As our days are getting increasingly shorter (even here in Tel Aviv) it got me thinking about the obsession we Swedes have for light and bright interiors. White is everywhere! We even have a color named Stockholm white, and you’ll find it on the walls of every other home in Stockholm. Try to find a real estate ad that doesn’t have the words “ljust och fräscht”* in the description of a newly renovated flat is as likely as finding a minimalist who doesn’t like the color combination black and white. And lets face it, it is the foundation of the Scandinavian design scene. But working with interiors, white does get a bit limiting and I’d like to mix things up a bit. That’s why I wanted to talk to you about dark interiors. Now this is a topic that can be a bit scary to bring up, because you never know what reactions you’ll get. But let me explain, and you can leave me your reactions below 😉
When faced with a dark room, or even a dark home, the usual thing to do is to try to brighten it up as much as possible. Withe walls, neutral furniture loads of bright lights. But this is where I’d like to ask: Is a dark room really so bad? Why not go with it and make it into a beautiful snug and cozy place to be, rater than a white room with bright lights that still is in fact a dark room?
The first time I experienced the transformative properties of dark walls was when a friend of mine painted her tiny walk-in in a deep, dark grey. I thought she was crazy, but I was amazed at the transformation. The tiny closet actually looked bigger, and oh so chic. Now I don’t mean you should necessarily go berserk and paint all your walls black if you have a dark room. There are plenty of color choices and choosing a hue slightly darker than the one you first thought of can make a huge difference. Just look at the two images below, a deep beige or a green grey can be just as effective in achieving the darker look in a room.
And If you are feeling up for it: a dark hue of your favorite color on the walls that you bring over to some furniture in the room, only in a more saturated color to give it a good balance. I’d prefer a dark moss green in this case, as you probably know if you read my last post.
Another way to go, if you’re not ready to take the plunge with the darker walls, is to chose a darker carpet, like the one below. The room still has it’s light and airy look but it is given edge by the dark carpet and furniture. And of course I can’t help but love this styling, I think I need one of those posters, C for Caroline…
A darker wall can really accentuate other elements in or of the room, such as different materials and colors. Just look at these wooden floors, they almost look golden. And if you are into your brass and golds dark is the way to go. Nothing makes brass shine as much as a backdrop of darkness.
Speaking of wood, dark wood like the image above can make a space feel luxe and very exclusive if it’s done the right way. And for that more Scandi design feel (because we all know we love it, despite the general whiteness), white washed wood against a matte black wall looks heavenly, don’t you think?
So what’s the verdict? Have I won you over? Could you imagine painting a dark room even darker? Let me know in the comments below, and as always there is even more delicious inspiration on my dark interiors board over at Pinterest**.
*Translation: light and fresh. Meaning bright, clean, crisp and modern/contemporary.
**Where you’ll also find the links to the source of each image.
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