Deep dark wall colors can add character and style to a home when done well. They also create a sense of coziness that plays well with the calmness that other lighter, brighter areas of the home offer.
Dark and moody spaces are a rising interior design trend, but that doesn’t mean they have no lighting or poor lighting. Even in these intentionally dark, dramatic rooms, lighting design is crucial to creating the vibe. These areas need to blend with the rest of the home, whether it be a dining room, home office, living room, or kitchen.
Whether a room has insufficient natural light or is intentionally decorated to be dark, these lighting solutions for dark rooms will level up the style.
How Do I Get Better Lighting in a Dark Room?
Despite being intentionally dark, a room can go from moody to gloomy without the right lighting to accommodate all the activities that take place in it. For example, offices, dens, and studies often favor rich, dark colors such as warm brown, navy blue, and deep black. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need ambient, task, and accent lighting to make them comfortable.
Make the most of any natural light in the room and augment it with artificial light as needed. Darker colors on the walls tend to absorb light, so adding light in the right areas will bring out the details of the décor. In addition, as enticing as a dark, moody space may be, without the right lighting, it can seem smaller. Lights with a cool tone can counter this effect and make it look more spacious. When choosing ceiling light fixtures as central light sources, an armed pendant or cage chandelier helps the light bounce throughout the room.
Lagrange 18 Inch Large Pendant by Hudson Valley Lighting
Adding a little shimmer to a dark and moody room with metallic accents will brighten it up and give it a touch of glamor. The textured black cage frame of the Lagrange 18 Inch Large Pendant by Hudson Valley Lighting adds both lightness to the room’s décor while the metallic accents warm up the space. Hard and curved lines as well as mixed metals echo the design with a mixture of satisfying contrast.
Poppy 45 Inch 8 Light Chandelier by Hinkley Lighting
This office’s black walls and ceiling create a whole vibe, offset by the simple yet sophisticated silhouette of the Poppy 45 Inch 8 Light Chandelier by Hinkley Lighting. The arms featuring seeding glass bubbles spread light throughout the office, making it a cozy place for inspiration.
Galahad 43 Inch 12 Light Chandelier by Currey and Company
What’s a dining room without a true statement piece? The shapely Galahad 43 Inch 12 Light Chandelier by Currey and Company puts the finishing touch on this dining room. The recycled, recast discs allow light to travel around the room as it glints through each one. It adds a light and airy feel to a room that might otherwise seem too dark.
Are LED Lights Good for Darker Rooms?
LED bulbs offer more brightness per unit of power consumed and last longer, making them ideal for ceiling lighting in darker rooms. They emit warm, soft light, illuminating darker areas in the room. The long lifespan of LED bulbs ensures your dark room always looks its best.
Many modern fixtures with integrated LEDs built in are available in unique styles and designs. LED Chandeliers and other LED integrated fixtures are beautiful, functional, and energy-saving – ideal for dark rooms. In addition to the example below, the Corbett Wall sconce in the next section is a stunning example of integrated lighting design. Another option is using LED bulbs in fixtures that call for traditional light bulbs. These LED bulbs also come in “smart” bulbs that let you control the light color wirelessly.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard Utopia 51 Inch 5 Light LED Chandelier by Corbett Lighting
Natural lighting splashes into this home office during the day, reflecting light off the floor, highlighting the artwork, and accentuating the contrast with the dark walls and ceiling. On cloudy days, the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Utopia 51 Inch 5 Light LED Chandelier by Corbett Lighting augments the natural light and provides a warm, ambient glow in the evenings.
How Adding a Wall Mirror Can Brighten Your Area
Wall mirrors help create the illusion of more natural light., especially when placed near light sources. For example, hanging a mirror near or across from a window reflects the natural lighting around the space. A set of wall lighting fixtures flanking a mirror becomes a stunning focal point.
Theory 22 Inch LED Wall Sconce by Corbett Lighting
This combination of a mirror flanked by two Theory 22 Inch LED Wall Sconces by Corbett Lighting hits all the right design notes. The lighting’s gold finish matches that of the geometric pattern on the mirror, while its whimsical design brings a sense of fun to this dining room. It casts beautiful ambient light that makes the space feel cozy and welcoming.
Aerin Sanger 36 Inch 18 Light Chandelier by Visual Comfort and Co.
This perfectly placed mirror not only shares the round shape of the Aerin Sanger 36 Inch 18 Light Chandelier by Visual Comfort and Co., but its myriad crystals also reflect the light throughout the dining room. It brings elegance and sparkling brilliance to the design.