10 Living Rooms with Dark Walls Perfect for Hibernating from the Cold Weather

Depending on where you live, the weather outside now is likely a little less than delightful. But that’s okay—these living rooms with dark walls are really getting us in the mood to stay in and hibernate from the cold a bit. Whether you prefer a deep blue, a dark gray, a solid black wall, or something else entirely, we bet you’ll love the spaces below, all of which are packed with personality and tons of coziness. As you look to make your space feel more you in 2020, this might be all the design inspiration you need to go to the dark side at home.

Deep blue walls and a charming fireplace? We’re sold! The living room in this UK home would make for the perfect spot to curl up with a cup of tea and take part in a good old fashioned Netflix binge. Leaving the beautiful hardwood floors partially exposed only adds to the space’s old world charm. Picture this room without those dark built-ins—it wouldn’t feel nearly as cocoon-like and cozy, right? This room is definitely making the case for matching your shelves and shelf backs to your dark wall color.

This Brooklyn apartment features navy living room walls and an expansive collection of artwork—plus, accent chairs and a colorful pouf ensure there’s enough seating for anyone who stops by to unwind. And in this case, the dark walls are reinforced by the matching graphic flatweave rug underfoot. Most designers like their carpeting to contrast with their wall colors, but here is an example where the opposite is true, and it totally ups the visual interest and impact.

This home in Norway is the ultimate spot for unwinding and cracking open a favorite book, thanks to the oversized reading lamp and plush throw. Plants add color and life to this living room, as does the whimsical rug. This room just goes to show you that happy, pastel colored accents can hang with moody walls. It’s all about the mix.

The living room in this Wales rental oozes personality and feels unique, proving that you don’t have to be a homeowner to make a space completely reflect your design preferences. Contrary to what you might think, dark colors can be a great backdrop for art or a gallery wall. Like white, a green-blue black wall provide a sharp contrast for all of your colorful, lighter pieces and frames.

Here’s another UK home that also featuring dark walls and is bursting with character. Again, black walls make an excellent canvas for a gallery wall of any kind like this one filled with angel-themed sculptures and ephemera. This room also proves that natural wood finishes absolutely pop against dark walls, too. The lighter and warmer the wood tone, the more pronounced that effect will be.

If you prefer a bit more simplicity and an organic feel, this Minnesota home will spark tons of joy. Green walls hold their own in this living area but also complement the black, white, and wooden accents throughout the open space. White curtains help lighten up and soften the look a bit, too. If you’re drawn to dark colors and the outdoors, then green might be the way to go. This hunter green subtly references nature, but olive would be another good choice as well.

This Barcelona living room features dark walls with a teal tint but still feels nice and airy, due to its modern decor and oversized windows. The large white painting looks beautiful against the wall color and creates a focal point for a room that’s packed with tons of seating and different finishes.

This Washington, DC, basement apartment proves that there’s no need to shy away from dark gray walls, even in an underground space. Light colored furniture and peppy artwork add visual interest to a space that’s short on square footage but still features all of the essentials—a cozy couch, an oversized armchair, and an extra seat for guests. Light furniture is definitely something that will offset dark walls. And this homeowner had another bright idea, literally—an acrylic coffee table, which has less visual weight than something that’s not see through.

If you’re worried about going too dark, you can always add a light accent wall to the mix. That’s what these homeowners did in the living room behind their fireplace by painting it white. You don’t see a ton of sofa and wall matching—especially in darker shades. But it can be done, if this chic room is any indicator. And dark sofas certainly are lower maintenance than light ones. But the key here is that accent wall. The two-toned wall treatment balances the entire decor scheme out.

Don’t underestimate the cozy feels you can create by painting your ceiling, namely a dark color that matches your dark walls. Because this UK living room gets so much light, it still appears lofty and somewhat grand, even though darker colors on ceilings are said to have the opposite visual effect. Tons of blankets give this space an extra layer of texture and comfort, keeping it from feeling overly dark and cold. Obviously, the natural light and plants help with that, too.