12 Small Bedrooms Go Big on Dark Colours
These small bedrooms prove that small size and bold colour can go hand in hand
When it comes to colour, it can be challenging to gauge how much is too much, especially in a small bedroom. While it’s true that deep tones can overwhelm a small space by swallowing light and emphasising the room’s boundaries, they can also add loads of character when used with care. If you’ve subjected your small bedroom to bland neutrals for longer than you can remember, perhaps it’s time to mix things up and give your room a bold makeover. Seek colour inspiration from this bunch of compact deep-toned bedrooms to turn your room from blah to beautiful.
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Plenty of white peeps through the predominantly black colour scheme, adding luminosity and lustre to the room, while pops of yellow – in the form of a dressing table, a knit throw and accent pillows – add sunshiney cheer to the space. The detailed pattern on the wardrobe doors draws attention to their surface, dissolving the edges.
Find a designer to design your perfect bedroom
Find a designer to design your perfect bedroom
2. Nautical vibes
This compact bedroom calls out to the sea, thanks to its striking nautical palette. The shell of deep blue is effectively offset by furniture and finishes in white – a coat rack, bed linen and a study table – which bounce light around and compensate for the light-absorbing navy walls. A dove-grey headboard and a matching window shade add a dose of softness to the crisp combination of blue and white.
This compact bedroom calls out to the sea, thanks to its striking nautical palette. The shell of deep blue is effectively offset by furniture and finishes in white – a coat rack, bed linen and a study table – which bounce light around and compensate for the light-absorbing navy walls. A dove-grey headboard and a matching window shade add a dose of softness to the crisp combination of blue and white.
3. Aquatic escape
A palette of ash and deep aqua creates a bright, warm cocoon, without dominating the space. A few dashes of mustard yellow and a white floor and wardrobe help balance the darker shades. The room uses elevations to rise above the colour palette – literally. A high bed accommodates under-bed storage, opening up ample negative space on the sides. The free pathways offer a sense of openness that absorbs the darkness of the panelled walls.
A palette of ash and deep aqua creates a bright, warm cocoon, without dominating the space. A few dashes of mustard yellow and a white floor and wardrobe help balance the darker shades. The room uses elevations to rise above the colour palette – literally. A high bed accommodates under-bed storage, opening up ample negative space on the sides. The free pathways offer a sense of openness that absorbs the darkness of the panelled walls.
4. Bottle-green bohemia
Jewel tones enliven this compact teen bedroom, infusing a zesty spirit and providing bright pops of colour. The light-hued furniture and furnishings in monochrome serve as an antidote to the surrounding deep palette, reflecting daylight and providing bursts of brightness. The deep-green walls are the perfect backdrop for the assortment of light-hued patterns in the room – from Dalmatian dots and thick stripes to nature prints and graphic art. The largely black-and-white objects contrast beautifully with deep blue-green, and a few touches of red and green pep it up.
Jewel tones enliven this compact teen bedroom, infusing a zesty spirit and providing bright pops of colour. The light-hued furniture and furnishings in monochrome serve as an antidote to the surrounding deep palette, reflecting daylight and providing bursts of brightness. The deep-green walls are the perfect backdrop for the assortment of light-hued patterns in the room – from Dalmatian dots and thick stripes to nature prints and graphic art. The largely black-and-white objects contrast beautifully with deep blue-green, and a few touches of red and green pep it up.
5. Slivers of slate
A small living room transforms into a chic bedroom with the simple flip of a Murphy bed. The slate-toned walls provide an elegant cocoon for the compact sleeping area and cleverly blur the edges of the room, camouflaging shadows and making the space appear larger.
A small living room transforms into a chic bedroom with the simple flip of a Murphy bed. The slate-toned walls provide an elegant cocoon for the compact sleeping area and cleverly blur the edges of the room, camouflaging shadows and making the space appear larger.
The sparkling-white bed takes centrestage, adding light to the area and counterbalancing the dark tones.
6. Smoke and mirrors
A bijou shell of deep, brooding grey gains lightness through statement wallpaper with infusions of yellow given centre stage by clever lighting. The bold grey walls take on a restrained look, directing attention to the centre of the room.
A bijou shell of deep, brooding grey gains lightness through statement wallpaper with infusions of yellow given centre stage by clever lighting. The bold grey walls take on a restrained look, directing attention to the centre of the room.
7. Sunshine and storms
A modular charcoal wall in this tiny bedroom holds more than it lets on, with a fold-out bed lending the room oodles of functionality. Even with the bed pulled out, the room doesn’t ‘shrink’, thanks to the pops of sunshine yellow that shower the space with brightness. Numerous spotlights bathe every visible recess in light, extending the room to every available corner.
A modular charcoal wall in this tiny bedroom holds more than it lets on, with a fold-out bed lending the room oodles of functionality. Even with the bed pulled out, the room doesn’t ‘shrink’, thanks to the pops of sunshine yellow that shower the space with brightness. Numerous spotlights bathe every visible recess in light, extending the room to every available corner.
8. Crimson decadence
Wine-coloured satin curtains and bold red walls lend personality to this small room without boxing it in. The deep palette, consistent across all the walls, erases shadow lines and creates a seamless effect, allowing the room to breathe despite the daring colour choice. The soft grey-and-white bed linen balances the surrounding reds.
Wine-coloured satin curtains and bold red walls lend personality to this small room without boxing it in. The deep palette, consistent across all the walls, erases shadow lines and creates a seamless effect, allowing the room to breathe despite the daring colour choice. The soft grey-and-white bed linen balances the surrounding reds.
9. Salt and pepper
Visual variety is a smart way to divert the eyes away from a focused block of colour – especially in a small bedroom. This grey wallpapered wall gives a 3D effect, luring the eye to its moulding-like detailing and making the wall edges look less defined.
Here are some dos and don’ts of designing a tiny bedroom
Visual variety is a smart way to divert the eyes away from a focused block of colour – especially in a small bedroom. This grey wallpapered wall gives a 3D effect, luring the eye to its moulding-like detailing and making the wall edges look less defined.
Here are some dos and don’ts of designing a tiny bedroom
10. Tangerine blues
Perfect for those young at heart, this navy and tangerine bedroom bursts with brightness, yet holds its own in the strikingly coloured walls. The bedroom employs a valuable trick to push the walls away – marrying an assortment of patterns to create quiet disarray. This allows the eyes to explore every surface rather than perceiving the space as a single block of colour.
Perfect for those young at heart, this navy and tangerine bedroom bursts with brightness, yet holds its own in the strikingly coloured walls. The bedroom employs a valuable trick to push the walls away – marrying an assortment of patterns to create quiet disarray. This allows the eyes to explore every surface rather than perceiving the space as a single block of colour.
11. Purple paradise
Violet walls whisper charm and whimsy in this purple and white bijou bedroom. The dark walls and complementary statement art serve as a cocoon for the ivory-hued bed, while a white chandelier and a matching floor lamp offer breezy breaths of white, reflecting the available daylight. The dark walls create an indulgent, almost royal, look.
Violet walls whisper charm and whimsy in this purple and white bijou bedroom. The dark walls and complementary statement art serve as a cocoon for the ivory-hued bed, while a white chandelier and a matching floor lamp offer breezy breaths of white, reflecting the available daylight. The dark walls create an indulgent, almost royal, look.
12. Indigo musings
If you’re tempted to go for a dark palette, consider a dual-toned design that features equal dark and light. This indigo-patterned wallpaper features hazy diamonds that open into airy windows of white. The white and indigo go together like yin and yang, the former lending light and the latter lending character.
Read more:
25 Bedrooms That Are Not Afraid to Use Colour
8 Unusual Colour Combinations for Interior Walls
Tell us:
Which of these dark colour designs would go best in your bedroom? Tell us in Comments below.
If you’re tempted to go for a dark palette, consider a dual-toned design that features equal dark and light. This indigo-patterned wallpaper features hazy diamonds that open into airy windows of white. The white and indigo go together like yin and yang, the former lending light and the latter lending character.
Read more:
25 Bedrooms That Are Not Afraid to Use Colour
8 Unusual Colour Combinations for Interior Walls
Tell us:
Which of these dark colour designs would go best in your bedroom? Tell us in Comments below.
Monochrome expressions in this tiny bedroom lend an air of silent-movie-era glam. The room works the dark palette with texture and accessories – a sheepskin throw, soft linens and panelled walls – which urge the eyes to wander across surfaces; a clever trick to visually enlarge the room.