Feature wall or whole room painted??

[Laur89]

Hey all, we are looking into painting the master bedroom - we want it to be a dark blue/navy colour that seems to be fashionable at the moment. I want just the back wall painted as a feature wall and the rest white, whereas my partner wants the whole room the same colour but I'm worried this will make the room too dark - what's everyone's thoughts please?? Thanks from a novice DIYer over here!

I would do the whole room. But I like dark cosy colours. What's the natural light like?

Whole room definitely!
Feature walls are so Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen!!!

I’d do the whole room too. And I probably wouldn’t have the ceiling white either although not as dark as the walls.

And there’s nothing wrong with the bedroom being dark since it’s intended for sleeping. Just get a good reading light.

Whole room!!

I've got blue in my master bedroom. It's not navy it's more royal blue, but we've had one wall in white and with white window frames and door it balances well. It is actually unintentional but we ran out of blue and I wanted it finished pronto because I was sleeping on the sofa.

I think all blue including the ceiling.

I think it’s easy to find dark blue bedrooms in Pinterest. I do think it’s a colour that works better in larger rooms. I would have all the walls in the same colour but I would choose the shade and the accessories very carefully. There are some great ideas but I think space is required!

How much do you use your bedroom to do things like your makeup and hair?

We recently stayed in a hotel with all dark blue walls and I found it difficult to do my makeup well, even by the window. The reflection of the blue made it difficult to blend my foundation properly and not overdo the blusher. (I assume because red is on the opposite side of the colour wheel)

Whole room but with lots of white or light colours to break it up. So white window, white door, skirting, white wardrobes, big mirror somewhere, light flooring, light bedding.

If you have a picture rail then paint white on the ceiling and down to the picture rail.

If you do one wall, don't paint the rest white as white and navy are a bit stark. Would go with a light bluey grey on the other walls.

Defiantly prefer whole room but don't pain the ceiling dark blue!

Whole room or not at all - agree feature walls are so 1990's!

I've just done my living and dining room in this - I will go dark with bedroom next Summer, when I get over the stress of painting a downstairs (and I haven't even painted it myself!!!).

It is a major look though so if you are not sure, don't do it.

Whole room. Feature walls feels like your not quite sure.

All navy blue is going to be very dark unless your room is huge and you have looks of windows?
And even more so if the ceiling in blue too!

I personally love feature walls if they are a statement, so could you not go with something like this on the feature wall and then a lighter paint on the other walls?
www.ilovewallpaper.co.uk/wallpaper-c1/zara-shimmer-metallic-wallpaper-navy-gold-p5812

For a bedroom a whole dark room would be lovely and cosy.

If you have a picture rail then paint white on the ceiling and down to the picture rail.
^ don’t do this for two reasons:

1. it will make your walls low and therefore the ceiling look lower more suffocating. Go right up over the picture rail with the blue.
2. choose a slightly off white colour. Blue and pure white are too stark against each other. (Unless you’re going for a strong, purposeful nautical theme.)

Here’s an example of the exact same room painted with a feature wall (stopping below the picture rail) vs the whole room (and above the picture rail) to illustrate my point. (You might need to click on them to see them to their fullest.)

Additionally, it’s worth noting that you also shouldn’t go and pick out the picture rail by painting it it white like a skirting board.

The whole room on that colour might be very dark? When there are no light walls for the light to bounce off, the remaining walls tend to look a few shades darker. Maybe go for a few shades lighter.

I wouldn't paint the ceiling a dark colour as it will make is seem lower

I agree with MaJoady about the practicality of all navy if you're doing your make up in the room. It changes the light so much.

Bobby Berk (interior designer on Queer Eye) has been doing a lot with dark walls recently. Check out his website for some inspiration x