Does painting walls dark make your room look darker? The answer is probably not what you expect

How many times have you thought to yourself ‘I love this moody color, but it will make my room look dark’ and ended up sticking to light neutrals, but still poring over pictures in magazines wondering what if you did go for it? 

Don’t get me wrong, it’s fine if you like keeping it as light as possible, and decorating with neutrals such as off-whites, and creams does help. But I wouldn’t want you to hold back from going for that dark color scheme you’re really tempted by just because you’re guided by the misconception that it will make your room appear dark. 

There are many other factors that make a room look dark - the most important one being (you guessed it!) actual light itself, and how much or how little there is in a space. But when it comes to color, there are ways in which you can go for those moodier tones and with just a few styling tips, achieve a look that is warm, inviting, elegant, and unique. Here’s a designer who thinks light perception is not that tightly linked to color, and what she does to create moody and beautiful interiors that just work. 

Does painting your walls dark make your room appear darker?  

Let’s settle this once and for all. Put very simply, it’s just not quite true. If we are thinking about the effects of colors on a space, they can make a room feel cooler or warmer (depending on the undertone), smaller or bigger. It’s in the perception of how big a space is, that darker vs lighter colors play a role. A darker color will make the space feel like it’s cozier, darker objects seem closer, whereas there are colors that make a room look bigger. The lighter the hue, the larger and further from us walls and objects seem. 

However when it comes to light, and how to brighten a dark room, the one vital factor in the perception of it is light itself, and how little or how much of it (natural or not) you have in the room. 

Here’s how this designer styles darker colors successfully 

Interior designer Montana Labelle has brought darker tones to her rooms, and it works beautifully. 

Montana and her team love going with bold and moody color choices in smaller spaces too, and even work with dark living room ideas. ‘It really comes down to the furniture and decor choices,’ she explains. It’s not just about your wall color working in silo. ‘If you are choosing to use darker wall treatments in a space we recommend lighter rugs, fabrics, and carefully selected furniture to not make the space feel cluttered,’ she explains. 

The lesson here is that it’s all about balance. If you’re worried about how dark a room will look, just stop at your wall color, and pick elements of furniture and styling in lighter tones, together with reflective surfaces like mirrors and metallic finishes to bounce light around the space. It really is as simple as that. 

Combine this wall color with these accessories to recreate Montana’s moody but light design look