The effect of dark colours in spaces.

Dark shades have many characteristics, and if you are aware of them, you can use dark colours intentionally in your interior design. While light colours provide a sense of lightness and make a room appear larger, dark colours can be used to create unity and depth in a space.

Dark colours have the ability to create a sense of calmness - a cave-like ambiance in the living room, around the sofa, or in the bedroom, as shown in the image below. The colour Dark Tomo emphasises the depth of the home and creates an illusion of greater distance. The mystique of the dark green hue attracts us and evokes a desire to explore the space.

Dark colours are dramatic and mysterious, and they are indispensable in our interior design when we want to create contrasts and give our home character.

In Notes, we have teamed up with Maria Høgh-Mikkelsen, who holds a Ph.D. in colour studies and is a lecturer at the Design School Kolding. Maria has many years of experience in colour combinations and has conducted a range of research projects on colour theory and practice. She emphasises that colours are interactive – meaning they are context-dependent and interdependent.

When we choose a colour, it will be influenced by the other colours in a room and the lighting present. That's also why the same colour can appear very different in various contexts.

Says: Maria Høgh-Mikkelsen, Ph.D.

Dark colours have the ability to make light colours stand out. Take a look at how the same colour is displayed on a dark and a light background, but appears significantly different.

Colours can appear different depending on the light and objects in a space. When combining multiple colours you will also notice how they influence each other. This knowledge can be very useful in creating your colour palette.

When selecting your colour palette, it is advantageous to combine dark and light colours as they will enhance each other. One way to create an exciting contrast with light and dark colours is by giving the walls a light shade and the panels a dark shade, or vice versa.

Maria also explains that dark colours can camouflage form and texture. This applies to wood types, wallpaper, textiles, and architectural details in our homes.