Stygian Hues: Embracing the Dark Side

Are you one of the folks who think on default that dark-colored rooms are depressing and gloomy? A few people could even feel claustrophobic. Using dark hues takes getting used to but those who are able to overcome their initial negative reactions appreciate the coziness and drama provided by the dark colors.

 

Interior designers have a lot of techniques and tools in beautifying homes. Some of these depend on their personal taste as well as their professed signature style. Other designers prefer thrive on traditional wisdom. One such conventional notion is that dark colors can help recede objects in a room.

 

Here are other ways that you can wield the dark colors –

 

Emphasize a Photo

 

Do you like black and white photos? If you answered yes, then it’s time to think about changing your wall colors to black, say, a delicious matte charcoal gray paint. This will recede in the backdrop which will give emphasis to the framed photos. The black and white photos then become the focal point in the room.

 

Stage a Light Show

 

Did you notice that the darker the sky gets at night, the more stars you are able to see? Consider light as a kind of black and white photo that becomes even more beautiful when placed against a dark backdrop. Consider increasing the striking features of light fixtures with a dark, rich hue.

 

Highlight Millwork

 

Cloak your walls in dark color so that they recede to the background and would bring the finest millwork foreground. This is especially effective if the millwork is painted white.

 

See Fabric Beauty

 

Your furniture’s upholstery does not have to be neutral-colored to stand out. All that it needs is a dark background and the furniture will be more striking than you originally perceived it.

 

Decrease Visual Weight

 

Using a bold, dark color as the anchor element in a room will help clear up misgivings. An example is when a kitchen island has a black marble or granite top that’s lacquered to perfection; having this placed in the middle of the room will emphasize the openness of a kitchen.

Alter Perspectives

 

You can also easily change visual perspective when the surface of furniture is a different color from its base which blends with the color used on the flooring.

 

If there are also structures which you do not want to veer the attention to, then it goes without saying that the color it should be painted with is black or any other dark color. This will allow the said structure to effectively recede to the background.

 

You can also conceal a television set when you set it up against a dark wall.

 

Remember that you can easily minimize and downplay any features in your home if you use dark colors on an already dark backdrop.

 

Unify a Room

 

Dark colors are not just interesting. They are also great to use when unifying different elements coming from various eras. These are the go-to colors of eclectic individuals.

 

Dark walls, furniture, and window treatments can unify the disparate design elements while creating a stylish look.

 

Create Contrast

 

It is crucial to create contrast inside a dark room. You need to learn to mix materials and play with varying textures in fabrics against hard surfaces. Use items that would pop against the dark-colored walls. Use bold or light colors sparingly and find interesting shapes, too.

 

Dark rooms are already innately dramatic so you should not overdo the use of black, navy blue, gray, and other such colors. Be careful in adding patterns, too, or you risk making the room look cluttered.

 

Energize

 

Believe it or not, dark colors can also energize. To do this, use glossy finishes on the ceilings, trimming, and architectural details.

Tags: dark color scheme, dark colors, dark design, dark hues, dark-colored hues, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 at 12:43 pm and is filed under Color Schemes, Decorative Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.