Q: I just moved into a new condo and kept my black-brown Ikea Malm bed left over from my old apartment as well as the rest of my new furniture in the same black-brown color to match the bed. Though in retrospect I think a lighter brown would open up the room a bit more, I like the sleek, masculine look of the dark wood. Right now I'm struggling to figure out ways to lighten up the room, and I would like to purchase one or two more furniture pieces but I am afraid of venturing out of the "black-brown" comfort zone for fear that the pieces I buy will clash. Any suggestions on furniture pieces or accessories that may complement the dark look to bring a bit more light into the room?
Sent by Scott
Editor: Scott- We love the dark wood and don't think you have to get rid of it in order to create a lighter bedroom. The Malm furniture is so low to the ground which adds to the heavy feeling, but hanging some bright artwook on the walls will help create a better balance. We would suggest replacing the brown rug in the picture with something brighter or lighter. We also suggest changing out the chair on the desk; a lighter colored chair would break up the blocky dark feeling of that home office area.
Readers, do you have tips for Scott as he tries to create a lighter bedroom?
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Comments (26)
::facepalm:: It's ESpresso.
Paint the room pale blue.
Re-arrange the furniture so that you can open the door completely without hitting the dresser.
Replace the brown rug w/ a white or cream rug.
love dark wood, white linens, and yellow or light green accents
I think you guys hit it on the nose with your suggestions but the only other thing that would make a big impact is the bedding and window treatments. A bed covers such a large area and is a perfect way to get some more color in. The bedding that is shown is a slightly dusky blue and the brown ties in to the furniture but in this case, that is not a good thing. It's as if the brown piping is pointing to all the dark furniture.
hi! i have the same dilemma.
i'm thinking of adding more lighting and happier accents in my favorite colors. :)
If you paint the walls a little darker to bring down the contrast between the tonal values; it will make the room feel less stark.
Try a large floor mirror to make the space lighter and seem larger.
And I do not mean a dark color... I mean something darker than white.
I actually LOVE the white walls contrasted with the dark wood stain. It reminds me of 'Arthur's loft house tour', which was stunning, I wouldn't paint. I'd get the 'loft' rug from Brink and Campman in ivory/cream--Room and Board also carries it or something like it (the call it Laurel). Change the bedding to white/light gray. You could add all-white sleek lamps on the side of the bed, such as the Nesso (Artemide) or Ada (CB2). The room looks nice, it's just that rug that is out of place and looks cheap.
I have at least two shades of wood in each room. I think the lines and style are more important that shade. Blonde wood tones would be a nice addition to the brown/black
I think you're asking about how to make the space a bit lighter in feeling... not necessarily how to introduce more color. Three suggestions:
1) Replace the dark rug with something lighter. Make sure it has some good texture; you need that to counter all the slick surfaces.
2) Add a paper lamp to your nightstand:
http://akaristore.stores.yahoo.net/table1.html
3) Swap out your desk chair for something more open and reflective. This could be Lucite or chrome, for example. Throw a sheepskin cover on the seat if you need a cushion. Ideas:
High end, Kartell Ghost chair
http://www.allmodern.com/asp/show_collection.asp?XnID=15657&refid=G8408.ghost chairs&gclid=CMDF2ey2yJ8CFQ4HagodSnHdEw
Low end: CB2 Blueprint chair
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=206&f=5587
Low end, Bed Bath & Beyond folding chair:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=16129313
I agree with the bigger, lighter rug (maybe something less modern, with more and brighter colors and patterns going on). I would also like to see a lighter desk chair, maybe something upholstered? The other thing I would say , the door next to the desk looks like it's a closet door - I would take it down and replace it with a curtain, that would be an easy way to add some more color and texture.
Try adding a mirror and something less square. Maybe a set of the circle mirrors from CB2 http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=589&f=5497.
This doesn't seem too dark or heavy to me either. The floor is bright and light, and the lighting situation isn't heavy either. I think painting the walls a color is a good idea, but not necessary. Try to avoid matching everything. The pic frame by the bed could be silver, white, lighter wood, or even a soft gilded metal. Toss a small soft throw in gray or a bright color over your desk chair. Maybe some fabric draped over your nightstands--nothing too big or sloppy or hippy-looking, which doesn't look to be your style. Just an opportunity to add some color and texture. And the lamps -- maybe get some color shades or bases. And, of course, art, art that is not all in dark wood frames.
I go with anna82883 - my current palette is dark brown furniture (lucked out, furniture came with the apartment), all white linens, and blue accent pieces with occasional bits of yellow-beige and green thrown in.
Reminds me of the ocean, without being too cute or precious.
You might want to add more plants to your place.
Ha, I'm glad most of you like it - I do too, it's pretty darn similar to my bedroom colors! (White walls, dark wood).
Mirrored pieces work well, I like that advice above. I have some red, which makes it cozier (not necessarily lighter like you're looking for).
This might not work, but that rug has some great colors and is really texturally interesting. What if you hung it above the bed as art? (I'm not sure, maybe you could even put a frame around it to really push the "art" side?) Then take others' suggestions above to get a more neutral and lighter rug.
What about some YELLOW accents that would really Pop! and draw your eye away from all of the matchy-matchy dark wood (which looks fine btw.)
1. Yellow accent pillows on bed
2. Artwork with yellows, blues, whites, browns
3. A different rug by the bed!! A white flokati rug would look great and be so soft underfoot.
4. yellow desk chair
5. yellow storage boxes on shelves
And by yellow I don't mean canary yellow, but more of a yellowish chartreusey yellow. And by all means don't go overboard with your accent color either.
Espresso. ESPRESSOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
I have this same dilemma now with my newly purchased espresso furniture and all white bedding. It seems too stale and dark to me with the hardwood. I'm on the hunt now for a big piece of artwork to hang above my bed that full of color to give my room that extra pop. Although, I think this room looks pretty bright imho!
I agree with Colleen. My first thoughts looking at the picture were to (1) change the shelves, (2) new desk chair, and (3) larger and brighter rug.
On second glance, I think the bedding is a bit drab looking, even though it is light. How about something with a bright color to go with the new rug?
I would also add a lamp and change the pot on that plant.
lighter/brighter rug, more/brigher lamps and light colored quilt/bedspread and shams
What do you still need to buy for the room? Are you purchasing for other room as well?
If only for the bedroom, I don't find it too dark, and fear that "pops of color" will make it all a little too Ikea/CB2 (NOT that there's anything wrong with that.. it just seems you want something a bit more grown-up.
I'd begin a quest for a LARGE piece of art over the bed, and see where that takes you.
The desk chair is a good candidate for a swap out. But I'd go white before I went color. "White as a color" is a strong candidate for this room.
If you just need to add stuff to the room, "shine" is your friend... a mirror as mentioned, silver metals, glass.
But think overscaled, and simple. Fewer things, but more of a statement with each. That furniture needs to be pushed into "supporting player role" to get the room to be where you want it.
I second the suggestion of having light blue walls! I am very fond of pairing bright blue or light blue with espresso brown.
I love the light blue ideas. I have a lot of dark dark brown leather furniture that I love too. I like to pair it with lime green and aqua/turquoise. I bet pops of lime green would really help brighten the place up. Also to the people complaining about 'expresso,' yeah, it's a common mistake, big deal. Could you at least contribute to the content of the post if you're going to be cranky about something small?
basically echoing others:
--love the espresso wood (the dark wood makes basic ikea look higher end/mature (or at least that's what i tell myself since i have the malm dresser too!)
--plant is great!
--lighter chair (either something with a little metal accenting or a lighter color cushion and not a plastic seat; i'd steer clear of lucite, only because everything else in the room is so 'clean' that it could feel a little slick/overdone)
--different rug (lighter color, as opposed to "brighter" color, which could look cheap if not the right quality)
--if you opt for color on your walls, go for a very light tan (nothing too dark), and keep the trim white. i've also seen the reverse if you want white walls, with a very light tan trim (it's a little different than the normal combo and visually interesting).
--i'd accent the room with a metal lamp for the bedside table (again, not necessarily super contemporary/slick looking since you want to balance the furniture's clean lines)...maybe in a textured bronze or brushed steel/nickel (i.e. has some shine/light reflects, but kind of muted). i'd pick one that is adjustable/swing-arm and that kind of has some visual interest or looks a little more "old school" (e.g. visible knobs to adjust each arm of the lamp & head of the lamp or visible metal wire that runs along the lamp to loosen/tighten the height). or else go for a standard lamp style with some sort of heavier metal/blown glass/ceramic base...again, traditional/clean but with some element of visual interest. that kind of lamp could have a lamp shade that is fairly simple tan/cream/pale hue of whatever color is in your rug/bedding (oh yeah, don't get one with pleats/ridges, because it gets dusty and harder to clean).
http://www.desklampuniverse.com/adjustable-arm-desk-lamps/lite-source-ls-306-halogen-adjustable-arm-desk-lamp_g2543.html (i've seen this kind of stuff in the $30-50 price range)
http://www.amazon.com/White-Glass-Accent-Destination-Lighting/dp/B001EFZ12W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1265264866&sr=1-4
http://www.amazon.com/Lamp-Works-Amber-Blown-Glass/dp/B002RAR7BG/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1265264893&sr=1-28 (again, seen this kind of lamp in glass, but not necessarily "blown glass," which i think is what makes it a bit pricier)
also, if you see a cool lamp base you like at a good price, but the shade is awful or not you, don't be afraid to buy the lamp and then buy a shade separately (place like ikea and target have tons of them you could replace it with).
enjoy your new place!
i have lots of ESpresso furniture in my room too, and i counteracted the darkness of it with a)painting the walls light blue, b)white bedding c)bright paintings on the walls d)keeping the room clean so as it doesnt look chunky AND messy