As a design professional, you know there are often elements of a project that require careful persuasion to get a client’s approval. While it may be a challenge to convince a client to purchase a quirky lighting fixture or agree to an unconventional seating arrangement, it can be even more difficult to sell a particular color, especially one a client thinks is “too dark.”
I learned this firsthand when I began offering color consultations. As someone who prefers deeper hues, it was natural for me to specify these colors. However, I found that many of my clients were placing these selections in the “dark” category. I started to think that perhaps I should suggest dark colors only if a client requested them. But that didn’t work either because, it turns out, the word “dark” is very subjective. The colors I deemed light or mid-tone were considered dark by some clients. Not only did I have to re-evaluate my perception, but I also had to understand my clients’ color fears and ultimately help them overcome their beliefs (often misconceptions) about deeper hues.
Those liberating words gave me the confidence to explore people’s resistance to darker colors, and then offer a different narrative.
I found support for my position in a video produced by Sherwin-Williams that I used to teach color workshops. In one segment, designer Donald Bingham Schmitt says:
“There are people who will say you should never paint a room a dark color because it will make it feel small. You should never paint the ceiling a dark color; it will bring the ceiling down. There are rules and regulations like that, but they’re not valid because if you use color advisedly, you can do anything.”
Schmitt continues, “In my home, I have a black library and no one has ever walked in and said, ‘Oh my God, I can’t breathe! This room is so claustrophobic!’ In fact, it’s the opposite. They think they’re in a really large room when actually, it’s quite small.”
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Those liberating words gave me the confidence to explore people’s resistance to darker colors, and then offer a different narrative. Here are three ways I’ve helped clients look at dark colors in a positive way:
Client Concern: Dark colors will make the room look smaller and feel closed in.
Positive Perspective: If you paint a 12′ x 12′ room black, the room will still measure 12′ ’x 12′. Often it’s not the color of a room that makes it appear smaller, but the amount of contrast and furnishings (for example, too many accessories; over-scaled draperies; large, bulky sofas). A dark wall color can help a space feel cozier and provide a greater sense of comfort, which is especially important in larger rooms or spaces with very high ceilings.
Client Concern: A dark color will make the room feel dreary.
Positive Perspective: Think of a dark room as you would a dark evening gown (or a little black dress). Then you can begin to see it as elegant, sophisticated, exotic. Take, for example, the Modern Glamour design style. The works of Kelly Wearstler and Mary McDonald exemplify the use of darker hues in this luxurious style. These interior designers are famous for using colors such as charcoal gray, emerald, indigo and black to create chic, unforgettable spaces that are far from dreary.
Client Concern: Dark colors are bland and dull.
Positive Perspective: Many dark colors look richer than their lighter counterparts. For example, chocolate brown appears more sumptuous than taupe. The same is true for claret, which looks more opulent than rose. Emerald looks ritzier than celery green. Paler colors can sometimes appear washed out, whereas many deeper hues are vibrant and can add energy and personality to a space, especially with a high-gloss finish.
With any dark color, clients should be aware additional steps may be necessary. The walls could require two or three coats of paint, and the room’s lighting may need to be adjusted or upgraded. With these extra considerations in mind — and the dose of client courage it may take — enhancing a space with a darker color palette can make a striking statement and set a dramatic mood. And these are two of the greatest benefits of color.
What are your experiences and suggestions for using dark colors?
Post your reply below.
Kelly Porter, interior designer, has been helping clients transform their homes and businesses in the Washington, D.C.–Baltimore area for more than 10 years. In addition to owning
Porter House Designs, Kelly works as a consultant for CertaPro Painters, creating color palettes for their customers. CertaPro specs all Sherwin-Williams coatings. Kelly also publishes
Color Sizzle, a widely read design blog.
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I agree its always a bit of a struggle to get people out of their comfort zone…which usually spans from builders beige to some type of light blue colour.
I find the most challenging part of the process is when they first see the colour go on the wall without the trim and ceiling painted and furniture in place and they completely panic.
But… (touch wood)I’ve never had a client continue to feel that way once they saw everything come together and they lived in the space for a few days. Change is hard on some people but once they settle into they always love it.
My suggestion, keep them out of the space until the paints dry and when they do see it be there to walk them through how good it looks.
Thanks for the article!
Dianne
There is always a shock factor in a newly painted space before the furnishings have been put back in place. Good advice and thanks for reading!
I considered myself adventurous and open-minded where color is concerned, then about 10 years ago, my wife wanted to use deep, rich jewel tones on the walls in the family room we had just finished building. Adventurous and open-minded went out the window as I suggested retreating to nice, boring beige. Fortunately, my wife’s opinion prevailed, and we ended up with 3 deep colors on various walls: a deep olive, a rich cornflower blue, and a cranberry, with touches of acid green to brighten things up. Sounds wild, but as soon as the furniture was in place, it became our favorite room in the house. The rich colors were embracing and made the large space feel cozy and intimate. We’ve done rich colors in our spaces ever since.
Once you’ve live with dark, rich hues it’s hard to go back to anything else, isn’t it? Thanks for your comment!
As a painter and colorist as well as an interior designer, I have developed another way of explaining the impact of value in a space. Dark colors are almost always recessive compared to light ones, which actually expands our perception of space. The “closing in” feeling often comes from the impact of high value contrast in our periferal vision- ie. overhead: we are conditioned to duck to avoid the falling piano when we perceive darkeness, or movement overhead- where light should be. High contrast in our periferal vision is startling- it is a conditioned response.
Contrast is the key in my opinion. High contrast in colours – walls, floors, furniture especially – create multiple focal points (‘emphasis by contrast’)and keep ones eyes moving around the space. Dark furniture in a dark room equals calm…lack of multiple focal points… eyes at rest. (This also applies to shapes, textures,and all the other elements of design).
Wording of this concept may vary to suit the audience when I am working with a client, but it is sound design theory and I convey that. Haven’t had many dissatisfied clients in many, many years of practice.
I’m getting really tired of white trim everywhere. It cuts up spaces and makes them look smaller. I think darker colors look best when the trim and wall colors are the same color, but have different finishes.
Amen! Where was it written down that all trim has to be white?! Especially with a dark wall color, white “lines” all over the place really distract from the desired effect.
Agree. Think black, charcoal,or dark olive walls in a dining room with a crystal chandelier, dark furniture, white/off white china and silverware speaks,ooooo aaaaaah to youself and any dinner guests. Decorates beautifully for any holiday or occasion. Find these colors are also a stunning background in astudy with displayed art and sculpture. Also mouldings the same color as walls in a gloss finish maintains the uninterupted flow of the room.
Kelly – thank you for the great support for dark colors and helping clients see the vision! I too am fond of rich, deep colors and love to see a room come into its own when matched with the right color. My design studio has 13 walls and 9 windows and I painted the whole back wall(s) a deep rich chocolate raspberry (SW Polished Mahoghany) and makes the whole room feel cozier. I also have 4 other colors in this small space – including an orange color on the drywall ceiling and white drop ceiling. It so works and I love it when I am meeting with clients who say they can’t do dark colors only to point out the color on the walls. Only then do they notice – it really is all about contrast, style, and balance. Thanks again and keep dark colors strong!
Your studio sounds amazing, Erica! Thanks for sharing your client experiences with us.
I love what you saidd about dark colours and I felt the same way about dark colours and trying to get my clients to use is because it was what I liked. But hey, I do not live in that house. I use the fact that dark colours can be so cozy in bedrooms and elegant in living and dining rooms. If we lighten some of the accessories and furniture colours of that room it would not seem so dark, then I tell them to blame me and if they do not like it when its finished I will do it over myself. Thank God I never had to.
I’m glad you never had a re-do either, Michelle! Thanks for sharing!
One of the things I always do to help people get a feeling of the depth of a color is to have them fold the sample sheet into a corner. This really does help people visualize how the color will work, as opposed to the painted stripe along the side of white trim or a square patch in the middle of a white wall. When it’s on either side of a corner they can see the color reflected off itself. Also, I remind them warm or cool is much more important than light or dark
Wow factor! If the room Wows you it will never be small. Rich color enhances the aura of the room, Surrounding your senses with contentment. Color has vitality which brings the environment to life.
I agree with the issue clients have being able to visualize the room with dark walls ahead of time. When you paint a sample of the dark color on the wall – no matter how large the sample is and whether it is in a corner or not – there is such a high contrast with the white gypsum board that it looks so much bolder and darker than it looks when the entire room is painted. I find that showing my clients photos of rooms in similar color schemes to what I am proposing helps to neutralize their fears and objections. Sherwin Williams’ Color Visualizer is also a great way to show clients your color schemes and how things will work together in the space.