Does it HAVE to be light colours in small rooms?

[GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal]

We are about to start on a major renovation and redecoration project for our house, and I'm very inspired by these sort of colours for our bedroom.

The problem is not very big (11x11foot) and despite having two sash windows, doesn't get that much light. Everyone keeps telling me that I need light colours to make it look bigger, but:
A) it's a bedroom. I quite the idea of it being a bit dark and gloomy. I like the idea of feeling like I'm under the ocean.
B) even with light colours, is it really going to feel much bigger? It's still a smallish room however it's painted.

I'll come back and post some more photos of the room itself once I've checked if these ones even load.

Oh, it worked! Ok, so this is the room as is. It's been like that since we moved in 5 years ago - it had been decorated to sell and with 2 babies we lacked the time and motivation to do anything else with it.

I'm thinking Farrow and Ball's Pitch Blue or Drawing Room blue on the walls and ceiling and Arsenic on the woodwork and cupboard. I know it won't be to everyone's taste, but is it a completely mad idea or could it work???

People have been obsessed with maximising the light in a room Nd making it seem bigger for a couple if decades now. Not every room has to have the same mood. Not every room has to be flooded with light and not every room has to convince the occupants that it is larger than it is. Small and cosy is fine. I really like the rich colours in you first post. I have them in my living room.

and love the drama of those rooms too.

Also even though I gave dark walls in my small living room I have white floors so there is still a lightness.

My bedroom is tiny and dark green. It works. It doesn't look big, but it isn't a big room (we have a custom bed that's wider than a super king but it's the width of the room!) so I don't see why it matters. It's got things we love in it, we love the colour and it's sooo gloomy but cosy and dramatic and I love being in there. Almost exactly the same amount of natural light as your room too.

I like some dark, check out Abigail Ahern - she does dark really well

Actually on closer look Of your pics one of them is in her house so you may be on to her already!

Oh, I love your room! That fireplace! 😍
Go for it, I'd dark it out and keep that radiator thing and the cupboard doors white but goth the rest of it to the hilt! My living room is all black and navy with grey and I use lighting to brighten it up if I want to. Lots of black tealight holders with the Ikea fake tealights, you're in luck because the Halloween stuff has just come out at places like TK Maxx, a lot of my living room accessories are from there. My bedroom is dark too, all black and magnolia. I would recommend having a decent light though, in case you need it. Dropped butterfly earring backs, sorting washing (my baskets are the black Ikea ones in the bedroom), putting up shelves or fixing things all need decent light. We have it, but only occasionally use it.

Light colours actually make rooms look smaller because of the way they bounce light at you. That why big light rooms light and air while small light rooms look like the inside of a cardboard box.

The big thing I always notice about these dark and moody rooms is the have really high ceilings. Do they need high ceilings to get the right look or is it just coincidence?

Could you do a dark colour(s) on the skirting, door, and chimney breast? Might look great. Definitely would make the room look bigger, oddly. I've just tested this myself.

Of course you don’t have to use light colours - you can paint it any colour you like! You could try this:
www.dulux.ca/diy/colour/colour-visualizer

My bedroom is a similar size - I have dark blue walls, off white wardrobe/ chest of drawers and wooden floors. I love it - works really well.

Not sure which paint I used - but deep grey blue.

Love stronger colours and I don’t agree that a white painted room has any more light in it.
Personally I think the key is to choose the right colour. Because pitch blue has magenta in it I am not sure that it is a sea blue but it is a lovely colour. Arsenic is kinda vibrant- it’s not my choice for a bedroom but It’s your house and if it did turn out to be a mistake you only need to repaint.
Personally I think the easiest way to choose a colour is to choose a pattern you like on a duvet or wallpaper and then pick one colour in it.
Alternatively choose a colour based on the feel you want- virbrant, sophisticated, vintage, restful.
I would choose a sophisticated Hague Blue and paint the walls, cupboard and woodwork with it, paint the ceiling and fireplace a soft white and add white soft furnishings and then add a green glass light fitting and a couple of chartreuse accents.
Alternatively choose Cornforth White for the walls, Stiffkey Blue for the window wall alcove and cupboard.
Green Smoke is a serene choice, Light Blue is peaceful, Downpipe is dramatic and Oval Room Blue feels historic.
Have fun choosing