than the portion below, to … It reduces the light - I used to work in my office in the evenings with just the desk lamp - now I need the main light and desk lamp on when it is dark outside so that I can see the room. Change the Shape If you have a long, narrow space, paint both end walls (the shorter ones) a shade or two darker than the other walls so the end walls feel closer to you. It neither reflects nor absorbs the light. The type of paint finish you choose also will have an effect on the color’s appearance. Not darker, but more intense and just different. Don’t worry — it’s not going to be that kind of flip (meaning, we’re not going to throw a coat of Realtor Gray on the walls and call it a day). 2. It was doing nothing for me. In rooms with little natural light, a deep navy hue can create an impression of depth and make a space feel dramatic and stately. Dark Navy . • Caption has the same color different sheen. When selecting paint colors, we automatically compare a color to those that it is next to on a color chart. Colors will appear darker against a light backdrop and lighter against a dark backdrop. It's well known potential buyers are always looking for a 'bright, light space'. Have I persuaded or desuaded you for dark decor? My husband luckily trusted me completely with the choice of paint for our family room but had to take a second glance at the colour when I showed him the sample! Review: Hemsley - The Own Brand Paint To Rival Farrow & Ball. Do two decent coats and then check all the walls before you put the paint tins away - chances are you may need to touch up some areas where there isn't great coverage and flecks of the previous colour can be seen. As I lived with this scheme for a few months, I realised that I loved the chimney breast and the gallery wall, but I really wasn't so keen on the wall behind my desk. Anything that is wet is always darker than when it is dry. The darker walls really give a feeling of warmth and cosiness and are the perfect backdrop for a few scented candles or a roaring fire. Our Color Consultants have been expertly trained to select compatible colors for your home that match your style. Glossy finishes will reflect light and change the way the color looks, whereas flat finishes are less reflective and allow colors to look truer under bright light. This is the best way to paint light colors over a dark wall in 2 coats . Ceilings always appear darker than walls, even if the same paint is used. Some great effects can be achieved by painting woodwork in darker colours whilst keeping walls neutral, or … I felt I was ready to take the plunge! Start small. Which white is right? !” Embrace the small dark room by painting it a dark colour. Check out what can affect your paint color below and contact us today for more information on how we can give your home the look you want! Try to paint a picture using all light colors and the scene looks flat. A glossy paint appears lighter than a flat paint, and an eggshell finish falls in between those two. These were the reasons that I had never gone totally dark in any other room and why I decided to go 'half dark / half neutral' in this one. Only Trying One Shade Per Color. Email: info@nolanpainting.com, Serving Pennsylvania's Montgomery, Chester, Philadelphia, Delaware & Bucks Counties | PA Home Improvement Residential Contractor #020814, Improving Homes & Neighborhoods Since 1979, Sherwin-Williams Color Visualizer: Virtual Painter, What to Expect When You Hire A Painting Contractor, Why Hire Full Time Employees and Not Subcontractors. !” It hides items you would prefer to merge into the background like cables - Our office has a ton of black cables in it - computer cables, printer cables, guitar cables - they are everywhere. You need to make sure you do a great job with the paintwork - Especially if you are painting over a light colour! One wall in a room could look slightly different during the bright light of day, because it receives the full force of that daylight compared to the other walls in the room. Well, that is how I am feeling right now. Sherwin Williams and Home depot have computers that show the color on a sample room's walls, this gives a good feel for what the color will look like in a room. Light is a tricky thing, it highlights and draws our focus. The overall color of the house is a dark beige/tan. Try a dark hued paint that is several shades darker than your wall paint to create a sense of depth. For a look with richer color depth, glaze walls with different paint colors: a base color, a glaze darker than your base paint color, and a third deeper glaze color. The black walls do erase them from view. Painting Trim Darker Than Walls. When selecting colors from paint chips, pick your favorite, then … I love my Bird Girl artwork placed on top of a Railings background. The first consideration is what type of surface you’re working with. Chimneys, alcoves, paneling, skirting boards, door frames, doors. A primer is a light coat of paint that retains colours well. Flat sheen wall paint is becoming increasingly more popular for walls - primarily because it hides uneven textures the best, but it's not a good choice for a darker room where your intent is to brighten up the space, as there's no reflective particles to help reflect the light back into the room. The paint colors are Benjamin Moore’s Arctic Blue, Palladian Blue and Blue Bonnet. The flatter the finish, the more light it absorbs, and the less you notice any cracks, bumps, depressions or rough spots. This look creates more of a “pop” and a cooler feel. The real question is how much the colors should differ. An accent wall doesn’t have to consist of a solid color. The wall where my desk is positioned and the opposite wall with the window was white. Phone: (610) 572-2806 You won’t have to wonder if the paint color will match the swatch when it is applied. Light-colored walls can reflect the colors of bold carpets: A bright blue rug, for instance, can cast a bluish tone on a white wall. It does not have the chalky appearance of a flat nor the sheen of a semi-gloss. When painting your walls in a navy color, it also helps to keep large furniture like sofas in the same hue to blur the lines between the edges of the room and making it feel larger. Opt for a pattern to give the … It's probably not a good idea if you are trying to sell up - Chances are the majority of people who walk through the door are not going to be as amazing as you and as confident in their decor choices. It also absorbs light and can make a color appear slightly lighter. "Don't let the size of a room stop you from using rich, bold colors," Yeo tells CountryLiving.com. If you want to create a contrasted look or bring focus to your windows or door frames, choosing a trim paint color that is darker than the walls of a room can be an ideal choice. You may even need to do a third coat. Paint Multiple Walls. 6. As someone who went all in with black walls and trim in a kitchen reno two years ago (and still loves it), I realize I might not be the best person to make that decision in the Victorian that my best friend and I are renovating to flip. Semigloss and gloss finishes will typically make a color appear darker. This lovely mustard DFS armchair below also works so well with this dark backdrop: It makes the room feel warm and cosy - There is a whole understanding that if a room is low on light and small, you paint it white to make it feel bigger - wrong! How to Determine Which Wall to Paint a Dark Color. Opting for a lighter shade over the rail avoids a top-heavy look; lighter colors pull the eye upward, and darker shades, downward. And the darker the color you use, "the chalking, fading, and discoloring will be much more noticeable than with a white paint or a light gray," he explains. The paint will not stick as well to smooth walls. Metamerism is a psychophysical phenomenon in which colors look different under differing circumstances. When I did a complete overhaul of the room towards the start of the year, I dipped my toe into 'the dark side' by painting the chimney breast and the adjacent wall, which was going to be a gallery wall, in a deep, dark navy. Walls that are slightly rough are much better for applying paint. This look creates more of a “pop” and a cooler feel. And the darker the color you use, "the chalking, fading, and discoloring will be much more noticeable than with a white paint or a light gray," he explains. Cooler whites will have undertones of grey and blue, while warmer shades of white will have undertones of yellow and green. In high-traffic common areas like kitchens, dark accent walls make for genius options as they’re easier to keep clean and require less fuss all around.Notice how the bottle green walls lend this farmhouse inspired kitchen polish and an old-world inviting spirit while making the space look larger and brighter by painting the walls around the windows to emphasize the rooms natural light. The darker walls really give a feeling of warmth and cosiness and are the perfect backdrop for a few scented candles or a roaring fire. Warmer whites appear darker and cooler whites will be whiter. Some lighting will cast yellow tones, while others will cast blue tones. It really depends on what color your walls are. Click to see full answer Regarding this, is paint lighter or darker when it dries? If you want a darker color incorporated somewhere in your design scheme but can't part with bright white walls, paint only the trim a darker shade. A cleaner true white will provide a clean and crisp look against darker and boldly colored walls. By painting them slightly lighter or darker than your primary color, you can show off these components without inhibiting the room’s theme. A small strip of a light color on top of a darker shade will still add visual height to the ceiling and dimension to the room's decor. Add accents for dimension. Right off I knew I wanted the space to feel either bright & crisp or deep & dark, I narrowed it down and selected 5 of each. Disguise construction flaws by painting outwardly bowing walls warm dark colors to pull them in. Neal says that while acrylic and latex paints will hold up significantly longer than alkyd ones, the chalking and discoloration are inevitable no matter the formulation. This is fine if the room you are choosing to paint dark is for relaxing the evening, but probably not so good if you use the room for study or creative pursuits. The types of paint finishes you choose also has an effect on the color. The pros and cons of dark decor. To achieve the look of an aged patina, apply a lighter glaze over a darker glaze. A glossy paint appears lighter than a flat paint, and an eggshell finish falls in between those two. Test on multiple walls. The white wall behind my desk was just 'meh'. Some great effects can be achieved by painting woodwork in darker colours whilst keeping walls neutral, or painting alcoves darker whilst retaining lighter coloured walls. It makes the room feel warm and cosy - There is a whole understanding that if a room is low on light and small, you paint it white to make it feel bigger - wrong!Embrace the small dark room by painting it a dark colour. Be bold and dramatic with your decor! The office now looks like this: Overall, I am happy with going all dark in the room. It may surprise guests or family members when they first see it, but I bet they love it once they have taken it all in. My husband luckily trusted me completely with the choice of paint for our family room but had to take a second glance at the colour when I showed him the sample! Embrace the small dark room by painting it a dark colour. 6. Will the Paint Color I Choose Appear Lighter or Darker than it does on the Swatch. Have More Questions? The yellow artwork on the chimney breast just popped out with the dark navy behind it, same for the pictures on the gallery wall. If you have very large, bare walls, break up the space with molding; paint different colors above and below. However, ceramics may appear lighter than the intended shade. Clean your walls with a scrub sponge and a diluted solution of a nonsudsing cleaner such as Spic 'n Span (a sudsy detergent will make the wall too slick to hold the paint). Turn to your local Philadelphia area trusted expert color consultants at Nolan Painting. It will be harder to get rid of if you do change your mind - If you want to get rid of the dark, expect to have to put on two coats of white undercoat first before you can start painting over your new colour. When selecting colors from paint chips, pick your favorite, then choose one lighter and one darker as … We were looking to paint the bathrooms a lighter beige and only have one other room, the dining room a darker shade of a green/grey that was also on the pallet. If mixed properly, the paint color applied to a surface should remain true to the color swatch. Whether the space is urban, suburban or country, the approach is the same. We also psychologically compare a color to what the wall is currently. Whether the space is urban, suburban or country, the approach is the same. Glossy finishes will reflect light and change the way the color looks, whereas flat finishes are less reflective and allow colors to look truer under bright light. In interior decorating, a wall that is painted a different color or has a different covering from the rest of the walls is known as an accent wall. Using stain instead of paint on wood trim takes advantage of the grain and brings natural texture to the room. Whether you have bright, soft, or pastel walls, white trim paint will work to create subtle contrast. Medium- to dark-brown stains tend to create a visually heavier feeling, while lighter, golden, or honey-toned stains can appear nearly as sunny as a yellow wall. The space will feel smaller - Painting your room dark will make the space feel smaller. With lighter cabinets, your kitchen will feel more spacious and bright. As the room above illustrates, if you’re shy on consistent daylight, all white walls are certain to make a room appear dull and bland as light colors will never be able to brighten darker rooms. The key is, instead of painting the entire space in a dark color, to just paint one wall (or a single element like a bookcase), as seen in the image above from Royal Roulotte. "Deep colors blur the edges of walls, creating an illusion of an endless and expansive room. Then you head back to the paint store and try and find a different paint color that is just a tad bit lighter or darker without changing the hue. I didn't feel it so much with this office, but when I painted my kitchen cabinets a darker colour earlier this year the space instantly felt narrower. John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA Save Photo If you’re designing a home or adding molding yourself, consider installing it on curved windows and corners for a two-toned wall with a little extra personality.