(307) 880-3416
Sign-up to our newsletter for interior design tips and more

Tawna Allred

Interior Design and Art Services

  • Home
  • About
    • Press
  • Design
    • Services
    • Service Area
      • Star Valley Ranch Interior Designer
      • Jackson Interior Designer
      • Wilson Interior Designer
      • Alpine Interior Designer
      • Bedford Interior Designer
  • Portfolio
  • Renderings
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Shop

Q & A: Where To Use Dark Colors

June 27, 2017 by Tawna Leave a Comment

This time of year is magic.

The earth has patterned itself into a green quilt, snow has turned into frothing water, and we are enjoying the long light. It sneaks around us at 4:30 in the morning and we watch is linger until 10 at night. I think it wants to stay just as much as we do. Of course, if we have long light now we will live in inky darkness in six months.

I’ve learned to embrace it. To wake up to the cold with breath that cuts through the stillness. The darkness lets me see the thread of stars weaving across the sky and appreciate the different phases of the moon.

There’s something about black. You feel hidden away in it.” – Georgia O’Keeffe

This week’s Q & A deals with darkness. This is the question:

“I’ve been wondering when it’s appropriate and what elements should be present when painting a room a dark color. I know it can look incredible, but it can also go very, very wrong. How do I know my space is a good space for a navy or even black on the walls?”

Thank you for the question!

You all know my love affair with white, but I also fall head-over-heals for rich, complex, and deep color. A professor in college told me once my paintings needed more medium values…that I was drawn to the dark/light contrast too much. What can I say? I live in a place that is black and white half of the year. It is running in my blood.

Dear Reader, while I can’t give specifics about your space because I haven’t seen it, I did tap my friends in the design industry for some stunning visuals.

Tina Ramchandani

Photographer: Jacobs Navely

Paint Color: Variety of shades from Farrow & Ball

Kelly Rogers

Photographer: Eric Roth

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Townsend Harbor Brown”

Claire Jefford

Photographer: Leah Kirin

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Flint”

Sonja Nesbitt-Kinkade

Photographer: Mark Holleron

Paint Color: Dulux “Black Mica”

Design by Lisa Canning/Vicky Sanderson: Homeowner

Photographer: Unknown

Paint Color: Unknown

Tawna Allred

Photographer: Paul Richer

Paint Color: Sherwin Williams “Sea Serpent”

As you can see, there are lots of ways for dark to go right. I’ll simply point out a couple of things for you to think about.

First, it doesn’t matter which room in the house you want to paint dark. Bedrooms to living rooms to offices…all can look stunning. The only situation that I think it could be a problem is in an open floor plan. If you don’t have a distinct starting and stopping point, I wouldn’t go with a dark color (or any color, for that matter) unless you’re willing to go with it EVERYWHERE. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want my entire house to be dark.

Second, for the ultimate in sophisticated, paint your trim and ceiling dark as well. Of course, this isn’t a rule that has to be followed, but I love how it sets a room apart. But this returns us to my first point. Make sure the room you want to paint can be visually separated from the rest of the house. And don’t do an accent wall. All or nothing, baby!

Thank you to the designers who so generously let me use your images. You are a talented group.

And for anyone reading, please submit your questions so we can continue this new Q & A series. Until next time!

Signature

Filed Under: Interior Design Tagged With: black paint, dark interior, dark paint, dark rooms, homeowner questions, Interior Design, interior design wyoming, jackson hole, paint, star valley, wyoming

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Meet Tawna

Tawna Allred is a nationally certified interior decorator and professional artist living in Star Valley, Wyoming (45 minutes south of Jackson Hole).
Read More »

Tawna Allred Interior Design Portfolio

SERVICE AREA

Star Valley Ranch
Jackson
Wilson
Alpine
Bedford

Call Me

(307) 880-3416

8-3 MST

Connect With Me

© Copyright 2009-2023 Tawna Allred ·
All Rights Reserved
Exclusive Guide On Successfull Bathroom Design
RECEIVE MY EXCLUSIVE GUIDE

7 Essential Steps
to a Successful
Bathroom Design

when you subscribe