The best paint for a dark room is a colour with a warm base: a hint of red, pink or yellow that counteracts the cool, grey light most dark rooms receive. Farrow & Ball's Setting Plaster (231) and Dimity (2008), and Little Greene's Light Peachblossom (3), stay soft and welcoming where cooler colours turn grey. Or, rather than fighting the gloom, embrace it with a deep, rich colour such as India Yellow (66).
Many dark rooms face north, or sit at the back of the house behind an extension or a neighbouring wall. Their light is steady but cool, with a bluish cast, and it drains the warmth out of colours. A crisp white or a cool grey that looks fresh in the shop can look flat and chilly on these walls.
The answer is not to chase brightness, but to choose colours that bring their own warmth.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: India Yellow (66)
Why cool light changes colour
A north-facing room rarely receives direct sun. Most of its light is reflected from the sky, and it is cooler and bluer than the light in a south-facing room. That cool cast pulls every colour towards grey and blue.
- Cool colours get cooler. Blue-based greys and icy whites can look cold and flat.
- Undertones come forward. Farrow & Ball note, for example, that the lilac undertone in Elephant's Breath (229) comes more to the fore in cooler light.
- Warm colours hold their own. Colours with red, pink or yellow in them keep their warmth, and soften the light rather than reflecting it back coldly.
Our guide to why a colour looks different at home explains how orientation changes colour through the day.
Warm neutrals that glow
If you want a light, calm room, choose a neutral with warmth built in.
- Setting Plaster (231). Named after newly plastered walls and their pinky-brown hue. Farrow & Ball say its hint of yellow pigment gives it a subtle warmth.
- Dimity (2008). A pale taupe with a subtle red base. Farrow & Ball describe it as having a great amount of warmth and depth, making for instantly welcoming hallways and living rooms.
- Light Peachblossom (3). A gentle, dusky pink that Little Greene suggest as an all-over wall colour. Soft pinks can be especially kind in cool light, as our piece on rediscovering pink explores.
- Mizzle (266). If you prefer green-grey, Mizzle is a light, misty shade without any coolness from blue undertones.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Setting Plaster (231)
Go deeper instead
A dark room will never be a bright room, and trying to make it one with pale paint often leaves it looking grey and dull. A rich, warm colour accepts the room for what it is and makes it cosy instead.
- India Yellow (66). A modern, deep, earthy yellow that Farrow & Ball say looks just as good all over a smaller room, creating a cosy escape.
- Giallo (337). A bold, golden yellow with a sunny Italian character, which Little Greene say is most splendid across a large expanse.
- Bancha (298). A rich, dark olive that feels calming with soft pinks and browns.
- Pitch Blue (220). For those who love blue, Farrow & Ball suggest it in a darker room, or one used mostly in the evening, for a more restrained feel.
Deep colours work best when they are used generously, on the walls and woodwork together. Our guide to colour drenching explains why.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Giallo (337)
Whites for dark rooms
If white is a must, avoid the brightest, coolest whites, which tend to look grey in poor light. Choose a softer off-white instead. School House White (291) is a soft off-white without strong undertones, which Farrow & Ball describe as the impression of a brighter white seen in shade. It is also the complementary white Farrow & Ball suggest for Setting Plaster and Mizzle, which makes for an easy, gentle scheme.
Finish and lighting
The finish matters in a dark room as much as the colour. Farrow & Ball explain that the chalkiness of their Estate Emulsion scatters light around a room, bringing out the depth of their colours. Little Greene's Absolute Matt Emulsion and Paint & Paper Library's Pure Flat Emulsion give a similarly soft, flat look.
Think about the lamps too. A dark room is often used most in the evening, and warm lamplight is very flattering to the colours above. Look at your sample boards by daylight and by lamplight before you decide.
Questions we are often asked
Will a pale colour make my dark room brighter?
Only slightly. Paint cannot add light that is not there, and a cool pale colour can make a dark room look dull. A warm colour or a deep one usually gives a better result.
Which colours should I avoid?
Cool, blue-based greys and bright whites are the hardest to get right in cool light. Sample them carefully if you love them.
How do I test colours properly?
Order sample pots, paint two coats on large boards, and move them around the room over a day or two. Browse our colours for north-facing rooms for a shortlist.
