If you plan to use darker paint colors in a living room, it usually is to make the room seem cozier or richer looking. Colors, indeed, can make a room appear either appealing or cramped. Therefore, you need to know what you are doing in this respect.

If you have been reviewing the latest in painting trends, you will find that darker paint colors are gaining wide appeal. One of the colors of the year is dark amethyst. Therefore, darker colors are influencing design and painting decisions. If you want to follow this current trend, you need to follow the below-listed tips. That way, you will feel more confident about adding a darker paint.

1. You Can Add Dark Colors in Smaller Rooms.

If you are worried that a darker paint will seemingly decrease the size of a smaller living area, ignore your concern and go with a darker and richer hued paint. Deeper and darker colors can actually blur a wall’s perimeter and create a look of expansiveness. If you select a darker tint for the walls, balance out the look with lighter colored furnishings.

2. Add Vivid Accessories

You can make your room appear larger with a darker paint by including vivid accessories. Whether you decide to use a throw or bright colored chair, the focus will be redirected – namely to the items in the room. When this happens, the walls will merely appear as a type of backdrop.

3. Include the Same Color for the Trim

If you want to make your walls appear taller, do not paint the trim another color. Instead, paint the trim the same dark color. This will conceal the trim and heighten the look of the wall. To add an illusion of depth, mount a mirror on the wall.

4. Begin Small if You Are Nervous about Using a Darker Hue

If you are afraid of “the dark” hues at first, why not begin small? You can use the color on one wall in your living space. That way you can colorize the one wall and add a pop of interesting colors. This is the best approach if you feel intimidated by painting all of a room a darker color.

5. Add Furnishings that Feature Small Highlights of the Darker Color

Make sure that you make use of the darker color by adding light-colored furnishings that coordinate with the colorized wall. Add small highlights, in pillows for instance, that feature the darker hue. This will keep the viewer’s mind focused on the overall décor, and not on the fact that the wall is darker. You want everything to fuse nicely when you use this type of painting approach.

6. Prep the Wall – Sand It before Painting It

If your wall features demarcations or cracks, it actually is a good idea to use a darker color paint. However, you want to make sure the surface is sanded and prepared first. Make sure you caulk the wall and prepare it so it is smooth. Otherwise, painting will be difficult.