Archived Decorating Question: Dark Walls

More Decorating FAQs • Bathrooms • Bedrooms • Budget Decor • Color and Paint • Decorating • Designers • Design Education FAQs • Holidays • Kids • Kitchens • Lighting • Moving • Window Treatments     Related Resources • Painting Interiors • Tips on Paint Color • Painting Tutorials • Color and Paint

Question: My living room is dark, but I'm bored with white walls. I'd like to paint a darker color (to match my carpet) above a chair rail and use a border paper that has colors from my kitchen and the carpeting. What do you think?

Answer: It's great that your border paper will tie two rooms together and includes the carpet color as well. Repetition is one of the decorating principles that helps solidify a decorating scheme.

Since your room is dark, be sure to try out any new paint colors by painting foam core board or cardboard pieces and putting them up on the wall to see how you like it.

Using the darker color high on the walls will tend to close the room in a bit, giving it a cozy feel, which you may or may not enjoy. If you decide it is too much, however, then go with one of the lighter colors from the wallpaper border.

You might also try out your paint sample boards both above and below your chair rail to see where it looks best in your room.

Back to Top