How to use dramatic color in your home
2020 Trend Alert!!! Moodiness is not just reserved for your teenage daughter!
Moody interiors are all the rage
I myself am working on a super moody entrance foyer wall [don’t worry, I’ll be unveiling it when it’s ready….maybe]
I hear lots of folks talk about this trend specifically and say “that would never work in my home” or “I’m worried it’s going to be too dark - I don’t get a lot of natural light”
As Hugo Guinness would write…blah blah blah… [major side note: I have an umbrella with blah blah blah all over it from an old J.Crew collab with Mr. Guiness that I adore. Apparently I’ve been having a moody moment for some time now. ]
I digress. But seriously, anyone can incorporate some dramatic color or have a moody moment! Done well - dark and moody colors can add that je ne sais quoi or statement to an otherwise boring space. *ahem* Not that my readers would have boring rooms. heh.
In any event - here’s how to work that sweet spot where drama lives before being overly dramatic. I’m not 100% convinced overly dramatic is a thing, but…
Pick a color…any color…
Now stick to it. go big. go bold. do go home. Just make sure you love it! Even if you are uneasy about it - take a leap of faith and slather that moody color on a wall. That’s it. Pick an accent wall [yeah, they’re back] if you’re too afraid to do the whole room.
In case you don’t follow me on Instagram - I’m having a major navy moment, umm..at the moment. So, I’ve picked navy for this post. Shocker, I know. Don’t worry - I will eventually post about other colors
Here are some inspo photos that will have you running to the paint store fast:
Here’s how you can create the same moody look and feel in your home [even if you decide to pick a different moody color than navy]:
Add reflective surfaces
Fashion and interiors usually run parallel. You know that favorite timeless navy blazer that has been with you for 20 years? Brass buttons I’ll bet. Go ahead and check.
That little amount of sparkle brightens up an otherwise dark color. So infuse some of those same sparkly accents:
Brass etagere - fantastic.
Glass lamp with brass trim - perfect.
Gilded framed artwork and photos - yessssss.
Add warm wood tones
If you have hardwood floors, they may do the trick for this - but if not, a medium brown wood accent table will work; or open wood shelves; or maybe it’s just the lighter wood feet of your sofa or lounge chairs. Colors love to their contrast in a room. So that orange-undertoned wood chair may just be the perfect item to pull the look together.
Careful with the white…
While I LOVE the classic navy and white pairing, and it makes a space feel crisp and fresh; it can feel nautical or coastal in most cases. What could you use to tone that feeling down?
Infuse a pale but crisp grey - oh yeah.
A soft taupe - for sure.
LOTS of earthy toned textures - now we are talking.
Don’t limit the mood to walls only
Afraid to go that dark on walls? no problem - you can create moody interiors using furniture, accessories and artwork, like these images:
Here’s how:
Add voluptuous texture
Yes, voluptuous…sumptuous…luxurious. You know those fabrics: velvet, velour, raw silk, linen. Their seductive texture adds a layer of smokiness to any space.
Grasscloth wallcovering - heavenly.
Velour settee - I’m melting.
Supple leather sofa - perfection.
Add dramatic lighting
Dramatic lighting? Yes - not just the fixture itself, but also the color temp. Use incandescent bulbs or look for LED bulbs that emit a warm glow of 2700Kelvin temperature.
Lighting on a dimmer - check.
Statement light fixture - absolutely.
Use dramatic scale
Go big! Not with everything, but definitely use scale to your advantage. Maybe it’s an over-sized wood mirror, or a super-high back Queen Anne chair, or insanely long drapes hung high. Scale is one of the top ways to create drama. Ask any hotel designer.
Let the art dictate the mood
Take your time and find a piece you love. I mean, loooooooove. Find that piece that makes your heart go pitter patter. Maybe it’s a bold color; maybe it’s a nude that would make your Catholic grandmother turn her head in shame. Whatever it is that evokes that feeling - work it. And every time you walk into that room, get that swept-up-in-love mood. Swoon.
