The decision to go ‘dark’ can be a scary one… but when you really pull it off, there is nothing more striking! The intimidation that can come with designing a dark room can often see people not completely commit, which quite frankly can do more harm than good!
On top of that, it’s important to note that dark does not necessarily have to mean black, it’s more so about perfecting your dark palette with the right balance of lighting, textures and colour to create the ultimate mood and sense of drama!
Sound complicated? Nah, keep reading as we share our tips for those who are daring enough to cross on over to the dark side!
Contrast
Contrast is key when designing any space, even more so when it’s a dark interior. It assists in creating depth and visual interest. The trick is to use contrast that still compliments the space…. this contrast can come in the form of colour, materiality and interior style. For instance, in dark spaces, rich jewel tones such as burgundy and mustard are extremely effective creating that visual interest and dare I say even more so than a standard white wall!
Design by Made By Cohen
Textures
Don’t just stop at colour, when talking contrast it is all about textures too and how they interact together and translate their visual tactile qualities. Play and experiment with various materiality in the space… again, it’s all about that visual interest! And this doesn’t just apply to soft furnishings… texture can come into play with furniture and joinery. It is the fine details that can make all of the difference!
Our Ascot Residence
Design by Canny Architecture
Lighting
Regardless of the colour of a room, when people complain about a space feeling dull and dingy…. poor lighting is usually to blame.
Nothing beats the power of natural light, but when this is outside of our control that’s when artificial lighting steps in! But when it comes to lighting a dark space, nothing kills the mood more than the addition of harsh cool lighting. Instead opt for indirect natural or warm light to allow for a beautiful soft glow. This will enhance the ambience, mood and character of any dark room.
Our Raby Bay Project
Art objects
This really applies to any space, but when it comes to accessories and styling we love ensuring we accessories with intention and meaning. A bunch of vases, candles and coasters can be practical but typically don’t hold much meaning, it’s the art objects such as sculptures, objects, books or natural souvenirs that really thrive in your space! This should be a growing collection… it can be added to at different stages of your life and therefore will take some time to fill your space… Check out our blog where we share our tips to styling with intention and meaning.
Design by Chelsea Hing
Timber Accents
We love using timber to soften a space, it instantly brings so much warmth! Dark interiors especially, can sometimes feel harsh and cool and we feel timber is the perfect complimenting – contrast to balance it out! We especially love how versatile timber is, whether it be flooring, walls, joinery, furniture and even the ceiling, you can really play with the application to be perfectly suited to your style of home!
Now this doesn’t necessarily mean huge design changes or costly additions either! If you have a fireplace in your home it could simply mean storing your firewood indoors rather than outside!
Design by Studio Four
Design by Rowson Kitchens
Commitment
Lastly, but most importantly…. you’ve got to commit! Feature walls are a thing of the past, if you’re wanting to have that impact that a dark space brings you need to think about the entire space! Dark spaces can be somewhat tricky to ‘get right’ but this doesn’t mean you should hold back. Don’t stop at just the walls, think about the ceiling, flooring and all the furnishings that follow, a well considered dark interior will thrive in your space more than a feature wall ever will.
Design by Adam Kane Architects
