The Dark side

Backstory

My mom died in January 2020, turning everything I once knew on its axis… and then three months later, the world went into lockdown.

Since restrictions were really strict in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, I decided to move back into my childhood home with my now widowed father. Pretty quickly, I realized that what I once had thought would be a short stay, would most likely turn into a more permanent one. My father had always been really healthy and active throughout his life and up until my mother got sick, was a personal trainer and rarely missed a day at the gym. However, at the age of 92, and taking the brunt of my mom’s care after she fell ill, his body (and spirit) had taken a beating.

Resigned to my new situation, I decided to spruce up my bedroom space, moving myself into the small middle bedroom that had once been the office (I refused to move back into my old bedroom since that was where my mother had died after a bout with COPD and dementia). The room was painted a nice taupe color, which was perfectly fine, but honestly, it felt a little basic and bland. So, I decided to give the space a very budget-friendly, mini make over. And we all know that when you’re short on cash, but want to make a big impact, paint is usually the answer.

Deciding Factors

See, my design hand had been all over my parents home. From kitchen and bathroom renovations, to fireplace remodels, to decorating and decor- I had put much careful thought into designing a space that my parents would love. So when my father saw me entering the room with rollers and paint buckets, he didn’t even bat an eye. I hadn’t known what I wanted to do at first, but I knew I wanted something different. My mom was constantly on my mind and I longed for her presence, which led me down a road of deep depression. I craved comfort and healing and I also wanted something that would reflect my current state of mind.

Ok, confession time- I love light and bright interiors. Like, really…it’s my thing…and when I think of the perfect home, soft white walls, large windows, and bright natural light abound. BUT, something was calling me in a different direction. And even if I did want light and bright, the small middle room wasn’t the perfect candidate for it.

Here’s why- although the small middle room gets some morning light, it’s kind of a darker space. When a room is not well lit, the obvious thought is to paint it a lighter color, to brighten it up. This does work to a certain extent as lighter colors reflect light and help it bounce off of walls and surfaces. However, depending on the space, this approach can sometimes backfire (especially with the color white- white really needs natural light to look gorgeous) and the room just ends up looking drab and boring. ESPECIALLY, if you have no defining architectural features to add interest or depth to the room. Another hitch in the light and bright direction- I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a space that I had no idea how long I’d be living in. So, it was really important to me to use what I had and not have to buy anything new.

Another major factor - this bedroom was going to serve strictly as a nighttime room. The room was very small and positioned right next to my father’s (who had a penchant for not wearing his hearing aids and listened to his TV on volume 100 - no seriously, he kept it on 100 ), so I knew it wasn’t a space that I would lounge in and retreat to during the day. So being a nighttime room, I wanted a space to feel enveloping, safe, and almost womb-like. It was settled. I was going dark.

Design Inspo

After deciding to go dark and getting a sense of how I wanted the room to feel, I had to figure out which color I was going to use. Blue was always a go to for me, but I had done it so many times before…so, black? Even though I had always toyed with painting a room black, it didn’t quite feel like the move. A few months prior, I bought a pair of dark green velvet curtain panels from everyone’s favorite Scandi big box store. I didn’t end up using them as originally intended, so I just had them put away in the back of the closet. One day when I came across them again, I remembered how much I really loved the deep emerald color. And then it hit me- it had to be green. To me, green evokes earthiness, peacefulness, nature, a sense of tranquility, and growth- all things that I longed for in my life.

Design Process

After much searching, I found the perfect green that matched my Ikea curtains- Jasper by Sherwin Williams, a deep dark green that lies somewhere between emerald and forest. What cinched it for me was its smoky undertone that made the color more muted and calm. I chose the Cashmere flat finish which is extra smooth, extra matte, and really silky. And since I wanted to feel enveloped in the space, I decided that not only would I paint the walls in the color, but the trim and the doors too. If it weren’t for the god awful popcorn ceilings, I would have painted the ceiling too, totally wrapping the space in color, like a little jewel box.

Yes, this is a bold choice, but one that I love (even with lighter colors) because it keeps the space flowing without breaking up any lines- visually expanding your space. There is still a debate in the design world on whether or not dark colors make a space feel small or not (to that which I answer it does…and it doesn't ). A dark space definitely feels more intimate, but weirdly, at night (and certain times of the day with heavy shadows), the walls just seem to fall away, actually giving a sense of expansion.

so you wanna go dark…

a few tips and tricks to make a dark room work

1. Go with a matte or flat paint- the results are more dramatic and look more modern than a shinier finish (unless you’re going for full glam with a super high gloss/lacquered look, which is crazy hard to pull off and I wouldn't reccomend without the help of a professional). Just know that matte and flat walls are harder to keep clean (and you will see scuffs on dark walls ) so, proceed with caution.

2. Paint the walls, trim, and doors the same color and finish- painting all of the surfaces in the same color and finish results in a higher-end, designer look. A super dark color on the walls paired with bright white moldings and doors just doesn’t quite give the same effect and you loose a lot of the impact.

3. For super high-drama, paint the ceiling the same color too- as I said before, this is a bold move, but highly-effective when going for dark and dramatic. It creates a jewel box effect and is really great if you like a pitch black room at night (just keep a light handy next to your bed because with the right window treatments, you truly can’t see shit at night).

4. Match window treatments to your wall color too- this is not a must, but like painting the trim and doors the same color, it really let’s your eye flow freely around the space, creating a soothing and sophisticated looking space.

5. Add some contrasting color with fabrics and finishes- we love a monochromatic space, but you need a bit of variety in color and textures too. Pair a dark color with a lighter taupe, cream, copper, or a light grey to add depth and variety. And don’t forget about introducing different material and textures like wood, metal, linen, cotton, and rattan for added warmth too.

6. Don’t forget the lighting- a moody room calls for mood lighting. Make use of floor lamps, table lamps, and sconces to create a cozy space instead of overhead lighting (which can be harsh) , especially if they do not dim down.

7. Test before you make a commitment- yes, it’s only paint… but, let’s be real, it’s still kind of a pain in the ass to change if you don’t like the results. Testing your color is best practice for any paint job, but especially if you’re going dark. Buy some paint (in the correct finish if you can, because that effects outcomes too), and swatch a few different areas in your room, checking them at different times to see if you like the color as the light changes throughout the day. And remember, that color will look even darker and intense when all four walls are painted.

8. Too scared to go all the way? Start with a feature wall- I will be honest with you, feature/focal walls have fallen out of favor in the design community and are now generally frowned upon. But you know what? I don’t really care. Yes, they can look random. Yes, it can look like you have commitment issues. BUT, I think sometimes…they do make sense. So, if you have a hankerin’ to try something more dramatic, but the thought of four dark walls puts you into the fetal position- go ahead and paint one focal wall… just make sure that it makes sense. It’s ok, I give you permission.

Darkly painted rooms have been a pretty big (in the interior design world, anyway) for the last couple of years with trends like Dark Academia and the return of Goth. That being said, it’s definitely not for everyone or every home. In the end, trends come and go, so don’t put too much stock into them and how you decide to decorate or design your home. Only do things that speak to you and make you feel good. But if you’ve been thinking about turning to the dark side, take this as your sign to give it a try.