Such is the Scandinavian influence on design that the minimal, white on white trend has been an industry favourite for a few years now. Whilst it will always be a timeless look, it seems that there’s a darker future ahead of us. From Interior Designers and bloggers to Pinterest Boards and design magazines, there’s a clear, growing trend for pushing colour boundaries in the home using dark, rich and jewel-toned colours.

It's easy to see why this is happening. Dark colours are sophisticated, comfortable and as timeless as their minimal counterparts. If plain is not your style and you’re thinking about bringing some dark décor elements into your home, these tips and interiors will offer an abundance of inspiration.

9 Tips on Decorating with a Dark Colour Palette

Luxurious materials

Dark interiors don't have to be sullen or edgy.  Layer your space with luxurious materials like slate, ebony and leather to achieve a dark colour palette that's smart and sophisticated. This apartment in Kiev by Dzhemesyuk & Yurov Design shows how inviting dark rooms can be. The air of luxury really brings to mind the sound of clinking of cocktail glasses, the pleasure of old, vintage books and memories of a time before designers felt the pressure to paint everything white for the sake of raw minimalism.

dark colour interior
By Dzhemesyuk & Yurov Design Via Homedesign.com

Layers of Textiles

If you've painted a room in one dark colour, you don't necessarily need other colours to add character to the space. Opulent textiles like plush velvet, silk, woven rattans and statement rugs add depth to your interior. In this home by interior architects Leqb, the master bedroom is piled with drapes, linens and cushions, which prevents the dark colours from looking too stark or monotonous.

Designed by interior architects Leqb via homedesign.com
Designed by interior architects Leqb via homedesign.com

Jewel Tone Touches

Dark colours do pose the risk of looking dull and foreboding in your interior. A great way to avoid this is to incorporate bright-dark colours into your colour palette. Rich jewel tones like emerald, teal and purple create a really luxe look whether used all over or sparingly. Perfect for creating an air of opulence in your space.

Go Green

The thought of dark colours can  instantly bring to mind varying shades of blacks and browns, but dark colour schemes are actually much more diverse than this. In the Elle Decoration EDApartment at Greenwich Peninsula, green botanic shades and earthly hues have been used to create a gorgeous dark interior with lots of originality and character. With Pantone including Greenery and Kale in their colour trend predictions for 2017, there's no better time than now to start experimenting with green in your home.

elle
Designed by the Elle Style Consultancy, Via Elle Decoration

Large Windows

Dark Colours work particularly well in spaces with lots of natural light. If you're thinking of experimenting with dark shades, start in rooms with large, open windows that dominate a whole wall. The light coming through will really help illuminate and brighten up the space.

Designed by Jean Regauer, Via homedesigns.com
Designed by Jean Regauer, Via homedesigns.com

 

Abundance of Lighting

If you don't have large windows or much natural light, invest in lots of indoor lighting instead. Pendant lights over dining tables, table lamps on dark surfaces, floor lights in dark corners and wall lights on black or dark painted walls all help to illuminate the space,  creating a really calm and cosy atmosphere. Especially in big rooms, you'll need more than one light to brighten it up.

dark-and-light-design-ideas
Yurov Design via Homedesign.com, featuring the Flos Taccia Pendant Light

Accent Colours

Dark interiors don't have to be all-dark. If a dark shade is your primary colour, try adding splashes of chartreuse, yellow or other bright shades as your secondary colour to liven it up. This way you achieve a dark and sophisticated colour scheme that's also playful and very full of life.

Living room by UMKY Design via
Living room by UMKY Design via

Florals

Another way to add colour to a dark interior is by decorating the space with plants and florals. In this Strizh House in Ukraine, a large, leafy plant brings a touch of the outdoors in, giving life and energy to the dark elements of the decor.

natural-dark-kitchen
Strizh House, designed by Oleksii Karman

Dark Suits all Decor styles

In terms of interior style, you can partner anything with a dark palette, even Scandi, so don't be afriad to experiment! Dark colours go well with every look from interiors with a shabby, boho edge to luxurious ostentatious interiors. There's no limit to what you can do when going to the dark side!

Designed by Annabell Kutuc via Homedesigns.com
Designed by Annabell Kutuc via Homedesigns.com

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