White walls are all the rage these days, but there will always be room for beautiful, dark, moody paint colors in my design playbook. Dark wall colors add a level of sophistication, luxury, and coziness to any room. They make a statement, but also have a relaxed vibe that makes you want to curl up with a good book and a glass of wine. Use these rich, bold colors in your bedroom, dining room, living space, or bathrooms to add drama and create rooms that impress!

1. Benjamin Moore Narragansett Green

Dark green paint colors are said to be relaxing, and give us a sense of being in nature, which is probably why they pair so beautifully with natural wood tones. BM Narragansett Green is a gorgeous green with blue undertones, and is a favorite, go-to paint color for designers. Get a peel-and-stick sample sheet of Narragansett Green HERE.

Use this bold green throughout your room, on a single accent wall, or even on your kitchen cabinets to make a statement. While greens can work with any style, they are a perfect choice for rooms with mid-century modern or bohemian styles. Another gorgeous dark green to consider is BM Salamander. 

2.Sherwin-Williams Urbane Bronze

SW Urbane Bronze is one of my all time favorite paint colors for both interiors and exteriors, and was recently named Sherwin-Williams’ paint color of the year for 2021. It is a rich, dark, warm paint color that can give your room a grounded and comfortable vibe. If you’re looking for an almost-black color to add drama to your room, Urbane Bronze is a great choice! For a similar look, but with a touch more brown to it, check out SW Black Fox. Get a peel-and-stick sample sheet of Urbane Bronze HERE.

sw urbane bronze living room

urbane bronze bedroom

3. Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

Perhaps the most popular navy blue paint color of all time, BM Hale Navy is a true classic! Hale Navy is a very dark, subdued, and sophisticated blue that looks as great on cabinetry as it does on walls. Best in rooms that get ample light, to allow the blue to shine through. If you need something slightly less dark or more saturated, some great alternatives are SW Naval or BM Old Navy. Get a peel-and-stick sample sheet of Hale Navy HERE.

hale navy office built-ins

Source: City Homes

4. Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green

If you’ve been searching for a dark, sage green, add SW Pewter Green to your list of colors to try. It has just the right amounts of green, blue, and silvery gray to create a moody, muted shade. When stylist Emily Henderson painted this color on her kitchen cabinets, Instagram went nuts!  Get a peel-and-stick sample sheet of Pewter Green HERE.

5. Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

When it comes to charcoal paint colors, BM Kendall Charcoal is at the top of every designer’s list. It’s just that good! Kendall Charcoal is a rich, pure gray, that looks fantastic with everything from natural wood, to brass, and crisp white trim. It’s not only beautiful on interior walls, but is a fabulous paint color for exteriors, built-ins, and kitchen cabinets. Get a peel-and-stick sample sheet of Kendall Charcoal HERE.

6. Sherwin-Williams Foggy Day 

Looking for a luxurious, smoky, slate blue for your walls? SW Foggy Day might just be the one you’ve been searching for! Foggy Day is a serene gray-blue, and is stunning whether used in small doses or throughout an entire room. Pair with crisp whites, blacks, and browns for a timeless look. Get a peel-and-stick sample sheet of Foggy Day HERE.

Tips for Using Dark Paint Colors 

Tip#1 – You should never choose a paint color from a picture! While you may think it’s the perfect color for your room (and you may be right), you absolutely must sample the paint color in your room first. Why? Because colors look different in different lighting conditions. I recommend buying peel-and-stick paint sample sheets from Samplize.  View 2-3 potential paint colors in your room in a variety of lighting conditions, and then make your decision.

Tip #2 – Offset dark wall colors with lighter furnishings and accessories. If everything in the room is dark, it can end up looking more like a cave than a well-designed space. Not only that, but our eyes love the contrast of dark and light, so creating that effect will add visual excitement to your space.

Tip #3 – I typically recommend using a satin paint sheen for dark wall colors, rather than a flat sheen. The subtle increase in shine will help bounce light around the room, and give the walls a more luxurious feel.

Tip #4 – If you want to use dark colors on your walls, it is best to bring in as much natural light as possible into the room.  Use mirrors to reflect natural or artificial light into the room if your space doesn’t get a ton of light from windows. 

These six, gorgeous, moody paint colors are designer-favorites because of their ability to transform a room and work with a wide variety of styles. Use them as an accent wall, or on every wall, to create sophisticated, cozy rooms in your home.