Furniture in dark colors: pros and cons, 5 selection rules

29.11.2019

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Light colors of furniture in the living room visually expand the space, making it larger and lighter, and often this becomes the decisive argument in choosing a design. Dark furniture requires a special approach, but with it, the design of the living room can become interesting. For example, in cases where:

  • priority is given to presentability and solidity of the interior;
  • optimal conditions for intellectual work are important;
  • the setting is designed to create an intimate atmosphere.

Dark colors will be relevant if the living room windows face a highway with busy traffic. This option will calm you down and create a kind of protection from a too noisy and bright environment.

Living room Isotta

Harmonizing colors with dark furniture

There are a lot of options for combining shades. Dark furniture harmonizes with white and very light tones, as well as bright shades. You can decorate the entire interior in dark tones, but you should take care of high-quality lighting and give preference to glossy, mirror and glass surfaces. In this case, the house will look extremely stylish, and will not create the impression of a “crypt”.


Light walls visually expand the enclosed space; against their background, the furniture looks more solid and more expensive.

You can combine dark furniture:

  • with natural textures;
  • neutral or light finish;
  • bright spots in the form of textiles, accessories, decor.

Black pens

This element is worth talking about separately. Black handles are an elegant element of furniture. Used as an accent on light cabinets, it is the highlight of the overall look of the room. Used in kitchen sets and bedroom chests of drawers.

Can also be used on bright furniture. Also in combination with colored pens.

Correct lighting in the room

The design of any room with dark furniture cannot be completed without proper lighting arrangement. It is worth considering that large objects absorb natural light, so you need to create as many artificial lighting points as possible.


An interior enhanced by the contrast of dark furniture with light pastel walls will be especially elegant, sophisticated and at the same time laconic and light.

The optimal scheme would be:

  • 1-2 main light sources (depending on the size of the room);
  • spotlights above the work areas, along the perimeter of the room;
  • individual light sources (floor lamps, sconces) in recreation areas.


The more different lamps there are in the room, the more possibilities there are for adjusting the lighting level.


The floor covering, made in light colors, has a refreshing effect on the atmosphere.

Important! Use reflective surfaces in the interior to visually increase space and compensate for dark shades of furniture.


You should opt for the wooden texture of the floors in natural colors.

Air conditioner

in the living room

Do you remember the important rule? Avoid drafts that could harm people sitting on the sofa. It is best to position yourself away from the window, away from the cold air of the air conditioner. Remember how your colleague was on sick leave for a week. He just wanted to cool down, but ended up with a cold in his neck. In general, think about whether you need air conditioning at home? You will have to pay money for it, especially for installation. Are you ready to shell out money for comfort? Then take the designer's advice. The interior of the apartment will not be damaged by the installation of equipment.


Air conditioner indoor unit

- It’s better to hide it somewhere far away. Any ideas? Just paint the wall white. Use the chameleon principle. Designers have been practicing it for a long time.

Let's look at how you can install an air conditioner so that no one gets blown out.

1. This location of the air conditioner is considered the most ideal. Just look how well the indoor unit fits above the door. The only thing is that you will have to pay more money for installation.

2. Do you consider yourself a thrifty owner? We have a great option for you. You don't have to bother with the strobe if you hang the air conditioner next to the window. Particularly enterprising people hang it under the curtains. Curtains will cover the equipment during the daytime.

3. The worst placement of the indoor unit. Is it possible to sit on the sofa with cold air blowing on you?

White room design with dark furniture

One of the classic combinations is interior design in black and white. If the walls and ceiling are decorated with light materials, dark furniture will look contrasting. It is very important to carefully choose the design of interior items, as attention will be focused on them.


The contrasting floor seems to “lift” the furniture from the ground, adding airiness to the surrounding environment.

It is also necessary to combine glossy and matte textures in the design of the room. They shouldn't conflict. We must not forget about bright spots: these can be photo frames on the walls, small textile objects (pillows, blankets), accessories. Be sure to dilute the monochrome palette with colored accents.


It is best to do without curtains at all; the room should be illuminated by sunlight unhindered during the daytime.

Harmonious color combinations

If the furniture modules in the living room are made of natural wood, and the interior is dominated by dark brown and black colors, the addition of warm beige and sand shades is appropriate. An interesting solution is a few bright contrasting additions. For example, to match the dark purple color of the upholstery of sofas and armchairs, there is a crimson and blue decorative insert. The decor can be not only bright, but also white. An interesting solution, for example, would be to dilute the modules of a dark set with white poufs or an armchair with rounded kennels.

Contrasting combinations are in great demand. At the peak of sales today are sets that combine light and dark colors in one module: cabinet doors, shelves, upholstery elements. The combination of wenge and alder has become classic, harmoniously fitting into the modern design of the living room, and giving the space lightness and charm. But to create a harmonious composition you need to choose the right texture. It may not be noticeable, or it must be the same in each headset module.

The accent in the interior of a living room with dark-colored furniture can be bright or stark white decor, provided that such an accent is the only one in the entire room. Sometimes it is enough to cover the sofa with a white cover, and the living room will sparkle with new colors.

A dark-colored set can be diluted with one light module, for example, a white chair in a modern, geometrically correct style. With massive black sofas, it will become a bright point that sets balance.

Decorating a room with dark furniture

In addition to the contrasting black and white option, you can decorate a room with dark furniture in rich or deep colors.


In addition to maximum natural light, rooms furnished with black, brown, gray, brown furniture require a special artificial lighting system.

Wall canvases

A variety of finishing options are suitable. The materials are not of fundamental importance. Color and accents are much more important. What wall decoration is suitable for a room with dark furniture:

  • wallpaper with heraldic patterns, with a gold or bronze sheen;
  • plain light wallpaper or material with linear patterns;
  • bright walls finished with textured plaster, liquid or roll wallpaper;
  • slabs made of natural or artificial stone - it can be dark, to match the furniture or neutral; it is better to combine slabs with light wallpaper;
  • photo wallpaper, 3D panels using bright or pastel colors.


Combined wall finishes are interesting, for example, a combination of bare brick and plaster.


The overhead light is combined with spot lighting of the depth of shelves, corners, especially darkened areas.

Floor and its covering

The floor can be made in the same color as the furniture. In this case, the wall decoration should be quite bright, since light colors will create too sharp a transition: the walls will stand out from the overall interior design. In this case, tiles with a glossy finish or laminate would be appropriate.


A reasonable approach to choosing the colors of surrounding objects can reduce the gloominess of dark furniture sets to zero.

If a black and white design scheme is chosen, then the floor should be finished with the lightest, matte finish possible.


The diluting colors can be creamy, creamy - the whole beige range along with snow-white.

Harmony in color

Dark furniture can have a warm or light undertone. The entire interior should be decorated in the same color scheme: a blue-black cabinet looks rather ridiculous against the background of light beige walls, and vice versa, “warm” chocolate-colored furniture will stand out against the background of “cold” wall decoration.


A combination of light walls and dark furniture in strict colors is the basis on which an interior with dark furniture of any style is built.

How to add a bright accent?

To add a bright accent to the design of a bedroom with brown furniture or other shades, just choose a few accessories.


They can be large and voluminous vases of fancy shapes and bright colors that stand out against the general background.

Author's sculptures made of ceramics, varnished, paintings from contemporary artists will accent the interior in the minimalist or modern style.


Paintings are the easiest and most versatile way to add the finishing touches to your interior.

Add more rugs, solid colors and natural fabrics. But you can limit yourself to ordinary Persian ones. Animal skin will look great if you choose the Baroque style.


Carpets made from natural hide will create comfort and atmosphere.

Photos of 50 interior design options with dark furniture

Pros and cons

Let's start by weighing all the pros and cons of such a design solution.

pros

  • The dark background ennobles. Finishing materials look more expensive, interior details look more interesting. If you love light-colored furniture, it is the thick color of the walls that will highlight it best.
  • It's practical. Snow-white or cream surfaces will lose their original freshness over time, and stains will be visible on them. The dark coating retains its presentation longer.
  • This design tells a story. Unlike the universal light finish that most people choose, and developers offer in turnkey apartments, it will say a lot about the owner. Black, gray or bright surfaces are a non-trivial solution that shows your individuality and speaks of a thoughtful choice.
  • Versatility. Black, gray and neutral brown go well with any colors: light and dark, cold and warm.

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Minuses

  • A rich finish visually narrows the space and eats up part of the room’s volume. This is true - but at the same time it adds depth and expressiveness to the interior. So it all depends on the shade, other elements and the right lighting. You can also not paint all four walls black, but make one accent wall.
  • This design is not suitable for those who need a lot of air and light in their lives. This shortage will be felt especially strongly in autumn and winter, when there is practically no sun in our latitudes, and energy is already at zero. But if you like cozy, den-like rooms, this option is for you.
  • Black, gray or dark blue walls are thought to cause claustrophobia. This, of course, is an exaggeration, but there is some truth in it: if you do not like confined spaces, it is better to avoid such decoration.

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