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6 Crucial Factors To Consider Before Painting a Room Dark

6 Crucial Factors To Consider Before Painting a Room Dark

There is no denying the instant wow factor a dark, moody paint color can bring to a space. But before you jump off the design cliff blindly, today I want to share 6 crucial elements you need to consider first…

Three years ago, I took one of the scariest design risks I had ever attempted. This ‘light and airy’ basic b*tch over here (yes I refer to myself in the third person) went over to the dark side – painting the walls of my once- white living room in a milky black hue (Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams).

picture of living room with black walls with text overlay "what to know before painting your walls dark"

And while it was a risk that I consider to have paid off , looking back, there are some things I wish I had planned for just a little better (ya know…besides just impulsively driving down to the paint store and deciding to wing it).

So that you can be empowered to execute such a bold design choice yourself (if that’s the kind of thing you are into), I have included six things to know before painting your room in a dark color.

1. Room Transitions –

white kitchen opening up to a dining room with dark walls
The Lifestyled Co.

Just to give credit where credit is due, the fabulous imagery above (from my favorite freaking design firm The Lifestyled Co.) is what first gave me permission to paint the living room/den that sits off of my white kitchen black. While I was not sure exactly how the transitions would work in my open concept space, luckily I was able to use this specific example for reference.

Because the adjacent kitchen in the photo above has a similar color palette as the dark and moody dining room branching off of it, you can see how such a high contrast of colors in an open floor plan can totally work harmoniously. Essentially, the sight-lines all need to be in a similar aesthetic and color scheme (this is what establishes cohesion).

dark living room opening up to a white kitchen

Not only do you need to think about the overall color palette and aesthetic of your home, you are going to want to have a game plan in place for your room transitions (where the dark wall color ends and begins). If you don’t have a clear stopping point (like the end of a wall)- not to fret! As you can see in my living room, while my kitchen wall continues from my living room wall, I used the header coming off of the fireplace to end the dark color.

2. Existing Furniture and Decor-

dark living room with black walls and large tv on wall

If you plan on keeping your existing furniture and decorative accents, you need to consider how the pieces will look against a dark backdrop. Ultimately, the darker pieces will blend (and even recede) into the walls, while the lighter accents will pop- creating more of a high contrast look.

While neither effect is “wrong” so to speak, I just want to prepare you for this radical change. Here in my living room, I use some cream, linen and off-white pieces for a dramatic “pop”, while I also play with a color drenching effect (black drapes, brown leather sofa and dark-stained wood cabinetry).

One effect is playful and stimulating, while the other is all-encompassing and cocoon-like. While you can certainly go all-in on just one effect (high contrast vs. deep, moody color-drenching), I don’t have the budget for a light, linen-colored sofa (though I love the look of high contrast). So, I decided to strike a balance and appeal to both ends of the spectrum.

3. Windows-

dark living room with brown leather sofa and modern decor

Ok…here is one aspect I must admit I did not research enough- window frames. You see…I kind of just assumed that I could simply paint these white vinyl windows black at some point. Well…

Not so much! While some DIY bloggers have successfully painted their vinyl windows black, the professionals at my local Sherwin Williams told me that they advised against it (even if you are using a vinyl-safe product) as painting them black poses a risk of warping them. Ultimately, while it would be nice to have black windows in here, it doesn’t really bother me. Then again, everyone has their pet peeves, so this is something to think about!

4. Doors, Trim and Accents-

modern moody living room with dark walls and minimalist furniture

When going for a dark wall paint, I prefer the trim and baseboards to be painted the same color as the walls. In my opinion white millwork popping off of moody walls is not only just not the vibe, but it makes a room look smaller and dated in general. Here in my living room, I did all of my baseboards and trim in the same color as the walls.

When it comes to doors, I actually feel the same way and when I can stop project hopping (my ADD sometimes gets the best of me), I will also commit to painting this door leading into my office the same color as my walls.

5. Ceilings-

modern cozy living room
ceilings before I painted them in Iron Ore

As far as ceiling color, the choice is totally up to you, boo! When I first had this room painted black, I wanted to only dip my toe into a darker, moodier aesthetic. And so…I opted to keep the ceiling white.

But… as I grew comfortable with this dramatic look, I eventually decided that the white ceiling emphasized the lower ceiling height in this particular room. Compared to the grand vaulted ceilings in the rooms that open up to this space, I reasoned that painting the ceiling the same color as the wall would actually make the ceiling recede into the ethers so that one could not actually even perceive of it’s limited height. Not only that, I also just think it’s a swankier look in general.

painting walls and ceiling in a dark charcoal black color in living room

That being said, if you too are considering painting your ceilings dark, I have two warnings for you..

First Warning: When I asked for ceiling paint to be tinted in my wall color (Iron Ore), the guy working at Benjamin Moore told me that he could NOT tint the ceiling paint that dark (or he could try, but the tint would not take). So…we ended up having to use a normal latex paint in a matte finish, and I am not happy at all with the results! After several coats, you can still see all the roller marks. Still not sure how I am going to resolve this.

Second Warning: Painting the ceilings dark will definitely soak up your natural light (no sh*t…right?!) But in all seriousness, I could not believe how much painting the ceiling darkened the space. A white ceiling really does help with adding brightness to a room, and I was able to witness this in real time as I painted the ceiling black!

6. Inevitable Eyesores (outlets, AC vents, etc)-

cozy dark living room with leather sofa and modern decor

If you plan on painting your walls a super dark color, be prepared to notice eyesores you never even thought about before. From A/C vents, to smoke detecters, electrical outlets and even can lights, it seems everything comes in white nowadays.

hallway painted black with woven pendant lights

While I do eventually plan on painting this air vent in the hallway and replacing the can lights on my living room ceiling, I actually don’t plan on replacing my white electric outlets or switches. After studying a plethora of professionally designed spaces with dark walls, most designers leave such items white too.

However, if you are OCD, there is a slight chance you may end up obsessing over these not-so-sightly pops of white. You have officially been warned. 🙂

Not to fret though, you can always buy black outlets and plate covers if you really cannot stop fixating on such eyesores.

picture of a black modern living room with a text overlay that says "what to know before painting your walls dark"

When done with intention, dark walls have the power to transform a lackluster space into an absolute , sexy AF show stopper. I really hope these tips have you ready to conquer your fears. Life is short…take the risk!

Thank you so much for stopping by and spending some time with me this week! It would mean so much to this small business of mine if you could share this post on Pinterest or even with a friend…

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picture of a black, moody living room with text overlay "6 things to know before painting your walls dark"

Now get out there and design some good vibes along with a fabulous life!

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Welcome!

My journey in interior design and home improvement began with transforming my first fixer-upper home, all while managing a budget and raising two young boys. My work, a reflection of my passion for creating beautiful, uplifting spaces, has been recognized by top publications like Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, HGTV, and more. I invite you to explore my site and witness the transformation of my home and the vibes we've designed.Read more...