With short days, rainy afternoons and windy nights, January is pretty moody. Not that I mind – it’s a great time of year to dust off the sweater collection, light a candle and curl up on the couch with a hot cut of tea. This time of year, my Pinterest is full of moody spaces in deep colours – perfect for relaxing!
Need inspiration for creating your own cozy corner? Below I’ve put together some of my favourite spaces. To see more of these amazing rooms click on the images for sources and don’t forget to scroll to the bottom for my go-to dramatic Benjamin Moore wall colours and tips for painting with these rich shades.
First, who says you can’t use a dark colour in a small space? The bathroom is a great room to experiment with colour – it won’t take you long to paint so the gratification is pretty instant and you can have a lot of fun with accessories like towels, shower curtains and bathmats. I love this simple black and white colour scheme from Happily Ever After.
A couple of years ago on a trip to New York City I stayed at the Refinery Hotel. The room had the most amazing bathroom with gold toned hardware paired with a black and white colour scheme. I love how the warm metal fixtures and accessories glam up this similar bathroom that popped up on my Pinterest.
Who wouldn’t want to sit down to a meal in this dining room? Dark walls and chairs are cheered up with a colourful rug and a brass chandelier.
What happens when you paint the walls, cabinets and ceiling in the same deep-almost-black blue? MAGIC! I have long been in love with deVol kitchens and this one is one of my favourites. Wood beams and butcher block counters add warmth and a light stone floor keeps the space from feeling too dark.
Here’s a similar colour scheme but with cleaner lines. Here a white ceiling, window frame and counter are used for contrast and wood floors again add warmth.
Come on in! I love the deep teal used on the walls, ceiling and doors in this entry. Again, wood adds warmth and light floors keep the room from feeling too cramped.
I love sleep (and stormy nights) so the bedroom is one of my favourite rooms in the house. The deep navy walls give a relaxing background, with a grey headboard, white sheets, and leather stools completing a manly but cozy space.
Doesn’t the wall colour in this bedroom remind you of a deep ocean? Crisp white sheets, touches of navy and grey, a brass light fixture and a natural rug keep the space feeling cheerful and chic.
Love these rooms as much as I do? Here are five of my favourite moody Benjamin Moore paint colours.
Decided to use one of these colours at home? Here are some painting tips. First, keep in mind that darker shades will require more than one coat for full coverage, especially if you’re painting over a lighter wall colour so plan your supplies accordingly (TIP – a high quality paint like Benjamin Moore Aura may be more expensive but it will cover better in less coats). One gallon of paint covers around four hundred square feet but you may need a couple of cans to finish the job.
When using a dark colour, stick with a flat or matte paint sheen. The higher the shine and the darker the colour the more you will notice imperfections in the walls – especially stone or plaster that has been patched (hey, nobody’s perfect).
Don’t panic! A couple of years ago I painted our home office walls black and after the first couple of passes with the roller I won’t lie – I was afraid I had made a huge mistake. After the room was finished, though, it because one of my favourite rooms in the house. Reserve judgement of your space until all the walls are painted and the room is put back together – not when it’s half way done.
Would you be brave enough to use of these dark colours at home? Leave me a comment below!
Need a little help picking the right paint color for your space? See how my virtual color consulting service can help. Click here to learn more.