Inspiration: Kids’ rooms with dark walls

We have recently bought a home and the first room we are decorating is our toddler’s bedroom. His room isn’t very big but has a huuuge window so it gets oodles of natural light. When we first saw that room during the house viewing, my first thought was that a dark colour would be magic in there, so I tried to look for images of other kids’ rooms with dark walls for inspiration as a starting point. This was not an easy task. Most kids rooms have light walls, and for good reason. But, if the room is super rich in natural light, wouldn’t it be cool to go dark and bold?

Anyway, I persevered and found a few more gorgeous kids’ rooms rocking dark walls…

Just one wall painted in dark blue transforms this room.
What an amazing nursery! So much charm.
This shared room is painted in a deep khaki – a colour inspired by nature and camping – which makes for a stunning backdrop in this wonderfully light room.
This little girl’s room looks so sweet and chic in black, white and lilac.
Black floral wallpaper teamed with light wood and lots of pretty colours like mint, pink, blue, grey and mustard.
The black doesn't feel intense as it is broken up by the beautiful windows, furniture and toys. Don't you just love how the bright toys and art pop against the dark walls?
The black doesn’t feel intense as it is broken up by the beautiful windows, furniture and toys. Don’t you just love how the bright toys and art pop against the dark walls?
Again with the colour popping! Bright and pastel colours look so good against dark walls!
Again with the colour popping! Bright and pastel colours look so good against dark walls!
Absolutely adore this deep rich blue!

If you fancy a bold colour for your kid’s room, but aren’t too sure about whether it would feel too dark, one common option is painting one wall in a dark paint while leaving the rest light (aka feature wall) but how about trying something more exciting, like the two examples below?

This room does a great job of zoning the sleep area with a dark shade while leaving the rest of the room light. This way looks so much cooler than if they had just painted the one wall on the right with the dark grey.
This room does a great job of zoning the sleep area with a dark shade while leaving the rest of the room light. This way looks so much cooler than if they had just painted the one wall on the right with the dark grey.
If you really want to try a dark colour but aren't too sure, go half! Painting the bottom half of the wall in a deep navy brings so much depth, interest and coolness to this room while also satisfying the requirement to remain a light room.
If you really want to try a dark colour but aren’t too sure, go half! Painting the bottom half of the wall in a deep navy brings so much depth, interest and coolness to this room while also satisfying the requirement to remain a light room.

Have you danced with the dark? Would you be so bold in your kid’s room, or any room?

Images: 1 – Paul & Paula / 2 – Design Crisis / 3 – Photo by Laure Joliet for The Animal Print Shop / 4 – Fräulein Klein / 5 – Oeuf / 6 – Lonny March 2015 / 7 – Chezerbey / 8 – A Cup of Jo / 9 – Paul & Paula / 10 – The Design Files


2 Comments

  1. floorvee
    August 30, 2023 / 7:06 am

    You presented your ideas and thoughts really well.

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