While owners of smaller homes tend to avoid dark colours like a plague, it should be said that they don’t always result in gloomy, oppressive spaces! When used sparingly and at the right places, having deeper shades interweaved amongst lighter palettes is the key to elevate the look of any home, regardless of its size. See how contrasting colours are cleverly executed to create stunning decor styles!
1. The expansive common area is beautifully outlined by having wall sections and ceiling beams painted in slate grey. It gives the open-concept home more definition, and lends the wooden and brick surfaces with a moodier edge.
Interior Designer: KDOT Associates
Location: Circuit Road
2. While this home is bathed mostly in whites and browns, the use of black on the feature walls of the living room and kitchen gave both the spaces a more solid visual anchor. The home can also attribute its visual vigour to the high black and white contrast of the chevron tiles and chairs at the dining area.
Interior Designer: Third Avenue Studio
Location: Strathmore Avenue
3. The high ceilings of this home allowed the designers to raise the bar and go all out with its Classical European design. Having the full-height wainscoted cabinets in jet black with gold accents worked as a stunning backdrop for the luxurious leather chesterfield sofa and mahogany curtains. The pair of chandeliers topped it all off, completing the home’s palace-inspired décor.
Interior Designer: The Scientist
Location: Twin Waterfalls
4. While dark colours can make a small space feel more enclosed, this effect works superbly well to add cosiness to big homes. Sprawling spaces can feel cold – think museums and art galleries – and the use of dimmer palettes can transform it into a more welcoming dwelling.
Interior Designer: Fineline Design
Location: The Trizon
5. A modern nod to the Memphis design movement that emerged from Italy in the early 80s, this funky HDB flat is all about the clashing of loud and soft colours. This approach is not for the faint-hearted. It requires full commitment to the style, and a confident homeowner to pull off daring colour pairings such as deep blues and fire engine red with yellow.
Interior Designer: Fifth Avenue Interior
Location: Simei
6. Sleek interior design, dark colours, and ambient lighting are combined here to create a soothing sanctuary evocative of a posh boutique hotel suite. The master bedroom is a fine example of how a grey and brown colour scheme can work even for a small space – having a white ceiling prevented the room from feeling enclosed by the dimness.
Interior Designer: Fatema Design Studio
Location: Tampines Street
7. While white and other neutral shades are the go-to base colours for many homes here, this utilitarian apartment proves that building a home’s interior design upon a grey foundation can be a much more stylish alternative! The use of black for the ceilings is also an unusual choice, and together with the florescent lights, gives the space a snazzy, fashionable look.
Interior Designer: Butler Interior
Location: Fernvale
8. The sleek and shadowy open kitchen brings the mysterious and sexy vibes of a speakeasy into the apartment, even when it’s bathed in day light! It is a stylish juxtaposition to the rest of the home’s softer shades, and brings an added dimension to the décor style.
Interior Designer: The Association
Location: Millpoint
9. If you’re still on the fence about incorporating dark colours in your home, start with the bedroom as it can help ease you into a calmer state. Beyond its aesthetic purposes, colours should also be selected based on the area’s function. Here, lighter shades are used in areas associated with alertness, such as the living room, and darker shades for relaxation in the bedroom.
Interior Designer: Free Space Intent
Location: Macpherson Residency
10. The effect of using brown accents is most noticeable in a home filled with pale grey. Here, the bedroom makes use of timber elements that complement well with the darker shades, creating a visually soothing combination.
Interior Designer: The Scientist
Location: Skyville @ Dawson
If done right, darker shades add visual contrast to your home, giving more depth than it really seems. Download the Qanvast app for more inspirations on how you can style up your abode. With over thousands of ideas along with costs and reviews, it is now easier to design your home. Get the free app from App Store and Google Play.
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