How to Decorate With Dark Bedroom Walls

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with white, pastel, or neutral walls, but if you’re playing it safe just because you fear dark paint will turn your bedroom into a cave, take heart. No matter how dark you go, you can still have a bedroom that’s airy, glamorous, or contemporary—whatever style you like best. The secret is balancing the strong wall color against the rest of the room’s décor.

One thing you’ll notice in just about every bedroom with dark walls is a white ceiling. This prevents a closed-in, cave-like vibe and helps maintain an airy feeling throughout the room. You can create the same effect with light-colored flooring, too. Check out these 15 bedrooms we've found for more tips on how to decorate your dark walls.

Chocolate Brown

Though it might seem counterintuitive, dark walls, when done right, can actually make a small room appear larger. That’s because dark colors visually recede, fooling the eyes into seeing the walls as further away than they really are. Check out the chocolate brown walls in the bedroom here (the paint color is Chocolate Candy by Benjamin Moore). Although this room is small, it doesn’t feel that way thanks to the rich, warm paint, the white ceiling and bedding, and the eye-catching yet unfussy pattern on the rug and shams. Additionally, keeping the palette limited to just two colors creates a feeling of airy simplicity.

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Deep Purple

If you like a bit of elegance and a touch of contemporary style in your décor, dark walls in an unexpected color are the perfect backdrop. Look at how the clean lines of the white metal canopy bed pop against the purple paint, while the patterns on the artwork and the shams add just enough contrast to keep things hopping. Using plenty of white in a dark-walled room helps prevent claustrophobia, while touches of shine bounce light around the space for an airy feel.

Black and White Bedroom

Some might shy away from the idea of painting their bedroom walls black, but you shouldn't be. While black can come off as intimidating, the key is to balance it out with lighter pieces. Black and white always make a great team, so you can't go wrong with choosing white decor, bedding, or furniture to add some contrast and drama to your space.

Dark Red

While bright red walls are typically too stimulating for the bedroom, muted shades of red, such as burgundy or wine, are equally dramatic yet allow you to get to sleep at night. You can up the excitement factor with a few touches of bright color to play up the strong walls, but keep it under control by limiting those accents to a few pieces of artwork or decor. A light, painted ceiling is another way to balance the strength of dark walls.

Black With Natural Textures

Think the darkest color of all is only for vampires or goths? Not when you do black right, as in the gorgeous bedroom shown here. There’s no need to let a dark wall color pigeonhole your decorating style. While glamorous décor most often has a creamy, dreamy palette of light neutrals or pastels, black walls take it to a new level. And there’s certainly nothing depressing or gloomy about a room filled with fabulous texture, wooden accents, natural lighting, and whimsical touches, like the accent pillows on the bed.

Smoke Gray

Choosing to paint your walls gray can seem daunting at first but can actually create a relaxing atmosphere. When working with dark-colored walls, you can go monochromatic and match the furniture and decorative items to the desired shade. The gray headboard and frame serve as an extension of the wall, while the white bedding and accent chair stands out in striking contrast. Especially if you want to go the minimalist route, gray bedroom walls can create a perfect backdrop.

Navy With Mixed Accents

If you decide to go dark on your bedroom walls but don’t want an especially modern feel, choose natural or painted wooden furniture rather than metal, plastic, or mirrored pieces. The traditional look of wood balances the contemporary vibe of bold paint, keeping the overall appearance warm and friendly, as opposed to sleek and modern. But traditional furniture doesn’t have to mean boring or old-fashioned style—the bedroom shown here is a great example with its navy blue walls. The wooden bed frame, textured artwork, and soft pattern pillows strike a perfect balance between traditional and modern style.

Black Walls With Pops of Color

Another way to work with black walls is by using them as a base to display pops of color. The bedroom shown here demonstrates this well, by hanging a colorful piece of artwork above the headboard. The vibrant colors in the piece already shine, but truly catch your eye when displayed against a dark base. The bright blue nightstand is also a vibrant touch that keeps the space feeling playful and colorful.

Dark Green

Looking to add some spice to an otherwise nice-but-nothing-special bedroom or guestroom? The solution is as simple as a gallon of dark paint in your favorite green hue. This room has plenty of modern charm. But imagine it without those strong green walls: cute, but lacking the “wow!” that the bold color inspires. If you want the most decorating bang for your buck, it’s hard to beat the impact of a fresh coat of dark color. Adding some metallic accents can elevate the space to another level.

Deep Blue With Patterns

A simple way to offset a dark-colored wall is by overlaying it with bright patterns. While the deep blue wall in this bedroom is still decidedly on the darker side, the geometric light blue pattern helps liven things up. Using shades in the same color can help keep things cohesive and not cause an overwhelming amount of contrast.

Navy

Straddling the line between regular blue and black, navy is an optimal choice that many designers and decor enthusiasts incorporate into their rooms. When working with navy, accents of gold are always a winner, creating a modern and elegant feel. Navy also serves as a great backdrop to contrast against wooden elements, giving a rustic, welcoming vibe.

Dark Olive Green

Another version of a dark green bedroom, this olive tone is understated and adaptable. The light wood nightstands pair well with the hue, and the additional accent of light blue keeps the space from feeling too neutral. The use of wooden palettes on the wall adds some texture, making the color feel intriguing rather than plain.

Black With Modern Touches

While white walls are often heralded as being an ideal blank canvas, you shouldn't discount black walls to achieve the same purpose. Black often evokes a feeling of sophistication—so accents with modern metallics and glamorous decor are an obvious choice. The golden global lamp and curtain rod are a delightful addition, and the tasteful floral throw pillows continue the simple and stylish trend.

Vibrant Blue With Dark Furniture

Dark blue tones don't have to be limited to navy—there are plenty of versions to choose from. This gorgeous hue is vibrant yet still on the moodier side of the blue spectrum. The dark wood four-poster bed adds to the drama in a stunning way and proof that you aren't tied to strictly light furniture accents if you choose dark colors for your walls.

Blacks Walls With Pink Accents

For a unique take on the dark wall trend, try pairing your black walls with pink accents. This color combination creates a similar contrast to black and white but adds a slightly more vibrant feel to the room. If you aren't sure where to start, paler shades such as rose or blush in particular pair exceptionally well with the inky shade.

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