Inspiration: Dark Interiors

A room painted dark can be overwhelming. We tend to gravitate towards lighter color choices for our walls, but there is something incredibly appealing about the dark interiors beautifully photographed by Ludger Paffrath. Sufficient amount of windows, natural light, or a large open space make it possible for the interiors to still feel open and inviting. We love how the furniture and artwork pop against the dark walls and floor.

The closest we ever got to dark colors in our home is a mid-tone brown that has a lot of gray in it on one of our walls. It creates a wonderful contrast with a birch plywood bookshelf that is on that wall. Have you tried darker colors for your walls? Would you ever paint any of your rooms black?

To see more amazing interiors by Ludger Paffrath, check out his portfolio website. We came across his work on PLASTOLUX.

(Images: Ludger Paffrath Portfolio)

Comments (15)

Beautiful. Really.

posted by rosenatti on June 26th 2009 at 8:04pm
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I just painted my dining room black a month ago and love the feel in there...a combination of cozy yet clean. I posted some pics of the before and after here...

http://modfrugal.com/2009/05/i-see-a-red-door/

posted by ModFruGal on June 26th 2009 at 8:06pm
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This man has done it right. I think really dark is hard to pull off, and sometimes very hard to live with. But this guy is loaded with talent.

posted by AustinSarah on June 26th 2009 at 11:26pm
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LOVE

posted by baba yaga on June 27th 2009 at 12:35am
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That's so gorgeous. I've always loved black rooms, but I've never lived with anyone who shared my enthusiasm. And I've never had any "extra" rooms that no one else uses.

posted by Lisa (Montreal) on June 27th 2009 at 7:37am
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I painted our northish-facing guest room a dark emerald color, and it looks great.
Actually, light colors didn't work on the walls of this room because of the tree in front of the window that just made everything look gloomy. Now that the wall color embraces the "foresty" light, it works. It's soothing and dramatic at the same time. And (unexpected bonus) the moldings and brass doorknobs suddenly came right out of the woodwork - plus art on the wall looks great, like in a museum.
That being said.... it is an "auxiliary" room.....

posted by annalyssa on June 27th 2009 at 8:36am
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Gorgeous, the boundaries disappear and the colors pop, but I can't imagine it for myself as long stretches of fog in San Francisco make me CRAVE sunlight (I'd spend all my days huddled by a window!)

posted by Rucy on June 27th 2009 at 10:19am
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fantastic atmosphere

posted by ck_arc1 on June 27th 2009 at 2:03pm
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The space is stunning. Count Lugubrious on the other hand...not so much

posted by Seaside on June 27th 2009 at 11:46pm
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that is a beautiful place, but i couldn't live there.

posted by maike on June 28th 2009 at 6:23am
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It's funny when you try to explain to regular people (not creative or art related) that you have a whole room painted in a dark color.....

posted by manu_pty on June 28th 2009 at 7:49am
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Through the years, I've had several black wall rooms. One day, out of nowhere, I just didn't want to live in them anymore. So, I think they can be elegant.....but it gets to you eventually.

posted by baileyb on June 28th 2009 at 8:50am
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I love dark rooms - it makes the objects within stand out so much more than if it were a white room.

posted by bepsf on June 28th 2009 at 11:28am
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All I can think is that a room like that would be perfect if you were waiting for Death to show up and play chess with you.

posted by kuroneko on June 29th 2009 at 11:42am
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It looks good here, but I think for most people living anyplace with a dark winter (Seattle here), it'd be a little TOO dark for three months of the year.

posted by matsayswhat on June 30th 2009 at 6:09pm
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