Last week we revealed our newly painted master bedroom. To say that the difference is dramatic is a bit of an understatement.
The first time we used dark paint was way back in 2010 when we painted our office a very dark blue. It felt like a huge move then but we loved it and it actually made the tiny room seem larger than it was!
Using dark colours is a much more trendy thing to do now and one thing that’s for certain is that once you’ve gone dark there’s just no going back.
We’ve definitely come to love dark walls and it’s not just because they look amazing!
There are some really practical reasons to paint your walls dark, too!
1. Dark Walls Make A Room Feel More Finished & Furnished
This is a bit of a weird phenomenon but even if you only have very little furniture in your room the dark walls somehow make it feel more furnished and definitely a lot more finished!
Maybe it’s because the few things you do have in a room stand out so much more? Maybe it’s because you’re distracted by the awesomeness of the dark walls? Either way, painting your walls a dark colour is a great way making the room feel more complete.
Dark walls definitely have a way of making your home feel stylish, cosy and comfortable, even if you don’t have a lot of things in the room!
2. Dark Walls Hide Imperfections
This is my favourite practical reason to paint your walls dark! The walls in the dining room (in our last home) were really wonky. We’d always planned on replastering the whole room when we built our extension (which we never got round to) but painting the walls dark helped hide a lot of the imperfections.
The light reflects differently on dark walls, so painting them dark hides almost all of the cracks, bumps and dents in the plaster.
3. Dark Walls Make Everything Else In Your Room Look Better
I’m not sure why people think that painting a room dark and bold colour will somehow make it dark and dull. In fact, the opposite is true!
Dark walls make everything pop! Art, furniture, lighting, curtains. Everything looks better against a dark background!
Don’t believe me? Just take a look at our white sideboard in our old home and in our current (and still unpainted) home.
I personally like both versions but I really love how the sideboard really stands out against the dark walls in our last home.
Bonus Tip: Use Dark Paint Outside
If you’re worried about crossing to the dark side, try using a dark colour outside first.
With bright light, lots of space and loads of plants that will really pop against the dark background you really can’t go wrong!
A dark background honestly makes all of your planting look so much more luscious and healthy! We loved our slatted black fence so much that we couldn’t resist introducing some colour in our new outdoor space, too.
It’s a really dinky balcony but we really wanted to make the most of. We’ve just completed a balcony makeover in our new home and painted the brick wall a very dark green-black colour. It makes everything look so much more vibrant and colourful!
As always, any colour choice is down to personal preference. I personally wouldn’t paint my whole home dark (and I’m still a bit afraid of painting a ceiling dark) but the use of a darker shade of paint can really add something special to your home!
Have you ever tried dark paint in your home? Have you dared to paint a ceiling dark? Did it work? Do you prefer to use light and airy colours or dark ones in your home?
My parents painted the ceiling of the dining room dark blue in one of their homes, and it looked really good. I wish I had a picture. The painter actually refused to paint it that color until he had spoken to both of them because he was sure it was a mistake.
I can totally see it working, Jessica! We have painted the ceiling the same colour as the walls before but it was a light colour. I’m sure I’ll give it a go at some point – I just don’t feel daring enough yet.
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