Dark hues have a bad rap as gloomy and depressing. More likely, they含羞草研究社檙e bringing home the good vibes, all year long.

One weekend when I had the house to myself, I painted our family room Benjamin Moore含羞草研究社檚 Kendall Charcoal, a deep, earthy gray.

I waited till I had two days alone to do it because it looked pretty shocking when I got started on the trim and rolled the walls. Was it going to veer into Goth Teen Bedroom territory? Or maybe a villainous, albeit stylish, lair?

But when I含羞草研究社檇 finished, it looked amazing. The rich color, along with white trim and comfy furnishings, gave the room , and felt much homier than the basic beige had.

When the weekenders returned, the response was as I含羞草研究社檇 hoped; everyone loved it.

That was in 2018, and it含羞草研究社檚 the only room I haven含羞草研究社檛 repainted twice since, so there you go.

Turns out I含羞草研究社檓 not a loony outlier when it comes to loving dark paint.

For Apartment Therapy含羞草研究社檚 2024 State of Home Design report, editors tallied 131 design experts who said 含羞草研究社渕oodiness含羞草研究社� will be one of the year含羞草研究社檚 hot vibes.

Pros say darker hues are more likely to create resonant atmospheres like coziness, stylish ambiance and even a little drama to keep things interesting. Rooms with these colors aren含羞草研究社檛 boring, nor are they over-stimulating. They envelop and embrace.

含羞草研究社淢oody hues are more than just visual,含羞草研究社� says designer Noz Nozawa. 含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e storytellers, deeply evocative, emotional and often very nostalgic.含羞草研究社�

GOING WITH EVERYTHING

She thinks people don含羞草研究社檛 give dark hues enough credit for their versatility, and points out how well they go with different woods, metals and brighter hues.

含羞草研究社淚 often like to use them as a grounding point 含羞草研究社� they anchor a room, and then all the other textures and elements in a space can harmonize around them,含羞草研究社� she says.

Try it yourself, Nozawa says, by holding a moody color swatch next to different woods and metals.

含羞草研究社淭he swatch will complement in a way that含羞草研究社檚 warm and comforting, not gloomy or heavy,含羞草研究社� she says.

Tasked with choosing BlueStar含羞草研究社檚 2023 Color of the Year for their appliance collection, she went with a deep, fruity Wine Red, which pairs well with different finishes and might remind you of a cozy evening sharing a glass with friends.

LIFTING THE MOOD

含羞草研究社淗ere in the Pacific Northwest, about two thirds of our days are moody,含羞草研究社� says Peter Spalding of the interior furnishings marketplace Daniel House Club in Portland, Oregon.

含羞草研究社淭o cope, we drink a lot of coffee and buy tactical gear instead of fancy dress,含羞草研究社� he laughs. 含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檇 think brightly colored interiors would be sure-fire medicine too, but actually some of the coziest interiors I含羞草研究社檝e done here have been in moody greens, blues and grays.含羞草研究社�

He含羞草研究社檚 not a fan of cool grays, especially in the Northwest含羞草研究社檚 dreary light.

含羞草研究社淏ut a warm French gray is another thing entirely. It含羞草研究社檚 sort of creamy, with green undertones, and creates a cocoon that no one wants to leave,含羞草研究社� Spalding says.

That chameleon quality, where a color shifts slightly depending on the light, is what you含羞草研究社檙e after, he says.

Besides dove gray, Spalding favors deep russet and dark forest hues.

含羞草研究社淭hey can glow in the sun, or create a cozy envelope when it含羞草研究社檚 gray outside.含羞草研究社�

Jennifer Verruto of Blythe Interiors in San Diego likes how these hues make a space feel settled and warm.

含羞草研究社淔orget the idea that dark colors turn rooms into caves of doom. It含羞草研究社檚 time to embrace the moody vibes! They have an energy. A room wrapped in a dark, dramatic color can actually provide an uplifting, invigorating feeling,含羞草研究社� she says.

BALANCING LIGHT AND DARK

She advises counterbalancing any potential heaviness. Position mirrors . Bring in lighter furniture, rugs and d茅cor. Use warm woods and nature-inspired motifs for a comforting, organic vibe. Some of her favorite paints: Sherwin-Williams含羞草研究社� Iron Ore, Gale Force and Pewter Green.

Deep blue could remind you of an oceanside vacation. Mossy greens might evoke a favorite woodland hike. Mineral hues like citrine, garnet, iron and copper also have that earthy connection.

Brad Ramsey, who has his own interior design firm in Nashville, loves to create a 含羞草研究社渏ewel box含羞草研究社� space.

含羞草研究社淏y taking a moody hue and color-drenching the walls, drapery, even the ceiling, you get this cocoon-like feel,含羞草研究社� he says. A study, dining room or den in a larger home can, when made darker, work well as an intimate social space, or a retreat for some quiet 含羞草研究社渕e含羞草研究社� time, he says.

CREATIVE PAINT NAMES

Some of the for these paint colors are as much fun as the hues themselves.

Dock Blue, Basalt, Goblin, Adventurer and Jewel Beetle are all to be found at British paint maker Little Greene, which has branched into the North American market now.

Backdrop含羞草研究社檚 founder Natalie Ebel says she wants to evoke a place or a feeling with the paint names. Masterpiece Theater is their first brown, with olive and a little yellow in it.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a color that really lends an atmosphere to a space, like a period drama for your walls,含羞草研究社� she says. Backdrop has even developed an accompanying playlist, which includes some Verdi, Rossini, Bizet and Hans Zimmer.

Their warm-purple red called Lobby Scene was inspired by Wes Anderson含羞草研究社檚 movie 含羞草研究社淭he Grand Budapest Hotel.含羞草研究社� And a deep olive green is among the company含羞草研究社檚 most popular paints. Its name: Night on Earth.

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