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22 Jun 14

Decorating on the dark side

graham aitkin hughes pic

Something got me in the mood to talk about decorating with dark colours. Time for me to get on my soap box but personally I think we’ve all become a little obsessed with creating bright and light living spaces and I think it’s worth considering how decorating can effect the mood of a room, not just the sense of light and space. White is associated with peace and purity but in my opinion can leave a room feeling harsh and chilly.

grey velvet sofa

I love the feeling of being enveloped by a room with dramatic dark walls. My bedroom is painted rich dark, sexy ‘Pelt‘ by Farrow and Ball. I chose to go dark in the bedroom because it’s a room I use at night (obviously!) so with light supplied by wall sconces it feel luxurious and cosy. In the morning the light bursts through the south facing windows, so it feels just as great to wake up in too.

I love dark painted walls for the drama, they feel moody, sophisticated, glamorous and often a little edgy. Never has it been more hip to go dark. But I appreciated it takes a big leap of faith and a lot of coats of paint if you change your mind, so here are a few tips to getting it right…

dark rooms

Contrary to popular opinion, dark painted walls can make your room feel bigger as they receed away from the eye. This is especially true if you choose a cool shade so opt for deep shades of grey, blue, green or purple if you don’t want the walls coming in on you.

Suzy Hoodless kensington town house

Suzy Hoodless kensington town house

Go for it everywhere! Oh yes, by that I mean ALL FOUR WALLS! The effect will seem timid and disjointed if only used on one wall, we’re going for maximum impact here. I like the idea of painting the skirting doors and architraves into the same wall colour as by blending in these details creates a more contemporary look. Be aware that if you are going to pick your woodwork in a lighter colour like white, they need to look pucker as they’ll really shout out in the scheme. If you’ve got rather ordinary off the shelf woodwork, blend away as you’ll only be drawing the eye to them. That goes for radiators too.

Punt sideboard by Nest.co.uk

Punt sideboard by Nest.co.uk

Dark painted rooms need to be jazzed up with contrasting light. So break up they walls with a collection of framed prints, colourful paintings or mirrors. A light floor will also bounce up the light.

47parkavenue.co.uk

Darkly decorated rooms come into their own at night, so you need to really consider the lighting. Avoid blanching it out with unsubtle overhead lighting and go or lots of lamps, walls lights and back lighting in cabinets and shelving. And by lots I mean lots and lots, and always with a dimmer switch!

Abigail Aherns Bedroom

Abigail Aherns Bedroom

Use a bright highlight. A punch of a bright colour, be it neon pink, citrus yellow, turquoise, lime or poppy red will really perk up an otherwise sombre colour scheme. A couple of cushions, a vase, a painting or big bunch of flowers will do the job.

Abigial Ahern by design sponge

Abigial Aherns home by design sponge

Paint the ceiling a softer shade. A brilliant white ceiling can look too stark so consider a soft light grey or stone colour. If you’re going for all out impact then paint the ceiling dark too.

A dark painted room is a great way to then highlight and pick out lovely architectural features, like an original sash window, cornice or an ornate fireplace all painted in a crisp white so you really pick them out against the dark colour.

Living room of home of photograher Graham Aitkin hughes

Living room of home of photographer Graham Aitkin-Hughes

Dark coloured walls love a bit if bling so add some metallic accessories, metal light fittings and mirrors for an air of elegance.

Bathroom at Holly-house.com

www.hollys-house.com

 

I got this great tip off Daniel Hopwood. If you paint your thoroughfares like hallway, corridors and landings dark, you’ll get a real heightened sense of brightness when you walk into a room decorated in light colours.

For more inspiration on creating this look, check out the blog of renowned interior designer Abigail Ahern who has this style of decorating tapped.

 

 

 

 

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Before and after! This room took me on a real jour Before and after! This room took me on a real journey.
At first, I thought I needed a calm, blank space to focus… so I painted it all white. I know - can you believe it?! I told myself it was for clarity and creativity, but the truth is, I hated it. I felt flat and totally uninspired.

So, I ripped up the rulebook and went back to what I know works for me: bold colour and big pattern. I painted the whole space in my favourite cobalt blue (Lazuli by @zoffanyfw) and installed the ‘In the Woods’ mural from my @Harlequinfw collection - and now it’s everything I wanted and more.

I feel creative, energised, and completely connected to the beautiful garden just outside the window. A daily reminder to trust your instincts, feel from your gut and be brave. 

#OfficeGoals #CreativeWorkspace #BoldInteriors #BeforeAndAfter #SophieRobinsonStyle 
#CobaltBlue #HarlequinWallpaper #ColourLovers #InteriorDesignUK #InTheWoodsMural 
#DesignForJoy #MoreIsMore
A masterclass in maximalism! 🌈✨ It was such A masterclass in maximalism! 🌈✨

It was such an honour to guest judge the Interior Design Masters final alongside the fabulous @michelleogundehin and wow, what a finale it was!

The setting? The magical village of Portmeirion.
The challenge? Transform a bland holiday cottage.
The winner? The brilliant @john_cooper_design and what a winning design it was! 

John’s scheme was a glorious celebration of colour and perfect  storytelling. I loved how  he used bold Mediterranean hues and motifs from room to room which cleverly held this maximalist vision together. It felt like being whisked away to a land far far away. And thereby perfectly capturing the spirit of Portmerion. Honestly, it felt magical to be there!

I’ve unpacked all Johns clever ideas and design takeaways over on the blog (link in bio) — but I’d LOVE to hear what you thought.

Was John your winner?
What design moment caught your eye?
Could you stay in a house like this?

Tell me in the comments 👇

#interiordesignmasters #maximalistinteriors #maximalistdecor #portmerion #colourlover #banthebeige
Longing for a life-changing escape? You’re not a Longing for a life-changing escape?
You’re not alone. Our next Discover Colour Retreat at @elfennmarrakech just sold out in just a few hours, snapped up by our incredible subscriber community who said yes to more colour, creativity, and the trip of a lifetime. 💫

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Ready to create a home that feels unapologetically Ready to create a home that feels unapologetically YOU?

For me it’s about bold joyful colour, striking pattern, and those magical touches that light you up every time you walk through the door. This isn’t about playing it safe, it’s about crafting a home that celebrates the uniqueness of who you are and how you want to feel. 

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EXCLUSIVE Live with the WINNER of @interiordesignm EXCLUSIVE Live with the WINNER of @interiordesignmasters ! 

Thankyou @john_cooper_design for a beautiful LIVE taking a deeper look into your amazing experience being on the this most loved show. We all loved watching you grow and develop as a designer and your collection with @johnlewis is an absolute triumph! Cannot wait to see what you do next 🙌
All the Finale feels ✨ What a joy was filming t All the Finale feels ✨
What a joy was filming this series of @interiordesignmasters with @michelleogundehin , @chattyman , not mention this year’s insanely talented finalists @john_cooper_design 💙 @ritamillat ❤️ There is a lot of love and positive energy that goes into making this show.

And it doesn’t end here…

TONIGHT at 7pm I’ll be going LIVE right here on Instagram with this year’s winner… SPOLER ALERT….

@john_cooper_design 
I cannot wait to chat all the behind-the-scenes design insights, and what it really takes to win Interior Design Masters. What a smashing journey John has been on. Wow his final design blew me away, it’s was soo well executed and his vision was perfectly in step with the flamboyant eccentricity of Portmerion. Top marks! 

Come join us and ask your questions during this exciting Live event or come back later and watch the replay! 👀

Missed the show? Catch  up with @bbcone  Interior Design Masters on @bbciplayer 

#InteriorDesignMasters #IDMFinal #DesignShow #BehindTheScenes #InteriorDesignUK
Beware of listening to the ‘experts’! I get i Beware of listening to the ‘experts’!
I get it though, designing a house is hard, especially if your taste leans towards the 
maximalist style. There is every chance you’ll feel overwhelmed or stressed about getting it wrong with the end result one hot mess. However here are some of those common ‘design rules’ that I absolutely disagree with! Would love to know your thoughts in the comments below!

If you’re ready to stop playing it safe and fully embrace creating a home that truly reflects you, my specially designed online course has everything you need to keep you falling into any more traps. I’ll guide you through uncovering your unique style, choosing colours with confidence, and mixing patterns like a pro, all while making it feel beautifully cohesive and creative. And the best bit? It’s 25% off until the end of May! That’s right, just a few days left to pick up a massive discount.

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Ready to step into your best life? Start with the Ready to step into your best life? Start with the place that holds it all. Your home.

I’ve always believed that a joyful, soul-filled home isn’t just a reflection of who you are… it’s a catalyst for who you want to become. When you’re surrounded by colours that lift you, patterns that energise you, and decor that tells to your story, something magical happens.

You feel confident, calmer. More you.

And if you’re ready to design a home that feels like you, my brilliant online course is here to help.

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Because great design isn’t just about how it looks — it’s how it makes you feel.

And that feeling? It ripples out into every part of your life. 💛🌟

#FeelGoodDesign #JoyfulHomes #MaximalistInteriors #ColourConfidence #InteriorInspo #DesignWithSoul #SophieRobinsonInteriors
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