Dark master bedroom - what colour?

[erin99]

I have completely lost my confidence choosing colours in our current house. The windows are quite small so there is not loads of natural light, and anything darker than "white with a hint of" tends to look too dark on more than one wall IMO.

The master bedroom faces west, and we are rarely in it at sunset, so it feels almost north facing. Can anyone suggest a colour scheme? We both gravitate towards blues. I fancy doing something with white, chalky blue, and maybe some black and white prints in big black frames. But that might be too stark in a 'cold', darkish room. DH dislikes quilts and cushions so I can't go in for luxuriant bedding to soften it up, and he has banned green. Furniture is oak-ish colour, floor is to be replaced. I just don't know where to start. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Warm colours and lots of mirrors and maybe some mirrored furniture, and white bed and wardrobe.

Warm colours would be whatever you like..light shade of cinnamon might work for your bedroom.

Blue is lovely, I don't think it's warming though.

Thank you for those ideas Minkah. I think I'll have to work harder at embracing warmer colours - half our house is already blue!

How about deep plummy shades on one wall and neutral browny beige on the others,,with light oak furniture

Sometimes, when you have a dark room, it works really well to paint the walls a dark colour and just make the room really cosy rather than trying to disguise the fact that it's a dark room by painting it white.

Thank you both, i appreciate it. I'm a bit scared of dark colours I think! We had a navy blue windowless bathroom once, it's put me off! But some purple would be nice.

I think a darkly decorated bedroom is manageable if, when you open the curtains in the morning, the sun or good light pours in.

I think if it means you need electric light a lot of the time, that's inherently depressing.

There are wallpapers which help reflect light, that have some metallic sheen to the design. That could help your bedroom, Erin.

Although our bedroom is easterly facing and reasonably bright, our house is old and can be dark. So we have just reprinted in.... Different shades of grey!!!

It looks fab. Have a look at dulux heritage range- if you have a brewers they has a massive selection. Thier paint is also far superior to b&q etc but I would definitely stick with dulux as the trendy stuff like farrow and ball just doesn't last. And if you like f&b colours, brewers will colour match dulux for you.

Winner!

Good luxk!

I agree with going to Brewers - they are great.

However, I disagree about farrow and ball not lasting. I've never had a problem with it at all.

Brewers also do ranges called "Little Greene" and "Paint Library", both of which have some lovely colours.

My experience of farrow & ball is that it lasts, too.

Maybe just us then. We have just reprinted after 3 years in Dulux heritage. Soft sheen is a brilliant finish. Matt enough but washable- v child friendly!

We have Farrow and Ball "Borrowed Light" in a west facing bedroom and it is lovely. Makes it feel light and airy but also cosy. It's a pale blue, looks lovely.

I don't think we have a Brewers round here but B&Q sells valspar and dulux trade paint. Is there any reason why I shouldn't use trade paint? I'm a reasonably experienced DIYer and paint is just, well, paint isn't it?

I think I'll base it all round the bed - get a duvet cover I love in a nice bold, warm colour, and pick out a more subtle wall colour from there.

And thank you for all these ideas!