Trend Watch – Gray Walls

Trend Watch – Gray Walls
By Jaime Derringer Jul 28th 2009 11:00AM
Categories: Decorating, Color
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I was over on Apartment Therapy checking out Jon and Ro's fantastic Brooklyn walk-up. However, one of the rooms really caught my eye, the gray office.

Jon and Ro's beautiful office desk jumps out of the dark wall. Photo: Apartment Therapy

Gemma Ahern's entire apartment is painted dark gray, including floors, radiators, shelves and doors. Photo: Design*Sponge
So I thought, "Hmmm...that's interesting." But then I saw it again on Design*Sponge's sneak peek of Gemma Ahern's London-area apartment. Except Gemma's entire apartment was gray. It seems there happens to be a mini-trend in paint: floor to ceiling dark gray walls. And I'm talking the moldings, too. And not just gray, deep dark charcoal gray. I would think that this is probably a risky decision, so I decided to ask an interior designer about this phenomenon to find out if gray is really go.I spoke with Mollie Chalk of Pineapple House and asked her a few questions about these smoky interiors. When should you consider painting a room in a dark shade of gray or any dark color? Although painting a room a dark color is not typical, there are many reasons why you might consider it. It can add drama and visual interest to any space. Before you paint your walls a dark color, make sure that you have other elements of your design that help support and balance the impact. I prefer using a dark color in a room that can handle the drama. There is no real reason why you would have to be restrictive of dark colors if you like them. The most important thing when planning a room with dark colored walls is to make sure you have plenty of natural light and a variety of textures to make it cohesive and inviting. The simplest way to get texture in a room is by utilizing fabric. Because of the diversity of textile fibers, as well as the advancement in weaving technology, fabrics can offer an endless variety of textural surfaces that absorb and reflect light in different ways. When should you perhaps consider not going dark? If the space is relatively small with low ceilings you should consider going in another direction. Often times, small dark rooms feel claustrophobic. No amount of artificial light and texture can help a dark room if it's too small. I would avoid common everyday areas. Lighting would be a big reason why. Most commonly used spaces need not only natural light, but also a lot of task and ambient lighting. Lighter colored walls work best when you need a lot of light.
Designer Mollie Chalk says the key to a dark room is light & texture. Photo: Pineapple House
When painting a room a very dark color, how do you suggest keeping it feeling light and open?Having natural sunlight is ideal when painting with dark colors. Use different types of task lighting. Don't limit yourself to table lamps. Consider floor lamps, pendant lights, and/or sconces. When picking shades, go with something more translucent so that more light can be distributed. If you have recessed or track lighting, try to aim the light at a specific area or focal point. To keep the walls from drowning the space, add texture wherever possible. The more interesting surfaces you have in a dark room the better. Another tip: Use mirrors. Mirrors are a great way to help open up a dark space by creating more refractory light and visual interest. Consider mirrored surfaces on furniture and of course wall mounted mirrors. For the real drama seekers, an accent-mirrored wall would be a wise choice not only for the appeal, but the amount of light it helps create in a dark space. Mollie also offered two distinct design options when decorating around dark painted walls: 1) Work with that color and create a monochromatic palette - make sure to incorporate texture! You could even paint the ceiling the same color so that the room disappears. This creates an infinite backdrop for the wonderful things you use to personalize your space. 2) Use contrasting colors to make it stand out or "pop" against that dark wall. It's important when picking a contrasting color to a dark color that they have a similar hue and saturation. One last tip: Make sure you plan the entire room before you get started. The most successful design occurs when all of the components were thought out as a whole