20 Dark Bedroom Ideas to Inspire Your Moody Escape
The perfection combination of dramatic and cozy.
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From deep greens and blues to charcoal black, rich paint colors are popping up in bedroom design — most commonly, among homeowners who love cozy, moody interiors. Dark shades of green, purple and gray evoke a sense of depth, drama and mystery. When properly executed, dark bedrooms can also feel deeply calming, relaxed and romantic. Here, we've rounded up gorgeous dark bedroom ideas that'll likely leave you craving a bedroom makeover.
"A darker bedroom is a great option for client's who really enjoy a moody space," says Meredith Owen, founder of Meredith Owen Interiors. "Darker bedrooms can offer a sense of intimacy that brighter, lighter bedrooms don't. They can also help people sleep better, especially if the client tends to not sleep well because of light interference." When you close your shades and turn off the lights, a rich paint color makes the room look darker, which could help you fall and stay asleep.
When painting any room a dark color, make sure you're balancing the space and creating some contrast — to avoid a dungeon-like feel. Below, we share designer-approved tips to help you nail a dark, cozy bedroom, whether it's weaving in light furniture, making the most of natural light or settling on a bedroom accent wall.
Pair Black With Dark Gray
Don't limit yourself to one dark color. This moody bedroom, designed by Meredith Owen Interiors, features dark gray walls and a black four-poster bed, which is topped with a mix of light and dark bedding.
Photo by: Molly Culver
Go Black on Black
For a monochromatic moment, paint the walls, trim and window frames a deep, dark hue. Take note from designer Breeze Giannasio and use a glossy finish for the trim for added drama.
Photo by: Meghan Beierle-O’Brien
Try Dark Green
Opt for a deep green, like Benjamin Moore's Forest Floor, to balance a bedroom. Hint: Dark greens pair beautifully with natural wood accents.
Paint an Accent Wall
Rather than painting all four walls a dark shade, settle on just one — and the ceiling. Paint an arch in a lighter color and add black wood slats horizontally for texture.
Embrace a Moody Purple
Interior designers, like Mary Patton, are experimenting with rich shades of purple. This dark hue — also painted on the ceiling the trim — adds warmth and an edgy touch, but also feels peaceful and calm at the same time.
Photo by: Molly Culver
RELATED: Purple Is Popping Up in Interiors and Designers Are Embracing the Daring Shade
Opt for Warm Brown
This elegant bedroom is painted in Farrow & Ball's London Clay, which brings the perfect amount of warmth and coziness. Picture molding adds a luxurious touch, plus accent lighting sets a calming mood.
Layer in Different Textures
Sherwin-Williams’s Web Gray in a flat finish adds depth and dimension to this restful space, designed by Candace Shure. For a bit of contrast, the window frame is painted white and dressed with a white Roman shade.
Photo by: Michael Clifford
Experiment in a Kids' Room
The kids' bedroom is the perfect place to experiment with bold colors, like Dunn-Edwards' Aquatic and playful techniques, like textured walls. The dark blue bedroom makes it feel as though you're swimming in the ocean.
Create Contrast With White Furniture
Complement dark green walls (Behr's Pastoral is shown here) with a white furniture set to break up the space. White valances on the windows add another pop of contrast.
Go for a Patterned Wallpaper
You don't have to stick with a completely dark bedroom. Find a patterned black-and-white wallpaper that combines light and dark to ground the space.
See more at Style by Emily Henderson »
Photo by: Tessa Neustadt
Paint a Sunny Space a Dark Shade
Light-toned bedding and a surge of natural light brighten this cozy black bedroom, which features walls painted in Benjamin Moore's Graphite. Floating shelves, which blend seamlessly with the wall color, display family photographs for a personal touch.
Blend Cheerful and Moody Colors
Brighten up moody hues with bright pops of pink. To create contrast, a pink upholstered bed sits in front of a black wood paneled accent wall.
Photo by: Lol Johnson
Add Grid Molding for Texture
If you're feeling adventurous, install grid molding to the wall behind your headboard. When painted a deep gray, Rebel by Kilz, the molding adds a ton of texture and drama to the room.
Incorporate Black Furniture
In this boy's bedroom, a dark gray paint color pairs perfectly with a space-theme, including the galaxy wall art.
Mix Dark Green With Natural Materials
This earthy green paint, when paired with natural wood accents and tropical greenery, lives up to its name: Deep in the Jungle by Dunn-Edwards. Dark green bedding adds a monochromatic moment.
Bring in Depth Through Accents
Skip dark walls and instead, weave in dark accents through bedding, furniture and built-in cabinetry. Here, Reena Sotropa of In House Design Group lets floor-to-ceiling black cabinetry double as an accent wall.
Photo by: Phil Crozier
Hang Curtains That Look Light and Airy
Lighten up a dark bedroom with airy textures, including neutral bedding, sheer curtains and wicker Roman shades. The velvety black walls are painted in Behr's Broadway.
Go for Classic Black and White
Stick to a class black-and-white color combination. Ground black walls with bright, white bedding and mix in light and dark artwork.
Photo by: Adam Macchia
RELATED: Striking Black and White Bedrooms With Timeless Style
Embrace Earthy Green
Darken a space by painting one wall a rich green hue, just as ATX Interior Design does here. The dark gray upholstered headboard complements the space.
Photo by: Madeline Harper
Paint the Ceiling a Matching Hue
Take note from Daley Home and extend a moody hue all the way to the ceiling. It also creates an illusion that the room is larger and taller.
Photo by: Molly Culver
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
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