Will dark blue walls become dated soon?

[Wigeon]

Going to be redecorating our Victorian sitting room soon - dark blue for the walls would go with the curtains and sofas, and the room has a big bay window with lots of light, and high ceilings, so it could probably take a dark colour. A friend did her sitting room dark blue with mustard accents and it looks really nice. However, am not sure if dark blue is going to look terribly dated in a couple of years and we will regret it. I don't want to redecorate in years to come before absolutely necessary!

Photo isn't my house but shows the sort of colour we're considering. Also we'd white above the picture rail and on the ceiling, like this photo.

Opinions welcome!

I’d bloody love an avocado suite. I don’t think anyone need by surprised when trends of the past come back. Twas ever thus.

Omg were you alive in the 1970s? 😂😂😂

Oh my goodness...Artex. That's evil stuff to remove.

On one ceiling I have ''lincrusta'' that has probably been there since Edwardian times- Think if I was to try to remove it the ceiling would come down.

It's true- stuff that people remember from childhood seems hideously dated.

Those modern wooden shutter blinds with movable louvres are seen a lot now, but expect they too will date in time.

The shutters I really love are the solid wooden ones in Georgian houses that fold back into soffits.

People were ripping them out in the 1950's to ''modernise''.

A great shame as shutters are so practical.

I hate purple, but if you like it, go for it. What I was going to say was that there are deep/dark blues that aren’t navy. I have an Inchyra blue living room.

I've just repainted my bedroom, i spent days and weeks going through colours and finally found one that complimented the curtains. had to order it online, it cost a fortune, i did 3 coats over the old oval room blue (which was lovely btw, but had been 13 years since last decorated)and.....its; pretty much magnolia. lovely, but yes, more or less magnolia

I like coloured bathroom suits, we had dark pink growing up. Imagine all the fun colours you could have. I have seen a trend growing for people painting roll top baths fun colours.

The house we offered on has a carpeted pedestal sink... I don't think that will come back in a hurry though lol.

Have they EVER been fashionable? I don't know anyone with dark blue walls. They look grim. Sorry @Wigeon but the whole place looks so unwelcoming and gloomy

Magnolia was a very specific colour.

It's astonishing what difference ''aspect'' makes to a colour as well.
In a North facing room, that never gets the sun, colours look vastly different to that in a south facing room.

A friend's mum brought home a specific blue popular in Southern Europe, but in England it looks very different under the colder, greyer skies.

How is a colour "grim"? It may not be your choice and taste but that doesn't make it "grim" - simply not your cup of tea.

As PPs say - period houses in particular often have rooms which work well with darker colours.

OP do whatever you want to live with and be aware that as with children's names we are all influenced by fashion when we look back. Just roll with it!

I have a dark blue bathroom and bedroom. No idea if they're fashionable or ever work but they look beautiful.

The 70s are very fashionable now, it's 50 years old and vintage. Comparable to my parents (in their 20s&30s in the 1970s) liking art deco.

Your curtain fabric looks gorgeous!
I like your middle swatch (a lot). The left hand one looks almost black to me, possibly not showing up clearly.

Thank you for the curtain compliment - I do love them!

Have painted the samples on cardboard and this picture is more true to life in terms of the colours...

The blue one on the left is gorgeous

The first lighter one is definitely nicer.

But it's blue and then my house will be UNFASHIONABLE next year! 😁 It does look good though, and not a cold blue.

I looked for images of purple-walled Victorian sitting rooms on Pinterest and funnily enough there aren't many pins! Whereas there are plenty of pins of dark blue or dark green walls!

Have a look at Atelier Ellis for lovely heritage colors - Cedric, Fallen Plum, Jam & Kanreki are all purplish that would probably work with your fabric

@Aquariusmumma - ahhhh what beautiful colours! Some I think are a bit too dark for the room but some are really lovely.

So the votes are split 50/50 with dark blue being dated/not dated! 😁

DH not keen on the couple of purple samples we got, so back to B&Q to get some more testers. Also I think the blue we got is too modern feeling (maybe too saturated?) and not heritage enough, so gonna try to find another blue. Argh! I now totally see why people pay a colour consultant!

Having seen your curtains and sofa, I would also get a nice burnt orange/terracotta/red brown sample or two. I think you're on danger of everything looking a bit cold with the wrong blue hue. There are some oranges in your curtain, get some thing similar x

Remember :

1. with actual physical paint it is easier to go darker and colder than to go lighter and warmer.
2. Colours appear much darker on a large surface than on a small one.
3. The lighting in a room has a huge effect on how warm or cool colours appear .

So start out with a slightly warm and light color and increase if necessary.

If you love dark blue and it works in your living room then go for it. It wouldn’t work in mine, because it’s north-facing and has a low ceiling, but every room is different.

Painting every room grey looks dated, but I don’t think dark blue rooms have dated in the same way. You have to choose a colour which works with the size and light of the room and any furniture and accessories you’re keeping.

At least with paint you can change it if and when latest trends fade. Unlike kitchens, my daughter rents a property with a black gloss one, you don’t see many of those in the showrooms now.