Welcome to the world of dark interiors. It’s a far cry from the ubiquitous white minimalism and light neutral tones that we’ve been used to decorating our homes with for so many years. Right now, dark colour palettes are where it’s at if you want an ‘elegant meets dramatic vibe’ that is very on-trend. Dark feature walls or indeed a full dark room can elevate a room with a certain hotel chic.  However, what is key is how you break this up with  lighting  and soft furnishings, so that you do not end up with a cave !

How dark is dark?

When you think of dark interiors, does your mind automatically conjure up black? Of course, black is a bold choice that can work wonderfully in many rooms, but rest assured that it is by no means the only dark colour available. And also remember there are lots of soft blacks, brown blacks and blue blacks by paint companies such as Farrow and Ball and Little Greene that bridge the gap between harsh primary black.

Maybe it would be more helpful to think of ‘moody’ rather than ‘dark’ interiors since there’s a wide range of dusky hued colours that can imbue your interior with a certain mood. From forest greens to inky blues, sludgy browns and gunmetal greys, there’s a vast choice when it comes to such colours.  Autumn hues provide you with such a palette of colours.

Overcome your fears

There may be many reasons why an unapologetically dark colour palette may scare you. Usually, people are either worried that dark colours may make the space look smaller or that they may not work with the chosen style. Actually, both assumptions are wrong. Moody shades can in fact make a room appear bigger since the use of dark colours helps to blur the separation between walls (and ceilings), making them visually retreat. What’s more, dark shades can work with any interiors style. It just depends on the overall vibe you want to achieve.

Another understandable fear that many people have of using dark colour palettes centres around the lack of light. Of course, lighting is key in any room scheme and with dark interiors you must pay more attention to incorporating the right lighting for the scheme to work. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that if you are decorating an office or reading nook, adding pendant or spot lighting may be needed to achieve the right levels of illumination.

Benefits of dark interiors

If you’re still struggling to understand the benefits of embracing dark interiors, let us provide some enlightenment, as it were:

• Moody colours deliver added character and personality, plus a sense of drama and intrigue that you simply don’t get with lighter palettes. Dark hues ooze luxury and elegance, giving a ‘wow’ factor and making your interiors classy without much effort.

• Dark shades are perfect for creating cosy, intimate spaces that you can’t help but want to relax in. If you are keen to “make your home feel like a place you absolutely never want to leave,” in the then dark interiors are how to do it.

• Light colours have the unfortunate side effect of highlighting every imperfection in the room. The opposite is true with dark colour palettes. Mistakes and imperfections will fade into the background, barely visible. Darkness is a much more forgiving way to decorate.

• Try displaying artwork against a dark background and see how the colours pop. Whether old masters, quirky wall art or family photos, the eye is drawn to focus on the image without distractions. The same goes for any ornament or statement furniture in an accent colour.

Accents are key

Accents and Highlights break up a dark room. Deep-hued paints allow botanicals to pop, so they’re worth adding to any dark space in need of livening up. You can always opt for a moody floral or patterned wallpaper in black bedroom interior design . A splash of a bright colour can enhance a dark room and add character. Metallic touches via light fittings in golds and coppers will also break things down. Modern, dark interior design  also benefits from plenty of texture as it adds depth and softens spaces. For this reason, including natural and organic accents in dark interior design is a must. Wooden details, like a bed frame, furniture or framed picture always work to soften dark walls and allow the moody tones to breathe. A wooden floor can work incredibly well for this reason. Accessories such as cushions and throws may even be enough to add a highlight to your room – be bold !