LIFESTYLE: Jessica and Karyn of Bungalow 56 give dreamy advice on bed styling

Dark Colors

By Jessica Nicolls + Karyn Frazier

We love a bright and airy space, but some designs call for a more moody look. Don’t be afraid to incorporate darker hues into your decor! Adding a dark, color is a great way to add contrast and draw the eye to a specific place. Most people play it safe and lean towards brighter light colors but we are going to give you some tips for going to the dark side.

1. Small Spaces: The most common fear we hear about using dark paint is that it will make the space feel smaller. Our response to this is that a smaller space is the PERFECT place to take the risk of going dark. We love using moody tones in bathrooms, mud rooms and o ces. Putting a dark color in a small space creates a cozy, intimate feeling.

2. Cozy vs. Gloomy: Another misconception is that darker colors will make a room feel depressing or gloomy, but we fi nd that using a darker color is an amazing way to ground a space and highlight other areas. If you use a dark wall you can layer bright artwork or wall paper in the space to add a contrast.

Or, if you want to be bold and paint the entire room dark, you can layer in lighter furniture pieces to balance the space.

3. Too Trendy or Risky: Powerful design always takes a little bit of a risk. We love using paint as our “risky” element because if you don’t like it down the road it can always be repainted at a minimal cost. The use of the darker walls may seem trendy but we think it is here to stay.

4. Undertones: If a black wall is too much of a risk or contrast for your space, try out a deep green, blue or gray. There are so many rich tones that may compliment the rest of your spaces without feeling too heavy or out of place.

A great place to add some color is in a wainscotting or cabinetry.