We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Clever ways to introduce dark colours into your bedroom.
As much attention as we give to colourful living spaces, and the ability of bright shades to invigorate and bring joy, nothing can beat the cocooning aspects of dark colours in a bedroom. Inky blues and forest greens are relatively easy to integrate into a design scheme, but dramatic blacks and deep reds or terracottas take a bit more consideration.
'If you are keen to truly embrace the cocooning nature of dark colours, why not opt for a dark hotel-style bedroom?' says Amy Wilson, interior designer for 247 Curtains. 'To create maximum cocoon vibes, use black paint on all walls with soft brass wall lights and some crisp white bedding. Hang a pair of heavy floor length black curtains for a truly dramatic space.'
We've looked at some of our favourite bedroom retailers, from John Lewis & Partners to Dreams, to find the best examples of dark bedrooms, plus the furniture, accessories, and wall coverings you can use to create your own...
Dark bedrooms needn't be devoid of colour, quite the opposite in fact. Cooler tones tend to be a more manageable route for darker bedrooms – deep blues and greens are an easy base, and any colours you use alongside will really stand out.
Pictured: Hypnos Bespoke Finesse Platform Top Divan Set at Furniture Village
You should exercise a little caution with four dark walls in a bedroom – dark colours naturally absorb light and there is potential for your space to become drab. An interesting feature wall is one way to counter this, especially if you try wallpaper with a slight sheen or metallic motif.
Pictured: Millefleur Knight Wallpaper, and Basalt Paint at Little Greene
Don't tone down natural light in order to better create a dark bedroom scheme. We would always recommend highlighting and framing the largest source of natural light in a bedroom – you need access to sunlight in the morning to wake you up effectively.
Pictured: House Beautiful Florence Bed at Dreams
This fabulous bedroom is a masterclass in using warm shades in a dark bedroom. Deep terracottas, mustards and reds can all work effectively, just keep your soft furnishings dark, and most importantly, lean into the more luxurious feel of dark bedrooms by choosing heavy velvets and iridescent metallics.
Take your design cues from this fabulous John Lewis bedroom and use dramatic jewel tones on your walls, furniture and soft furnishings. It goes without saying that any colour you use in a rich jewel-toned room will really pop.
Pictured: Boutique Upholstered Bed Frame at John Lewis & Partners
Black is a popular bedroom colour despite being fairly difficult to pull off. 'If you would like to use black in a smaller room, consider painting the woodwork – doors, architrave and skirting boards in black and leave the walls white for contrast,' says Amy. 'Don’t forget black will allow other colours to pop so play around with colourful prints and art or even a neon light for a truly dramatic finish.'
Pictured: Walls painted in Basalt at Little Greene
Dark bedrooms can be bold and dramatic, especially if you have a room with wall panelling or traditional features, but subtlety works too. Soft greys are your best friend if you like a dark space but are somewhat averse to using deep and saturated blues or greens.
Pattern can work wonderfully in a dark bedroom, just exercise caution with the breadth of your colour palette. Picking a patterned wallpaper or rug with a rainbow of different colours has the potential to jar with the rest of your room. We love the vintage, sepia-toned pattern on this Woodland Journal wallpaper from Dunelm.
Pictured: Woodland Journal Wallpaper at Dunelm
If you're looking for an impactful scheme, try an all-over colour, matching your walls, window dressing, and feature bedroom furniture. The light floor is an important design feature here – a dark floor wouldn't provide as much contrast and lessen the impact.
Pictured: House Beautiful Grove Bed at Dreams, and House Beautiful Gatsby Pleated Blinds at Hillarys
As this fabulous forest green bedroom proves, a brightening gallery wall won't detract from a dark bedroom. We love the addition of matching white mounts and frames for a bit of coherence – the more common use of different frames and eclectic styles in a gallery wall might not complement the more sophisticated side of a dark bedroom.
Pictured: Green gallery wall at Desenio
Some calling cards of Art Deco style includes rich colours, heavy fabrics, abundant pattern and lavish golds and brass accents, all of which can be relied upon in creating a dark bedroom.
Brown is often avoided in a dark bedroom in favour of more palatable tones like dark blues or greys, but you'd be hard pushed to find a warmer colour for your walls. It's a great choice if you have a lot of jewel-toned soft furnishings – especially in red or blue shades.
Pictured: Jaipur Magenta Throw at Christy
'I believe a touch of metallic is necessary in every space to add depth and a touch of decadence,' says Amy. 'Metallic finishes also reflect light so work brilliantly in a darker scheme. Black and metallic is a perfect pairing and anything from silver and pewter tones to aged brass and gold will look beautiful.'
Pictured: Vispring Elite Pocket Sprung Diva at Furniture Village
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram
8 hidden bedroom hayfever triggers
Striped bedding is the easy-to-live-with trend replacing plain white sheets
H&M's £25 marble shelf can replace bedside tables in tiny spaces
M&S’s huge sale includes up to 50% off bedding
