Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Decorating Tip: Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

We all like a bright, airy room. Sometimes, however, a room lends itself to being darker. Some people shy away from dark colors because they think it’ll make the room seem smaller. This isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, sometimes a smaller room can feel bigger if the walls are a darker color because the floor and ceiling are emphasized. Painting a room a darker color also is a great way to emphasize the architecture of the room. Keeping trim a light color sets the moldings off and gives them more character. One way of making the room even more interesting is to paint the ceiling a different shade. In Victorian homes, the ceiling (especially in reception rooms) was painted blue to simulate the sky. My ceilings are blue in most of the house, and I just love the contrast between the white crown molding and the crisp, blue ceiling.


Similarly, decorating with dark, rich colors gives a room some weight and importance. The result is a feeling of elegance and luxury that is especially fitting for formal living and dining rooms. A creative use of lighting and the arrangement of art and objects will give the room motion and interest. A darker wall also gives you an opportunity to really showcase your artwork.

Take a chance on a darker color for a room that is at once cozy and elegant.

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