Clocks have gone back, fires have been lit and there’s never been a finer time to consider one of our favourite decor aesthetics: dark and moody. Blending swathes of inky colours, rich fabrics and distressed metals, this bold and dramatic style makes for a bewitching living room that’s perfect for autumn and stays stunning all year round.
1. Gothic Gallery
A standout gallery wall does much of the talking in this darkly luxurious space. More is more, from printed cushions to intriguingly empty ornate picture frames, metal letters to surreal donkey head decor. With a theme like this, nothing is too much, including a striking modern gothic chandelier.
2. Black Magic
Another take on wall art within the dark and moody trend is an ornate feature wall. You could opt for a Victorian wallpaper with complex patterns, or choose a one-of-a-kind mural like this one. Flowers, birds and a stag soften the sombreness of the all-encompassing black walls and ceiling. We love the distressed metal candlesticks and the standout, antique brass lamps.
3. Lighten Up
Looking for a lighter version of the dark and moody look? This room proves that even the lightest touch of white can lift a mainly-black room into something a little less heavy. White paint up top, a playful feature light and a cool marble fireplace work monochrome magic on the space. With this as a background, the aged brass mirror pops.
4. The Glamour of Gold
Black and gold make for a powerful duo when they’re put together in interior design. Here, a statement wall highlights touches of gold in the various accessories around the room. A similar, but more impactful look, could be achieved with the addition of brass panelling, adding texture as well as colour.
5. Plush Perfection
Here’s a very clever use of colour. An inviting sofa in soft, mustard velvet pulls out the gold features on the gallery wall behind it. The rich, yellow tones of the fabric match the shades and texture of the star-shaped brass wall art. Red scatter cushions add a splash of boldness, whilst the pale background on the rug brings a welcome touch of light to the matte black theme.
6. The Midnight Hour
Not quite ready to paint your living room black? A rich navy like the one shown here (on walls and fireplace) might just be the perfect compromise. Midnight blue and brass work wonders together, as you can see here, but there’s another option: aged copper. The orange tones of copper complement blue beautifully. The hint here is in the coppery tones of the polished walnut drinks cabinet.
7. Metal Magnificence
Not all dark and moody living rooms need begin with paint. A feature or media wall made entirely of patinated metal can give a room a dramatic, industrial feel before you’ve even so much glanced at colour swatches. This one even incorporates a warming fire and neat log storage. If you wanted to make things moodier, you could swap the jewel-coloured seating shown here for bottle greens or deep blues.
8. Matter than Matte
In high-ceilinged rooms with masses of natural light, you can afford to get brave with colour. This breathtaking room is engulfed in an incredibly matte black shade that even takes in the fireplace and the cornicing. Once again, brass makes the perfect material for rare glints of metal, whilst contemporary-shaped furniture and light fittings give the space a modern edge.
8. Crowded House
Sometimes, the boldest ideas are the greatest. Unlike the last picture, this room has a low ceiling and a lack of natural light, but the dark and moody theme has been thoroughly embraced. Maximalist styling is the order of the day here: large paintings, mixed textures and an oversized chandelier make this stunning space feel cosy, not cluttered.
9. Modern Moody
Not all dark and moody living rooms have to fall within the Victorian Gothic look. This beautiful contemporary living space shows how deep, brooding colours can work just as well in a modern design. With mottled walls and ceilings in storm cloud grey and a wall of copper cladding, this room brings the trend right up to date.
10. Rich and Rusty
A warm metallic pallet, helped again by velvet. This inviting sofa is a nod to the rich tones of copper and Corten steel. Charcoal grey might not be the first colour you’d think of pairing with russet, but here it works. Vintage brass lamps and mixed fabrics soften the edges of an otherwise industrial look.
Interested in adding aged metal to your dark and moody living room design? See our full range of artisan aged metal finishes.
