Dark Colors for interior

Denim, navy, purple and charcoal are all ‘saturated’ shades, that is, colors which have been darkened by the addition of back or grey. At the deepest end of the scale, the colors become practically black themselves.

When the amount of added black is reduced, the color range brightens. Navy is transformed into royal blue, purple lightens to violet or mauve, while charcoal pales to mist grey or silver.

Grey is a current favorite and its popularity has ensured that a variety of shades is available from mist to charcoal grey, which is a strong favorite for carpets and furnishings. 

In theory, grey is the only true neutral as it contains only black and white, but in decorating you’ll find shades which have definite tinge of pink, green, blue or beige. Grey works well with yellow and red, but for a subtler look team it with honey or blue, or opt for a sophisticated scheme of grey, buttermilk and beige.

Dark blue has been a popular color for decorating ever since the ancient Britons covered themselves in woad. Modern Britons are equally attached to dark blues in their wardrobes. Denim blue is a color for work-wear that’s found the world over, thanks to the hardy indigo plant.

Though navy and related shades have always been popular for clothes, they are rarely used in the home, almost exclusively restricted to the front door. Yet navy and royal blues contrast beautifully with peach, they look smart with beige and honey, and with red they’re absolutely unbeatable.

Purple is a demanding color that’s either in or out of vogue – the last time it was popular in home decoration was the early Seventies when a purple carpet was the last word. If the use of dark blue in the home is limited, purple is even more elusive.

Full strength it can certainly be overpowering, but don’t overlook the appeal of violet-blue and lilac. As purple is made from equal parts of red and blue, the colors derived from it veer towards one or the other so color matching can be difficult.

If a room scheme includes a fabric which mingles violet with mauve, then both of those shades can be used. A plain lilac, however, is best combined with contrasting colors like primrose and green or a more closely related color such as pink, or even just white; matching tones of the same color is much trickier. 

Decorating Dark room

Artificial light is especially important in dark rooms. Choose fittings which cast pools of light to illuminate specific areas because general lighting will only make the room seem gloomy. Consider using lights with tungsten halogen lamps which cast a dramatically bright light.

In most dark rooms it’s usual to try increase the amount of light by using pale colors to reflect it, you might, consider using dark colors to create atmosphere in rooms more frequently lit by artificial light, like the dining room and bedroom.

Don’t overlook the potential of dark shades for paintwork in place of white or pastels; reversing the normal arrangement of deep walls and light paintwork gives an impact that’s especially suited to modern settings. 

Capitalize on a room that is naturally gloomy and go for a dark, dramatic décor. But don’t forget that somber colors absorb the light, so it’s best to reserve these schemes for rooms you relax in rather than those where good illumination is required for reading or work.

Don’t interrupt a dark wall with contrasting doors or moldings. Paint them to match the color of the wall and keep to shades of equal depth for carpets, flooring and fitted furniture to create an impression of space.

Pink fits to warm the room

Pink has a welcoming warmth in the home and it’s not a demanding shade like the red though it’s related.

Pink is more usually associated with feminine color schemes but its potential is too great to restrict to the boudoii. Pink is not just for bedrooms and bathrooms.

Its use is more general than you may realize: pink makes an appearance in magnolia (the second most popular paint shade after white), in fawn, and in some shades of peach and apricot.

Let it come out of the closet and into the hall, the living room or the kitchen – pink is too versatile a color to be shut away upstairs.

The natural contrast to pink is green and not blue (although it does have a close affinity to green; the two are ideal companions in many color schemes. We can see in the lawn, the pink flowers with green leaves.

Other popular partners of pink are lilac, yellow, and the neutrals brown and grey. As pinks vary from those with a blue tinge to those with yellow, it’s important to choose co-ordinates which have a similar emphasis unless you have an expert eye for color.   

Decorating with pink

Rose has several names, according to its level of darkness, like baby’s breath, clover or blush, candyfloss, cerise or raspberry. It may also be peach (rose-peach), brown (rose-beige) or cream (magnolia). 

The benefit for us, a pink can suit every style of décor and taste. Because there‘s always a pink that’s right for every room: 

Rose peach warms up a chilly living room, rose-beige looks distinctive in the hall, and cranberry makes a dramatic dining room. 

A bright pink surprisingly successful  in the kitchen because it can offset the formality of wood or laminate units. And  the palest like blossom pink are the classic choice for the bedrooms.

There’s a wealth of paler tones to choose from – perfect backgrounds to sett off furnishings, fabrics and other details in the deeper pinks.

If shocking pink ceilings or carnation walls are not for you, choose a subtle shade of pink with a touch of beige for maximum versatility in living rooms and halls.

Pick up the pink in furnishing such as bedlinen, curtains, cushions and rugs.

Reserve shocking pink and cerise for accessories, or use them to create impact in rooms like the cloakroom where you don’t linger for long.

Decorating with whites

Sometimes we don't know what to do to have a classic and elegant room. Just using the white color can make the room lack of warmth and its elegant. It is the time to use the range of whites. And don't forget to add other elements into the room, but with the blending of the colors : white.

Texture is important in one-color schemes. Where a room lacks color contrast, just add rugs and fabrics to impart warmth. Gloss-painted floorboards and furniture will reflect the light to provide extra interest.


Paintwork should be part of the color scheme. Use a white which relates to the walls when painting the woodwork and radiators.


Ceilings are often best painted in a pale color to reflect the light, but don't use pure brilliant white. A soft white which tones with the walls prevents a harsh contrast, while pastel shades will subtly offset mouldings and decorations which are painted white. The ceiling is kept white to reflect the maximum amount of the white.


White and ivory make a really effective in the bathroom. White is often used to match bathroom ware, but it can cast a chill where light is limited. Ivory is to add warmth.


Similar shades used for walls and carpet create a most restful setting in the living room. The walls are painted silver grey to picture-rail level to offset the display of paintings, while the French door is stained to match the green-gold shade of the sofa. The ceiling is kept white to reflect the maximum amount of the white. 

The range of soft, natural white

The colors of the rainbow will mute into some soft, natural whites by adding high concentration of white.

The basic red, orange, yellow, green and blue become pink, apricot, primrose, apple and sky blue. While neutrals like brown and grey brighten into cream or beige and silver or mist grey.

Warmer whites contain a little pink (magnolia) or yellow (buttermilk) while cool pastels such as celadon (grey-green) and azure blue are created with a touch of grey.

Softer than white, paler than pastels – the natural whites contain just a hint of color to make the most light and space. The most important, they’re easy to live with, and make ideal partners for any color scheme.

The easiest way to use them is to create a room based around one color, blending range of tones so that they merge into each other.

Keep the shades of the same color and the scheme will be sure success; match rose-white walls with a raspberry carpet – or vice versa – and add lace, chintz or candy – striped curtains.

For a more emphatic statement, look at the pastels which are one degree darker than natural white. Consider some of the cooler tones which are especially suitable for modern or formal settings – and don’t forget the classics like cream, magnolia, mist grey and pure brilliant white. 

When coloring a room

To choose which the best color for your rooms, you have to pay attention to the size of room and the location of the room. Because the effect of the colors will be different from one room to one room, though using with the same color. 

Small, dark rooms need the enlarging qualities by using  the palest natural whites. Avoid brilliant white, because it  takes on a tinge of grey where light is limited.

Cold rooms usually these rooms face north or east. They will look warmer with a tint of rose, primrose or apricot. Rose-peach on the walls will transform the light into a warm and welcoming glow, complementing perfectly the cream upholstery and the beige carpet.  

Sunny rooms usually face south or west. They will look fresh with   a hint of apple or lavender.

Primary colors require a cool contrast. You can pick brilliant white or pale grey.

Neutral schemes need toning whites. If the scheme is cool, use brilliant white, apple white or grey. If it contains warmer shades like beige or honey, opt for apricot or barley white, buttermilk or magnolia.