Deep, Dark, and Delicious Colors for Your Home

Deep, Dark, and Delicious Colors for Your Home

by | Aug 11, 2025 | art exhibit, art, design,photography,people, artwork, color choices, color consulting, color consulting, color design, Commercial color design, Condo associations, consultation, consulting, dark colors, designs, environmental, featured content, Fine Art, Home furnishings, IntegralColorViews, Interior color, interior colors, interiors, lobby, original artwork, paint color selecting, photographs, pick a color, psychology of color, questions, residential color, Residential color design, Selecting paint colors, Testing paint colors, Uncategorized, Visual Imaging

Let's look at it differently...Why Not?

We all love the qualities and experience of Light, Bright, Spacious…but what about the almost-forgotten Deep, Dark, and Delicious.

One comparison…
Just for a comparison, let’s start with this off-white room, “before” color and artwork is added. (To be clear, I have masked the artwork in this image, you will see it in the next one).

I personally believe that the same space with deep color is not feeling closed in, but warm and comforting—even with the cooler wall color.

offwhite room needs color

There’s a lot to be said for the idea of using darker colors, even if it’s less “popular” and often creates aversion to what the words seem to imply. It requires a slight change of mindset, and a close look at the details of your space.

So, to start, let’s consider these…

  • A warm “nest”whether large or small
  • Sanctuary space
  • Cozy retreat
  • Meditative
  • Mask surface flaws
  • Use darker colors as accent features
  • Does not have to be the entire space
  • Less ‘visual noise’
  • Glamorous
  • Make artwork a focus
  • Sophisticated
  • Corporate lobby or other specific areas (consdering the use, of course)
  • Unusual
  • Romantic

Now, think about the colors that could so beautifully satisfy those needs, both physical and aesthetic.

Some options, to start with, is a curated collection of colors I was inspired to create. You can even order painted samples of those colors right here, to check out in your own location. As with all my other curated color collections that you can see there, these gorgeous Deep Colors are 9″x 14″ and painted with 2 colors of actual paint, for the most accurate and easiest way to test colors.

You will see some are “almost-black,” and others have distinct other color attributes. Just remember that screen colors may differ a bit from actual paint.

 

dark color interior trim

Image above: courtesy Farrow&Ball

Note: all artwork featured in these images is by Barbara Jacobs. See more of her work, and order and order archival prints at this new online gallery!

What is the Down Side of using Deep Colors for Interiors?

How about when “Down” becomes “Up?” It can happen.
Every color has its strengths, and possible detriments also. With dark colors there are a few important considerations for both physical space and your emotional responses.

Consider your personal preferences
“Cozy” can become “Closed In,” so consider the scope of your own personal preferences.

    • Size and existing lighting of the space
    • How much time will you occupy the space
    • What time of day will you typically use the space

Architectural detail in the space
Consider appealing ways to use dark colors and still highlight interesting detail like classical moldings.
For example:

    • Flat or Matte wall finishes look softer and more elegant
    • Use a satin or even semi-gloss finish of the same darker color on architectural trim, moldings, and doors.
    • Or use a slightly lighter color on these accent areas.
    • Do not forget the floor! Wood, Carpet, or other materials…lighter floors can create an interesting balance to dark walls.

Lighting
Careful testing and selection of lighting is extra important. You might want “more” lighting sources in a darker space.  At least, consider lighting color, for example the difference between these 2 examples:

    • LED lighting tends to be cooler–like daylight
    • Incandescent lighting will be warmer–like candle light
    • Do you want to use ambient / overall lighting?
    • Or focused lighting, like chair-side, desktop, or bedside lamps
    • Specific wall washer detailed lighting for artwork

Furnishings and Artwork
Deeper colors offer a good opportunity to consider actual styles and colors of furnishings and artwork.

    • Stronger colors and shapes will have more presence in a darker-colored space
    • Bolder art pieces can provide excellent focal points and help create the vision you want to enjoy.
Cosmic Fissure artwork by Barbara Jacobs. See more at www.BarbaraPrints.com

Artwork Above:  Cosmic Fissure – by Barbara Jacobs.

Artwork Below: Photograph_Sharing Secrets by Barbara Jacobs.

Using Deep Colors for Exteriors? Stay tuned...

A quick example of color changes

A quick example of color changes

by | Dec 17, 2024 | art, design,photography,people, color, color choices, color consulting, color design, designer color palettes, designs, digital imaging, digital views, Exterior color, exterior colors, HOA groups, paint color selecting, Selecting paint colors, Testing paint colors

Shown ABOVE: another new color concept!

Enjoy the views of these two more color concepts for a California home in the hills. When you want to paint your home, it’s great to be able to see what it will actually look like before you buy any paint at all! This feature, Designer Color Palettes™, is part of our unique consultation process.

Second color concept for new house colors. Warm and cool neutral style colors are complemented by the surroundings. Also shown, new painted garage door idea and gutter colors.
Second new color concept
One new color concept for a contemporary California home. Front view with new proposed gutters.
New color concept - view 2
One new color concept for a contemporary California home. Side view.
New color concept - view 1

Concept development for a California house in the hills, using our Designer Color Palettes service

Two of the new concept developments for a California house in the hills, using our Designer Color Palettes service.

If Your Walls Could Talk, it’s a Powerful Message

If Your Walls Could Talk, it’s a Powerful Message

by | Jul 18, 2024 | art, design,photography,people, articles, bright colors, color choices, color consulting, color design, Commercial color design, consulting, decor, digital imaging, new designs, questions, Selecting design materials, Selecting paint colors, Uncategorized, visualization

Ideas about color abound, and new ones come up all the time. If your walls could talk, they would tell an interesting and maybe even surprising story! But who are you? The powerful message includes minimalist, brave, shy, bold, extravagant, frugal, cautious, athletic, social…? The list can go on and you can add your own ideas in the comments!

What is “Applied Color Psychology?”
For now, I’ll offer a few ideas according to theories of “applied color psychology.” I’ll even offer a little “quiz” right here, for you to have fun with. When you think about your answers and how you match up the color blocks with the various descriptions, remember it’s not for selecting a house color or a room color. That’s a more detailed set of questions and personal considerations. And, it’s a topic for another time!

If this quiz image inspires you to share it–and I hope it does–please remember and respect that, as with all copyrighted materials, this requires permission to reproduce or share directly. Just share the post instead!

I look forward to hearing about your ‘answers’ and your ideas, in the comments to this post.

Where do our personal preferences come from?
It’s a complex and multi-leveled process…So from the bottom up, please consider these levels of influence:

    • Biology-Physiology: the lightwaves that make up all colors do have an effect on us, we’re just not usually aware of it.
    • Colors in Nature and materials: From plants and rocks, water, animals and more, we are surrounded by colors of nature
    • Colors as archetypes: Consider how a bee, if black-and-yellow, carries it’s own warning signs. We use these colors intentionally i our world also.
    • Social and cultural constructs: Different cultures assign a variety of important characteristics to various colors. Red, and white, being two of them. Opposite in one culture from another!
    • Fashion, politics, trends: I call it “planned preferences” when color trends take center stage. It’s about marketing and sales. But on the bigger and more fundamental level, these ‘color trends’ have a deeper beginning.
    • Personal life experiences: Do you have a color you Love or Hate, that was present in your youth or in a relationship or other experience? That carries onward as we get older.

    Adapting to client requests…Collaboration is the Key!

    I am often asked by clients to state my favorite color. My answer is typically something a question, like…For what purposes? or In what situation? or even more often, just stating that I don’t really have one single favorite color. Take yellow, for example…a color that is often difficult to use for interiors because it can easily become dominant–not connecting–and loud, too bright, and creating discomfort. (Clue to the above ‘quiz.’)

    Personally, “yellow” is not a color that I’d use in clothing for myself.
    Why? It doesn’t do anything positive for my appearance (!) BUT, I can use a chartreuse, a very strong green-yellow, in some cases. Then also, however, in a home there could be many wonderful places where a strong yellow color could be beautiful. Accessories, for example, are a great way to include a more “extreme” color to great advantage, depending on what else is in the room. Of course, a warm, pale type of yellow is often a beautiful color to be surrounded with.

    A client “case study” story…for an example
    For Exterior color for a Victorian style home in the Boston area, the client very strongly stated they wanted PINK. Ok it’s an unusual request. In that case, as with in other similar situations where a client felt attached to a particular color, I always try to be collaborative. I believe it’s important to always consider client wishes. I can be definite in my recommendations and am always happy to state the reasons for my choices that I consider to be in the best interest of the client’s stated needs. But I have no interest in being a designer-dictator, making it only my own way.

    What happened in “The Case of the Pink House” was that I created a few different color schemes with “pink” as the focus. While it would not have been my own, personal first choice, the goal was to find the Right “pink” that would satisfy the client while being in alignment with my professional concerns. So, in collaboration with this enthusiastic and happy client, the outcome was what you see in image #13 here, in the slideshow gallery, about The Pink House.

    Glorious Gray…Better Think Before Painting!

    Glorious Gray…Better Think Before Painting!

    by | Sep 20, 2023 | art, design,photography,people, artwork, barbara jacobs, blog, color, color choices, color consulting, color design, consultation, consulting, decor, designs, IntegralColorViews, Interior color, interiors, pick a color, trends

    A good friend was asking me about using gray for interiors, and it gave me a great reason to do a blog post about it!

    According to a Zillow survey: “…dark gray may attract more prospective buyers — and higher offers — when you’re getting ready to sell.”

    True, there seems to be a big flutter about the color called “Gray” for interiors. But actually, as with many “trendy sound/news bytes” about color, it’s not as simplistic as it’s made to be. It’s more than one color, that’s for sure. And, what if you’re not selling? Creating and updating your nest at home will be the focus and goal.

    But questions arise to me. Like: Whats the appeal, beyond “Trends?” Where does that interest come from: social, emotional, and/or other things in the marketplace? What are benefits of using those colors in living spaces? In work spaces? What are negatives? This post will address those issues, for interiors. Exterior colors post will be forthcoming.

    Example of a gray wall color supporting artwork.
    Example of a gray wall color supporting artwork. Artwork can be enhanced by using a deep color behind it.
    Shown on fireplace: China Camp Shapes, Archival print of original photograph by Barbara Jacobs

    So, more questions arise, like: Where to apply it? What paint finishes are best for maximum quality effects? And from a deeper, more specific design perspective…what actual color gray are you going to use, to create your new environment.

    That’s where creative color — and what I like to call “color discernment” — comes in!

    Is “gray” considered “Cheerful?”
    Not usually, and in fact that is not a word I would ever associate with a gray-toned color. However, here’s another way to look at it. It’s about the language of describing color and the psychology and emotions that come with various colors. For example, a more high-vibration color like “yellow,” for example, is typically considered Happy or Cheerful. That’s understandable, when you look at where we usually see that kind of color…flowers, nature, sunlight associations, greeting cards, etc. Then on the other hand, do you want a really bright yellow color in your surroundings? Depending on the actual color formulation, and lighting in the space, the color can be desirable or could also be uncomfortable, making one agitated. That’s just quick example of the kind of things we need to consider in selecting colors.

    Deep gray wall color

    See the difference. Two version of the same room, as examples of using variants of deeper gray. The top image is more blue and the Lower image is towards more purple.

    Deep gray, warm tint towards purple.

    Many colors can be up-beat and still comfortable and homey. That will be a great topic for a future post. In interiors, the more low-keyed versions of these colors are the way to go for this kind of result. So, it could be a blue, a red, a green, a purple…even an orange or a yellow!

    But in the realm of Gray, I like to consider various tones in that field, so a gray can be warm, cool, light and soft, dark and deep…you get the picture.
    Following are a few examples of colors I’d not call Gray, per se (as in black + white = gray), but toned-down colors that are beautiful, comfortable, and great options when you look for something in the wide world of beautiful grays for walls, ceilings and even cabinets–which can offer a beautiful color field as important as walls or entire rooms.

    Traditional Style Living Room.
    Two forms of warm gray are a good complement to the style and furnishings of this historic home.

    Artwork below by Barbara Jacobs

    Warm, earthy gray creates a cozy nest.
    Warm, earthy gray type color in a bedroom can help create a cozy nest
    Warm deep gray on window casings.Interior.
    2 photos of the same room shows a warm gray on the wood trim in this Arts and Crafts home. The combination of colors is a good fit for this space in particular and the house in general.
    Warm gray trim with gold tone walls: Arts and Crafts home.

    Deep, more blue-based gray
    More green-based gray
    Various tones of gray.
    Very light, soft gray takes the “edge” off white

    Above: 3 examples of the same room shown with various color options.

    Finally, one important thing to consider is to not be swept away by the latest trends, especially if you have more long-range plans. But one way to use this kind of social and product-influenced color is that even typically smaller areas like trim can offer distinguished and sophisticated options.

    Below: 4 views of the same room, same color except…what is different?

    One room with a warm blue…
    Different views of the same room – note back wall color…
    Interior space with warm blues.
    Overview of the same room
    four images same room
    This back wall color behind dining table is similar, but deeper than the rest of the room

    I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments,
    and to see your own pictures of how you have used Grays, in any form.
    In fact, I welcome your suggestions for future posts on topics of interest to you.