The 9 Best Paint Colors For Dark Rooms

Paint is amazing. It’s a budget-friendly way to completely transform a room. Dark rooms included. And since not all spaces have the privilege of getting plenty of natural light, that’s where you need to get creative. While you may think the answer is obvious: a dark room needs white paint. However, that’s not necessarily true. Contrary to popular belief the best paint colors for darker rooms don’t all need to be a variation of white. Plus, if used incorrectly, white can give off a sanitary feeling and make a space feel bland. So, if you want to bring some brightness...

The 9 Best Paint Colors For Dark Rooms

Paint is amazing. It’s a budget-friendly way to completely transform a room. Dark rooms included. And since not all spaces have the privilege of getting plenty of natural light, that’s where you need to get creative. While you may think the answer is obvious: a dark room needs white paint. However, that’s not necessarily true. Contrary to popular belief the best paint colors for darker rooms don’t all need to be a variation of white. Plus, if used incorrectly, white can give off a sanitary feeling and make a space feel bland. So, if you want to bring some brightness into your dark space and make it feel airy, check out these much more appropriate paint colors for dark rooms.

Paint is a budget-friendly way to completely transform a room

light green room with plants

Best Paint Colors For Dark Rooms

While adding a window to a room to make it brighter is an option, it’s usually too much of a hassle, quite expensive, and depending on the space – not even possible. That’s where paint comes into place. A few coats of the right paint can help lighten up any dim space. Depending on what aesthetic you are going for and the room, you can choose a lighter palette to add some airiness or a darker color to create some drama. That’s really up to you. But we will show you some of the best paint colors to choose from when designing your dark room.

A few coats of the right paint can help lighten up any dim space

paint colors for dark rooms yellow painted wall

#Light Pink

Light pink is a great choice for a small, dark room. This is because pink paint usually have a natural warmth to them thanks to their underlying red undertones. So, in a room that is dark and has a cool vibe to it, a nice pink can easily bring some warmth. This will result in the room feeling brighter, cozier and more playful. The little light that is in the room will easily reflect off the pink and make it stand out.

Light pink is a great choice for a small, dark room

light pink bedroom

#Brown

A color that may seem way too dark to add to an already dark room. Brown is an underappreciated color. You can use it for dimly-lit rooms without a problem. You just need to find a brown that has the right undertones. For example, a brown with yellow undertones will brighten up the room. A brown with dark undertones, will just make the room seem darker. So, pay attention to the colors undertones, as they are the real hidden heroes.

You just need to find a brown that has the right undertones

brown living room with couch

@Interior By Nina

#Pastel Yellow

What a happy color! If your space doesn’t have a lot of natural light coming in, considering such a color is a great way to help boost the room’s brightness. Dark rooms tend to have a cooler, depressing feeling about them. So, a great way to battle this vibe is with colors like soft yellow that brighten and bring a sense of happiness. Get a warm yellow, one that isn’t too bright as bright yellow can be overwhelming, especially if the room is smaller.

Colors like soft yellow that brighten and bring a sense of happiness to any room

pastel yellow bedroom with big bed

#Deep Purple

Oh, such a cozy color. A good, deep purple will give a rich and luxurious feel to any small, dim space. It will take away all the feeling of darkness and coldness and replace them with coziness thanks to the underlying red tones, that bring warmth. It is a color with great balance between the cold and warm tones. A deep purple is a great choice for a darker room and works really well when paired with furniture of natural tones. However, keep in mind that purple can change quite drastically depending on the lighting, so make sure to always sampling it before applying it everywhere.

A good, deep purple will give a rich and luxurious feel to any small, dim space

paint colors for dark rooms deep purple bathroom

@Farrow and Ball

#Gray

While gray may not seem like a the best choice for a dark room, it actually is. A nice, rich dark gray or a light gray can both give a small, dark room the feeling of depth and airiness. A darker gray will create a more sophisticated feel and a moody vibe. While a lighter gray with bright undertones can bring a cozy feeling and a brighter vibe to the space. You can create a beautiful monochromatic design with grays or mix with other colors.

A darker gray will create a more sophisticated feel and a moody vibe

light gray living room

@Nina Magon

#Light Blue

Using a light blue color with a grayish hue and bright undertones can really help out a dark room. Thanks to the light undertones, such a color will help the light bounce off and give off the impression that the room is brighter. A beautiful, calming color that is a neutral. Thanks to said neutrality this paint can go in pretty much any room without clashing with any other design elements in the room.

Using a light blue color with a grayish hue and bright undertones can really help out a dark room

light blue dining room

@Jzhuk/Getty

#Plum

Rooms that are north-facing and have minimal natural light coming in should stay away from plain, white paint. In such spaces, designers recommend using paint colors that are stronger and embrace the dim space. A great option to create some drama in your dark space, as well as intimacy is by using a nice, deep plum color. A moody color that can create a cozy vibe when paired with the right furniture.

Designers recommend using paint colors that are stronger and embrace the dim space

dark plum color living room

#Green

Oh, green is such a versatile shade. This color has a positive effect on pretty much any room, dark or not. Specific shades of green, such as sage, can really help make a room feel more connected with nature and make it feel bigger and brighter. It’s great at creating cozy atmospheres and calming vibes. Which is exactly what we are looking to create in a dark, and otherwise cold room. You can choose from a variety of greens. Sage and mints give off a positive and soft vibe, whereas forest and dark greens can help give depth.

This color has a positive effect on pretty much any room, dark or not

sage green bedroom with green bed

@Studio Ashby

#White

If you are a fan of the classics, white is still a great color. While it can seem mundane and sterile if used wrong, it can do a great job at brightening up a room. Search for different hues of white that fit in with your aesthetic and make sure to bring personality to the room with the furniture and decoration, as for the room to not look sterile. Such bright colors help to contrast the darkness created by lack of incoming light.

Search for different hues of white that fit in with your aesthetic

paint colors for dark rooms white room with white couch

These were some of the best choice when it comes to paint colors for dark rooms. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can choose your favorite of these colors and start painting!

These were some of the best choice when it comes to paint colors for dark rooms

light gray painted living room

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