Uh oh. You got on board with the dark and moody room trend and now you’re just over it. Believe me, sister, I fell victim too. I recently redid my entire living room because that dark palette had to go. But, today, I’m sharing how to brighten up your dark and moody room without repainting. Don’t worry; it’s possible and I did it until I was able to do a complete overhaul.
What most people fail to realize is how dimensional a single space is. People like to just look at the color of the walls and furniture and then make a decision. It’s more complex than that, which is why you are able to fix the look and feel of your space without having to repaint or do something drastic. A properly layered room is the best kind, so you have tons of options to alter that have nothing to do with the larger elements of the room. Score!
Brighten Up a Moody Room
Moody spaces can look great for editorials, but I don’t live in a magazine (I live in your computer!). I actually use every square inch space and need it to energize and excite me. A few years ago, I hopped on board the dark and moody room train. I painted the walls a dark gray, reupholstered a vintage sofa with a dark teal velvet, painted wood furniture black, accented with moody art with many black and white motifs, I could go on.
This was all well and good when I was gone 12 hours a day. But, as soon as I started working from home, I felt a dramatic shift in my mood. For me, my surroundings affect my mood, for better or worse. Some people cannot have color if they want to feel relaxed, others need the home to be organized and clean at all times to keep their anxiety at bay. We all have different ways we prefer our spaces and are looking for ways to cope if we made a poor design decision.
Don’t beat yourself up if you made a decision you now regret. In fact, I LOVE when clients make mistakes. For real! It shows me you are not so precious about your interiors and you are on a search for your own style. Sure, you might stray, but you also will get closer and closer to what makes you insanely happy. That, friend, is a celebration. So what if the execution leaves something to be desired? Everything can be fixed, boo. Let me show you how.
Add Life
via Camille Styles | via Design Love Fest
Literally. Add living things. Anything that belongs in nature. This not only goes for live plants, but also includes geodes, crystals, wooden objects, and even art depicting nature. You want to incorporate anything that reminds you of the outdoors, because that’s where all of the living things are, right?
PS: I’ve got a post coming up on Wednesday with the best indoor plants so stay tuned for that helpful info.
Add Contrast
via Erin Williamson Design
via Design Milk
It’s true what they say: opposites attract. So add them! Are your walls dark? Okay, then add something light. Is your sofa moody? Add some decor on your coffee table that is the opposite. Incorporating opposites will brighten up your room. Don’t shy away from adding different textures. In a dark space, it’s easy for things to get overlooked. You can’t see well in the dark, after all. Your solution is bringing the eye back to different elements of the space.
A great way to add contrast is through secondhand furniture. You know I loooove me some vintage, and adding vintage elements makes a space feel like home.
Reflective Surfaces are Your Friends
via Red Papaya
Can you guess why? They reflect light! The more light that is bounced around the room, the more open and airy it will feel. It’s almost as good as adding a random window (something that is much, much more difficult). You can achieve this with mirrors, vases, metallic accents, metal furniture, candles in glass, even framed art with protective glass. If it bounces light around, add it.
Focus on Soft Items
via The Spruce
How do you remedy a space that feels gloomy and serious? Put your attention on the soft, plushy textiles of the room! Most companies are making pillow covers for less than $10 (I recommend H&M Home and IKEA). If you soften your already soft objects even more by giving them a lighter color, a softer print, and a dreamy texture, you transform the space, but also how you feel sitting in the space. It’s all about sensory perception. So, add the fluff.
Add Color (if you’re comfortable)
via Ideal Home
via Elle
I know, not everyone is a color lover. Believe me, for our purposes, that is okay. You can stick to strict neutrals if you want. But, you can also add some soft pastels, dreamy blues, pale yellows, sage greens. Color doesn’t have to be in your face; it can be an accent and completely muted. Remember what I said about adding contrast? You can do that with a soft palette.
…but obviously, I would choose color (surprise surprise). Color gives your space vibrancy and a sense of fun. I mean, look at the living room above. It’s not easy to pull off primary colors without looking like a preschool, but this design took a moody room and added the energy with this palette. Much like Athena Calderone did in her media room.
Add Playful Pattern
via Erin Williamson Design | via Emily Henderson
via Emily Barry
You have a ton of options when it comes at adding pattern to liven up a moody room. You can add it through your soft items like rugs, throws, upholstery, pillows, or you can also add it through decor items such as art and ceramics. While not a pattern, adding vintage furniture like this rattan coffee table will give your space great lines and enhance whatever pattern you place nearby. An architectural piece of furniture serves as its own pattern.
Spice it Up with Art
via Vogue Living
via Style at Home
I love art; that’s no secret. And art is hands down the easiest way to get instant gratification in your moody room. Art adds life, energy, pattern, color, and everything else I’ve mentioned in the examples above. The great thing about art is that it adds all these different details in one piece! Perfect for those who are minimalists (or have been influenced by Marie Kondo).
Are you feeling better about your moody room now? I sure hope so. If you ever make a decor mistake, don’t worry because there is nothing that cannot be fixed. It’s about the time of year when we are wanting to brighten up our spaces in preparation for spring, so don’t be afraid to add some fun to those darker spaces.
-Kristen
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