Dramatic Resene paint colours to reach for when only dark will do

10 Feb 2023

There was a time when many believed that painting a room from tip to toe in a dark hue would automatically make the space feel smaller. Luckily, that theory has been disproven.

Savvy designers know that when used correctly, the recessive nature of darker paint colours can actually open up a space while simultaneously creating cosiness and drama and infusing it with richness and luxury.

More and more clients are opening their eyes to the many opportunities and benefits that dark colours offer and need far less convincing to take the dive and opt for deep hues than they might have previously shied away from. Even if you and your client are planning to keep the main surfaces in your design light and bright, you’ll likely still want to leverage a dark paint or wood stain colour to ground or add contrast to your space – whether it be on the floor, ceiling, furniture, accessories or an accent wall. But with so many sumptuous options to choose from, including some decadent new additions in the latest Resene The Range fashion colours fandeck collection, you might be at a loss for where to start your search for the ideal dark.

From rich raspberry reds to smouldering cinders, here are some of our favourite dark colour darlings you’ll want to use to add depth on your next project – plus plenty of tried-and-tested top tips to pull them off.

Try Resene Persian Red in a den

Left wall painted in Resene Persian Red, right wall in Resene Merlot, back wall (through doorway) in Resene Coral Tree and floor in Resene Rebel. Sofa from Bradfords Interiors, rug, desk and coffee table from Ligne Roset, floor vase from ECC.

When working with a small, dark or dull room, it’s important that your client understands that a light wall colour doesn't create lightness the way it can in a larger, open space. Instead, it can do just the opposite. When a space is starved of natural light, it's better to lean into it and go for a really strong colour to add depth to the room and then accentuate it with lighter elements. These details don’t have to be in stark contrast, like adding a crisp white sofa – though, that is one solution. You could also try a more tonal approach by looking to the other hues on the same Resene colour card as your dark hero hue for use on furniture and accents.

In a space that’s meant for lounging, a tonal palette of raspberry reds – a very up and coming trend colour – has been used on different surfaces. Resene Persian Red and Resene Merlot on the walls, Resene Rebel for the floor and Resene Coral Tree in the adjacent hallway work together with similarly tonal hues in the sofa and rug to create a luxurious, colour-drenched effect that’s incredibly inviting. The difference in textures between the shinier sheen of the velvet, the flatter paint finishes and the pattern of the rug adds just enough interest to effectively break up the monotony of the colour scheme. To bring in similar blues to the chair and rug, try adding a touch of Resene Dream Big and Resene Ocean Waves to the space.

Top tip: In low-light spaces, be sure to bring in some metallic or reflective surfaces to catch and reflect light, which will only add to the luxe vibe. Colours from the Resene FX Metallics range are great for painting accents and accessories, such as picture frames, to add a touch of sparkle and shine to your design.

Try Resene Rewilding in a hallway

Front wall in Resene Rewilding, back wall in Resene Creme De La Creme, floor in Resene Tic Tac Toe with Resene FX Paint Effects medium mixed with Resene Springtime applied on top and small vase (on middle shelf) in Resene Black Doris. Chair and bookshelf from Bauhaus, wall-hanging from Città, curtain, wooden vase and books from Father Rabbit.

Deep hues work great in intimate spaces like bedrooms, home theatres, bathrooms and powder rooms since they are so effective at setting a moody tone. But if your client isn’t falling in love with using a dark paint colour for these areas, you can also get them to consider using a dark colour in a pass-through space such as an entry, hallway or mudroom.

A deep, earthy brown-edged green like Resene Rewilding can make an impressive and impactful first impression. Remember to connect the colour to adjacent spaces by either using Resene Rewilding as an accent colour or choosing a common colour for the flooring.

If your clients have never tried a dark, cocooning colour before, remind them that it’s well worth taking the plunge. After all, paint is probably the quickest, easiest and most affordable element of their design to change in the future if they decide it’s not to their taste or want to try something new. But once they experience all the comfort and luxuriousness that being surrounded by a deep, velvety hue offers, they’ll likely to fall in love with it.

Top tip: While you can use Resene A4 drawdown paint swatches to view colours, for some clients a bigger piece of colour works better to help them visualise the finish. For those clients paint the entire contents of a Resene testpot in your planned dark hue on to a piece of A2 cardstock in two coats leaving an unpainted border around the edge and allow it to dry fully. With the painted surface on the inside, join the ends so that the cardstock becomes a cylinder shape. Then, get your client to look down into the cylinder for the full colour effect.

Try Resene Nocturnal or Resene Half Tuna on architectural features

Wall painted in Resene Nocturnal with battens in Resene Half Tuna, side wall in Resene Nocturnal, floor stained in Resene Colorwood Dark Oak, coffee and console tabletops in Resene Half Tuna, lamp base in Resene Blue Smoke with shade in Resene Nebula, sculpture in Resene Blue Smoke with plinth in Resene Nocturnal, tealight holder in Resene Yucca, bowl in Resene Tiara and vase in Resene Half Tuna. Sofa and ottoman from King Living, mirror from Freedom, cushions from Freedom, Penney + Bennett and Nood.

Dark paint colours can be particularly effective at highlighting some of the special features of your design. Look to architectural features like joinery or mouldings, battens, panelling, mantels, exposed pipes, beams or rafters and the like. 

But no matter what surfaces you use dark colours on, you’ll still want to pay close attention to the natural light that’s flowing into the space. What direction is it coming from? And is the sunlight direct or diffused?

Off-blacks or soft blacks like Resene Nocturnal and Resene Half Tuna are ideal dark colour options for spaces that get a lot of natural light because truer blacks will get washed out. If your ‘black’ will end up looking like a soft black or charcoal grey anyway, then it’s usually better to opt for a softer or off black with more depth, complexity and interesting undertones to make the most of your colour choice. 

Top tip: Lower sheen or matte finishes such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen and Resene SpaceCote Flat are desirable formulas for darker colours in order to create a ‘velvety look’, but keep in mind that you may have to adjust your lighting or window covering design appropriately to get the effect.

Try Resene Blackest Black in a media room

Tongue-and-groove panelled wall painted in Resene Blackest Black, floor in Resene Stepping Stone, console in Resene Nero, large vase in Resene Element, small vase in Resene Foundry and wood board in Resene Blackest Black. Chair from Matisse, rug from Baya, Frame television from Samsung.

Dark paint colours make for a tremendously dramatic effect on ceilings regardless of whether they are used in conjunction with light or dark wall and floor colours. However, keep in mind that a dark ceiling contrasting with lighter walls will often create the illusion that it is lower than a lighter ceiling. Leverage this effect in spaces that you want to infuse with cosiness and intimacy that would feel too lofty with light coloured ceilings.

In a media room or home theatre, where extra light can inhibit the viewing experience, it’s ideal to paint both the walls and ceiling in a dark hue. Resene Blackest Black is one of the newest hues in Resene’s colour collection, and it’s perfect for media rooms (particularly windowless ones) where you want the wall and ceiling colour to absorb as much light as possible. Thanks to new pigment and paint technology, Resene Blackest Black is noticeably jetter than Resene Black (which used to be Resene’s darkest colour option). Order a free A4 Resene drawdown paint swatch online to see this incredible colour for yourself.

Try Resene Colorwood Pitch Black on timber wall cladding

Timber wall cladding stained in Resene Colorwood Pitch Black and floor in Resene Colorwood Dark Oak, cabinet and small black vase in Resene Blackout and artwork in Resene Gin Fizz and Resene Blackout. Chair and pendant from Good Form, floor vase from Città.

Timber walls have been a popular design choice for a number of years now, and while a ‘natural’ effect can be desirable, the hard truth is that wood needs more protection from our harsh UV light than a clear coating provides. Instead, take your timber wall design in the opposite direction with deep and dark Resene Colorwood Pitch Black. Not only will you infuse your wood-clad space with depth and drama and protect it from UV damage, your design will still be enhanced by the beauty and texture of the timber’s natural grain.

And although it’s common for clients to be drawn to choosing a darker paint or wood stain colour for their flooring, remind them that it’s best not to select too dark of a colour – for practical purposes. As anyone who has owned a black vehicle can tell you, dust and dirt are lighter in colour than you may think. Timber stains like Resene Colorwood Crowshead, Resene Colorwood Charred Black or Resene Colorwood Dark Oak are all excellent darker options for timber flooring which also still allow the wood grain to show through – thus masking the appearance of dust, debris and footprints in between cleans.

For more colour inspiration, check out the latest issue of BlackWhite magazine.

projects Amber Armitage, Vanessa Nouwens

images Bryce Carleton, Wendy Fenwick

Published: 10 Feb 2023