Do Dark Colors on Walls Make Rooms Smaller?

Floor Effects

• Lighter tones on the floor and ceiling always complement darker walls. Wood floors have warm tones, providing balance for a darker, cool neutral on the walls, such as a pewter gray. A neutral medium to light carpet color will harmonize with walls in a deeper tone of that color. For example, a beige carpet would look well with dark chocolate walls. A darker tone of a complementary tone (the color directly across on a color wheel) is also a good choice. For example, with a saddle tan (yellowish-orange) carpet tone, a deep blue-violet tone on the walls would be attractive.

Ceiling Effects

• In rooms with dark walls, ceilings appear best when they are light, however, small amounts of the wall color added to the ceiling paint creates a harmonious tint. A tint with the addition of more of the wall color becomes a pastel version of the original color. A pastel ceiling is one way to open up the "fifth wall" space and blur the line between wall and ceiling. Dark ceilings close in the space and reduce the apparent volume.

Furnishings

• The color of existing furnishings plays an important part in selecting a dark wall color. The first consideration in creating the illusion of more space is to remove as much unnecessary furniture and clutter as possible. The color(s) of the large- sized pieces of furniture must relate to the wall color. If the furniture is a lighter tint of the wall color, it will blend in, creating a pleasing unity and appearing to enlarge the space. Mirrored walls, glass-topped tables and exposed legs on furniture all contribute to the perception of a larger space.

Lighting

• Natural and artificial light sources in a room always have a significant effect on its perceived size. With dark walls, light helps achieve a balance with other large color areas. In a space with a large expanse of natural light, window treatments may be essential to filter the light and prevent glare, while maintaining a consistent color palette.

Color Selection

• Color is mysterious because each person responds to it in an individual way. Everyone prefers certain colors to others, and no one fully understands how the discrimination process works. Warm colors seem to advance and cool colors seem to recede. All paint colors for walls in the home, including dark colors, should be appealing to the eyes of the room’s inhabitants. The best color choices create a flow of the eye within a space and into the adjacent spaces. By limiting a color palette to one or two basic colors plus their tints and shades, the colors relate from room to room and the home achieves a sense of unity and continuity. Color unity expands the perceived size of a space, even with dark-colored walls.