Dark Wallpaper or Wall Painting – Pros and Cons
Walls in dark colors have become a new trend in interior design. This was facilitated by the emergence of a large assortment of finishing materials for walls of a wide range of colors. First of all, light walls have long become a common solution, so designers increasingly prefer dark options. It looks stylish and unconventional.
If you are going to stick wallpaper or paint walls in dark colors, first check out the pros and cons of this choice.
Undoubtedly, both light and dark shades in the interior have their own advantages and disadvantages. Designers claim that using dark colors can produce the effect of luxury and prosperity. But it is very simple, not knowing all the nuances, not on purpose to create a depressing and uncomfortable atmosphere. Therefore, it is so important to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of this design.
Pros of dark walls in interior design
1. Create an advantageous contrast for light-colored furnishings and finishes
The dark surface is the perfect backdrop for bright and light textiles, furniture, and decor objects. Against this background, things that seem different at first glance are harmoniously combined. Thanks to this property, you can safely rearrange and experiment with decor. There are no color restrictions when choosing furniture. Dark walls are great with both bright and calmer colors. But it is important to remember that furniture in dark shades will seem less noticeable against the dark background of the walls.
2. Dark walls combine well with many materials
Especially impressively dark walls are combined with aged stone, smooth marble, rough granite, and basalt with a bluish tint. This saturates the room with luxury and high cost. Shades of gray look harmonious in combination with steel surfaces of household appliances and chrome accessories. Parquet, wooden furniture, and other wood products also look good against the background of dark walls.
3. Dark walls are more practical
Dark wallpapers are not easily soiled. Smudges and minor scratches are less visible on them. This property will be useful in the interior of the kitchen. Recently, slate paint has been very popular. It has a blackboard-like structure. This paint can be used to decorate the wall of a children’s room. Children can paint on such a wall without spoiling its appearance. Also, slate paint looks stylish in the kitchen and living room.
4. Dark tones will hide minor wall defects
Using dark paint in the interior is enough just to hide insignificant wall defects. This will make bumps and imperfections less noticeable. Against the background of dark walls, interior items look more voluminous and saturated, so all the attention will be on them.
5. Using dark walls, you can zone the space of the room
Dark colors can be used as an accent on one of the walls. Thus, you can zone the room. This feature is especially useful for those who rest and work in the same room. It is worth decorating the wall with dark tones, which will mark the recreation area. It is also advisable to use a dark wall to zone the kitchen space, dividing it into a dining and work area.
6. Dark walls are great for embodying fashionable and functional interior styles.
In an interior with dark walls, different pieces of furniture and decor look harmonious. You can combine the incongruous with each other and play on contrasts. This allows you to decorate the interior of the room in the art deco, loft, eclectic, and fusion styles. Most often, dark walls are found in classic and minimalist interiors. And, of course, black is the core of the Gothic style.
7. Using dark colors correctly, you can visually stretch the space.
Using cool blue shades, you can visually expand the space. Since these colors have a distancing effect. A similar result can be achieved with a glossy finish. Gloss reflects light, thereby visually expanding the space of the room. For the same purpose, designers use wallpaper with reflective inserts. And if you do one wall in a dark color, you can visually move it away. Doing this trick on the opposite wall will make the room look longer.
8. Dark walls look solid and respectable
It is generally accepted that dark tones are mainly preferred by status and business personalities. Therefore, when you decorating the walls of the room in dark colors, you thereby create an atmosphere of solidity and respectability. And it looks especially advantageous in the interior of a study or living room. Preferring wallpaper with shimmering patterns, or textured paint, you make the interior more expensive and luxurious.
9. Dark shades of the walls promote calmness and relaxation
Psychologists say that dark shades promote relaxation and calmness. Gray and dark blue colors do the best for this. Therefore, so often designers use them in the interior of the bedroom. In this way, a more intimate and private atmosphere can be created. The combination of dark walls with luminous stars on the ceiling is very popular. Psychologists recommend decorating the bedroom walls in dark shades for those who suffer from insomnia.
10. Perfect for the interior of most rooms
Dark walls are an ideal solution for the interior of a bedroom. Because they immerse you in the atmosphere of the night and help you fall asleep. But do not combine them with bright shades, since such a palette can cause ripples in the eyes. Dark walls will ideally fit into the interior of the study. In the living room and kitchen, it is advisable to focus on one wall. And by decorating the bathroom in cold blue shades, you can visually expand the space.
Cons of dark walls in interior design
1. Visually reduce the space of the room
The dark design significantly narrows the space of the room. This is especially disadvantageous when the room is already small enough. By decorating it in a dark range, you run the risk of creating an oppressive and dull atmosphere. In this case, it is not necessary to limit yourself to light tons, it is worth decorating not all walls in a dark color, but one or two.
2. Dark walls require good lighting
If you decide to do the walls in dark colors, you should provide good lighting. Otherwise, the atmosphere in the room will be gloomy and depressing. Without good lighting, decorative elements will be lost.
3. Dark walls are inappropriate in the nursery and hallway
Such wall decoration is highly undesirable to use in the interior of the hallway. Since this room has no windows and is often small in size. By decorating it in dark shades, you risk creating an uncomfortable atmosphere. Also, dark walls are a no-no in the interior of a children’s room. An exception may be a wall covered with slate paint.
4. It is not recommended to use in the interior of rooms, the owners of which have a sensitive nervous system.
Dark shades have a calming effect on people with a healthy psyche. For those who have psychological disorders or suffer from anxiety, the effect will be the opposite. Dark walls will negatively affect a person’s mood, may exacerbate symptoms of mental illness, or lead to depression. Therefore, it is worth using this design with special care.
