We’ve all lusted after those deliciously dark interiors. Whether it’s your style or not, it’s easy to appreciate dramatic inky walls, paired with a deep velvet sofa and a statement chandelier. I’m a huge fan. But experience has taught me that these rooms are for living in, not just for Instagram. 

When it came to decorating my own living room I was ready to commit to a dark interior.  And I mean really commit. No diluted, watered-down version for me. No dipping my toe in the water with a feature wall. I was ready for dark walls, dark woodwork, dark flooring and yes…the dark ceiling.

Sure, I had done my homework…I’d followed Abigail Ahern for years, I had spent weeks choosing my perfect shade (Studio Green by Farrow and Ball), I knew I needed a number of layered light sources (I had 7), and I knew metallic finishes and accessories would work (I had many). So by the time I stood, roller in hand, I felt as confident as Miley Cyrus in hotpants.

After a week of painting, styling and dressing, the room was finished. And it truly was a triumph. It was exactly the serene and enveloping space I had been hoping for….until the sun went down that is.  Sure, it looked amazing in natural daylight, but when evening came around my tranquil living room was transformed into an oppressive, gloomy den. 

It was a massive epic fail. By day the walls were cool and enigmatic but by night they were dreary and drab. By day the artwork and accessories popped, but by night they were cast into shadow. It turns out that seven lamps, along with shiny, metallic finishes do bugger all to reflect light when you live in a cave. My living room had become an interiors nightmare and suddenly I felt like I was the one who needed a wrecking ball.

Breathe, don’t panic…..it’s just paint I told myself.

My ‘told-you-so’ voice was telling me to go back to neutral. She had a point, I had plenty of favoured soft greys and off-whites I could choose from, so why wasn’t I rushing off to Homebase? 

Because I knew neutral just didn’t feel right for this room. After all, the room was only used in the evenings. It was an informal and cosy snug, a room used exclusively for Netflix binges and drinking spritzers. I still felt my instinct for dark was right. So I came to the conclusion that I was going to have to pare it back, water it down. Yes, everything I said I wouldn’t do! 

So, the ceiling went back to white (urgh, 3 days up a ladder whilst 8 months pregnant with a broken ankle). The window frames went back to white. The dark green was replaced with the classic Down Pipe by Farrow and Ball. And dark curtains were replaced with neutral blinds. 

And the end result? A room I truly love, day or night.

 

Did those few changes really make that much difference? YES!!!! A complete transformation. The room was still dramatic and fabulous but it was now liveable, and that’s the whole point right?

  So what did I learn from my journey to the dark side (and halfway back)? 

Don’t succumb to trend pressure. Some may say leaving ceilings white these days is amateurish and unconsidered (Really?)

Be guided by what you love I had always loved ‘Down Pipe’ but dismissed it as it had become so ubiquitous it was starting to feel a bit like a cliche. (but I loved it so who cares?)

Trust your instincts As I was painstakingly painting the window frames dark I kept thinking “I really don’t hope I regret this”…..(ha, I did).

For me dark was the right decision. It just turned out I wanted the high-street version and not the catwalk couture, and there isn’t anything wrong with that.  

Have you gone to the dark side? Was it what you expected? Share your story in the comments below…