Pretty sure you have heard many times by now by watching HGTV and all the hyped up do it yourself decorating shows "In a small space paint all the walls white to make the room appear bigger." It makes sense right? The white walls reflect the most light and makes it feel like a bigger space. Although it is an easy and versatile base, it can very, very static and uninteresting as it doesn't change. There are no subtleties in its hue because it will reflect all the colors at once.
So, this is where the idea of using a dark shade gets very interesting... as the light changes in a room throughout the day, so does a dark wall color. Including black! Yep, even black can have cool or warm undertones! This causes the dark color on the wall to give that small space depth. I like depth in a person, and in a room...
The main purpose of a fresh white coat of paint in a small room may be to make the room appear larger, but the fact is that a dark color can do the same thing (and add depth) just in a different way. Instead of reflecting more light, it reflects less...and though this difference may seem misleading, the depth of its color and shadows. The fact that it’s not so clearly defined by the light, blurs the edges of the room. By absorbing the light, the walls of the room are less clearly marked and can give an illusion of a larger space.
NOW the ceiling is a whole different story...lol White paint makes ceilings appear higher and brighter than they actually are.
In conclusion after reading this would you now consider painting your walls a dark shade? Had you considered it before reading this article?
If you are considering a dark color, do you prefer the rich colors or modern monochrome?
Remember life is more fun, when it is Beautifully Done! ~ Trish