Over the last year, I have been talking a lot about the dark moody paint color trend that is trending in a really big way right now. I have heard from many of you that you really love this trend and want to incorporate it in your own home but you’re nervous about where and how to do it. I get it! These dark colors done incorrectly can overwhelm a space and today, I wanted to walk you through and share a few tips for how/where to use these dark moody paint colors that make a beautiful impact.
Sherwin Williams Iron Ore via MHouse Development
It’s such an exciting time right now when it comes to color because we are seeing more and more deep and rich complex colors being used. In fact, if you saw my 2019 paint color forecast recap from the paint manufacturers, you know that so many of the colors forecasted for 2019 are these deep rich dark moody colors. How to use them can be tricky!
Sherwin Williams Secure Blue via Guest Interiors, LLC
If I was able to find the paint color in the images in today’s post, I noted it directly below the images. If the color is not listed, I wasn’t able to locate the exact color.
Accent Walls
When we first noticed this trend towards dark moody colors more than a year ago, most of the spaces that we first spotted this this look was on accent walls. Dark moody accent walls surrounded by light or white walls is the easiest way to use and incorporate a dark paint color into your because the surrounding light walls balance and diffuse the boldness of the dark paint color.
Benjamin Moore Deep Royal via Studio McGee
Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal
Dunn Edwards Stargazing via CM Natural Designs
Benjamin Moore Trout Gray
Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal
Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal
Accent walls are the safest way to incorporate a dark moody paint color. It makes such a beautiful design impact and the lighter walls guarantee that you will have the balance and the space will not be overwhelmed with the darker color.
Small Bathrooms
Small bathrooms are powder rooms are the perfect spot for a dark moody paint color. You would think that the smaller the space, the more a dark color would overwhelm but it actually has the opposite effect.
Sherwin Williams Iron Ore via MHouse Development
In larger bathrooms, these dark moody colors look best when mixed with white wainscoting to help balance the darkness.
Dulux Domino via Dulux PaintÂ
Benjamin Moore Storm Cloud via John Lum Architecture
Another option is to paint the wainscoting with a dark color and use lighter colors on the wall.
Interior Doors
If you’re loving these darker colors but want to keep it safe, painting your interior doors a dark rich color is not only a popular trend right now but it’s an easy way to make big impact. I love this dark door trend so much that I did a whole post on some of my favorite paint colors to use here.
Sherwin Williams Iron Ore
Kwai Brainchild
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
Matte Black via Cambria
If you’re not quite ready to dive into dark colors, consider a rich mid-tone bold color on the backside of your interior door or on a sliding barn door!
Sherwin Williams Secure Blue via Guest Interiors, LLC
Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue via Osmond Designs
Cabinetry
Of course, cabinetry is another fantastic spot for these rich dark moody paint colors. I personally feel that this works best when walls and surroundings are light or white to help balance and to keep the dark color from overwhelming.
Benjamin Moore Trout Gray
Matte Black via Grove Park Construction
Matte Black via Timber TrailsÂ
via The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn
Benjamin Moore Trout Gray
via Tom Hawley
Sherwin Williams Porpoise
Whole Room
As daring (and a little scary as it sounds), there are ways to paint a whole room in a dark moody color and it work. I am seeing this a lot lately and mixed again with crisp white ceilings and light accents, it really can be beautiful! I especially love it in smaller spaces like an office.
Benjamin Moore Silhouette via dSpace Studio
There are just so many creative ways to incorporate these beautiful dark moody paint colors while still keeping the space light and airy. I love this trend right now and I think it will stick around for a long time because it adds so much character!
If you need help with how to choose the perfect shade of these colors, you can go my tips for choosing paint colors post and I’ll walk you through!
Thanks for stopping by today friends!
Cheers!
Cyndy
dawn says
I thought I would like the infusion of cozy dark colors making appearance, but after spending a week in a very trendy boutique hotel for a work meeting where the design and color pallet was all dark, trendy and moody, I found myself feeling claustrophobic and heavy dreaming about light and airy spaces. It was an interested experience that was echoed by those traveling with me. We laughed about how beautiful it all was to look at, but how it did not feel good to live in after a couple days. The trip clearly had me rethinking my desire to go for dark and moody in a room. I like the look, but for me, it is evident I cannot live in it. My trip saved me a lot of money in paint.
Cyndy says
I totally get it and stayed myself at a boutique hotel in NYC a few months ago and thought the exact same thing. The only way I would do it in my own home is surrounded by white and a lot of light on an accent wall or cabinetry. It’s the only way that I can see myself doing it. 🙂
Shelley - Calypso in the Country says
I love dark, moody colors. I recently went on a house/kitchen tour in an upscale neighborhood and almost every home had at least one dark painted room. A few months ago, we painted our dining room navy and couldn’t be happier! Love it!
Shelley
Brynton says
Where oh where is the art print from in the first image? I love it