3 min readWhen it comes to two equally strong color palettes, you have two choices: light and airy or dark and moody. If you’re wondering which one is more stylish, the answer isn’t so cut and dry. After all, there’s a strong case to make for enlisting either palette, depending on the room. In order to get to the bottom of this heated design debate, we asked a few designers who, more often than not, lean very far on one end of the spectrum or the other.
Ahead, six pros plead their cases for both palettes, making some pretty legitimate points for each. If you’re in the midst of a color crisis and need some guidance, we have a feeling you’ll get your answer here. One thing we’ll say before we get into it: Both palettes, light and dark, evoke a certain mood, and depending on how you’d like to feel when walking into a room in your home, you’ll know what’s best for your space by the end of this investigation, if you will.
A Case for Light and Airy
It’s hard to say anything negative about any room that’s flooded with pale, tranquil neutral hues, and we’re not the only ones who think that. Several designers with whom we chatted are in full agreement. One such expert is Ali Budd, who says, “I’ve always been drawn to light, airy interiors because they create an immediate sense of calm and openness, allowing natural light to move freely through a space.”
Light and airy spaces don’t just look good and allow for serenity; they’re also a strategic move in open-concept spaces. “We chose a light and airy look to make the open concept space feel bigger and more connected,” explains designer Maggie Clark. “With fewer walls, natural light and soft colors keep it from feeling overwhelming and help everything flow together with ease.” What’s more, with mostly neutral walls and floors, you have a bit more freedom to incorporate a pop of color.
A Case for Dark and Moody
Designer Lucy O’Brien, principal designer at Tartan & Toile, might not have anything against a pale and sunny space, but when it comes to one specific room in the house, she is almost always leaning towards dark and moody.
“For me, kitchens that are airy and light can feel sterile and cold and, against most people’s logic, will feel dated, faster,” she admits. “A kitchen in colors with moodier values creates a space with interest that is also timeless.” There’s something a bit unexpected about a kitchen that’s not all-white that makes it cool and fresh. Color, she explains, creates instant coziness—and since the kitchen is already a naturally cozy space, why not lean into that with a darker palette?
Kitchens aren’t the only spaces in which moodier palettes tend to thrive. Such color schemes also tend to ease the mood in rooms dedicated to relaxing, where excess stimulation from super bright shades just doesn’t cut it. Living rooms and lounges are prime for a darker, glossier palette. Just ask Marie Flanigan, who says, “I’ve always been drawn to interiors that carry a sense of depth and atmosphere, and this lounge leans into that beautifully.” She also adds that, in contrast to a dark room, a completely light one can “sometimes read a bit one-note, lacking the dimension that makes a space feel truly lived in over time.”
What’s so special about darker palettes in rooms meant to put your mind at ease is that cocooning feeling that envelopes you in a richness that lighter, brighter neutrals can’t really do. What’s more, Flanigan adds, “Moody spaces like this tend to age gracefully, developing character rather than feeling dated.”
So, Which One Wins?
It’s a simple question with a complicated answer. One is not particularly better than the other, but it really depends on what room you’re working in and how you want to feel while in it. If you’re completely redoing your kitchen and want to keep it classic, go lighter. Keep it feeling textured and dimensional by layering in various shades of a color you love. On the flip side, if you’re working within a cozy den or living space, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by darkening the palette.
