If you’ve flipped through a design magazine recently you may have noticed that we’re no longer bombarded by white everything. Yes white is still a classic colour for most walls – especially for open concept spaces – however we’re seeing a shift toward moody, darker, richer tones for more compartmentalized spaces, like powder rooms, offices, bedrooms and mudrooms. Although moodier, darker and more saturated hues doesn’t mean not neutral or timeless. For example we’re not going for a trendy lime or kelly green, but instead a rich, deep, almost-black green like Studio Green from Farrow & Ball. Ahh, beauuuutiful.
I’ve had a running list of paint colours on my phone forever (it might be one of the top questions I get asked!) and it’s time to finally share them. You’ll also want to stay tuned for a post coming soon with the paint selections for our new home – where we kept things bright and white, and where we leaned into the moody movement.
Before we get to the good stuff, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you experiment with darker neutrals:
- This takes commitment! Paint the walls, ceiling and trim all the same rich and saturated colour for the most current look. Gone are the days of dark walls and light trim… we love a monochromatic look.
- Always grab a sample beforehand. If you have windows, or don’t have windows, if the room is large or small, if the floors are cool or warm – all of it will impact how that paint colour reads. But remember, just because the room is small or doesn’t get a ton of natural light, doesn’t mean you can’t go dark!
- My typical go-to finish when doing all walls, trim and ceilings is eggshell. Gloss is going to create texture and show any imperfection on the wall. However if you still want to incorporate it, save it for the baseboard, crown moulding and trims. I’ll admit a semi-gloss is more durable than eggshell, so in a mudroom or a space that gets high traffic, it’s not a bad idea for the baseboards.
- If you are incorporating wallpaper in your space (yes yes yes!), you can still hop on this moody movement. Pick a rich colour from the paper and use it on all the trim throughout the space. Speaking of wall treatments, tongue & groove panelling is also beautiful painted in saturated hues (hello to those gorgeous interior shots above!).
TIMELESS PAINT COLOURS THAT AREN’T WHITE:
