16 dark bedroom ideas for a cozy and stylish design

These dark bedroom ideas prove that going bold with your paint choice can make all the difference in transforming a bedroom into something stylish and dramatic.

Deep and mood modern bedroom ideas will create an enveloping atmosphere that's perfect for a good night's sleep. So we've sifted through our archives to find the most beautiful dark bedrooms, featuring moody charcoals, gorgeous greys and inky blues.

Summer or winter, dark paint colors or wall-coverings are also a great remedy for rooms that don't receive much natural daylight, whether that's due to a lack of windows or a north-facing aspect. Rather than trying to brighten a dark room with bright or light colors (which may seem like the logical thing to do), resist the temptation as pale or vibrant colors just end up looking dull and drab if the room is naturally dark.

Instead, play to the room's strengths and use the lack of light to your advantage. Dive in with dark painted floors or walnut woods, and drown your walls with deep navy blues, smokey greys, or earthy tones. The result will be a room that cocoons you.

1. Go all over with a dark shade 

(Image credit: Barbara Corsico)

Don't just stick to a dark hue on the walls, take it onto the ceiling for a really cozy, cocooning look that works especially well in small bedrooms. Pick a dark but soft blue for a look that has depth but doesn't feel overly dramatic and add in some statement accessories in lighter hues to give the room a lift. 

Taking pride of place in this master bedroom is a statement beaded chandelier, adding a pale, bright contrast to the dark walls and ceiling, and injecting further drama due to the oversized proportions.

2. Make colors pop against dark walls 

(Image credit: Jon Day)

Bold colors pop even more against dark walls than they do white, so give a dark bedroom a colorful update by pairing deep hues with bright shades. See how the inky teal walls in this loft bedroom are the perfect backdrop for the vivid oranges, reds, and yellows of the bed linen. It creates the ideal balance between a fun and sophisticated bedroom color scheme. 

3. Add a focal point with wallpaper

(Image credit: James Merrell)

Paint is not the only way to bring darker colors into a bedroom.  A bold dramatic wallpaper can create just as much of a deep color scheme and can be the perfect focal point. 

There’s a certain sumptuousness to this space, with its rich textures and colors. bed throw and accent cushions add some welcome color, and tie in with the color scheme dictated by the bedroom wallpaper.

4. Contrast deep hues with soft neutrals 

(Image credit: Matthew Williams)

Love a neutral bedroom? Well as this space proves, not all dark bedrooms need be super dramatic either, to tone down the black feature wall in this bedroom, it's paired with lots of lovely soft, neutral layers and crisp white bedding to give the room a lift and a much more livable look. 

5. Blend furniture with the walls

(Image credit: Paul Massey)

In dark bedrooms, you don't want to break up those swathes of lovely dark walls with furniture, so reduce the visual clutter in a room by painting (or sourcing) furniture that matches the walls. In this small bedroom, the cream headboard provides all the contrast you need with the deep denim blue walls, so the side table blends in with the walls behind, creating a stylish monochrome scheme that's simple and chic, perfect for the rooms smaller proportions.

6. Contrast dark walls with white floorboards

(Image credit: Paul Massey)

If you have been blessed with wooden floorboards, why not paint them white for an instant lift to a dark color scheme? 

This space has a warm, cocooning feel thanks to the rich color palette and bold textiles. The white-painted floorboards create a sense of balance, while the upholstered headboard resting on the bed frame creates drama. 

7. Soften a dark bedroom with curves 

(Image credit: Lauren Bamford)

The doorway to the wardrobe in this black bedroom is soft and arched and makes the all-black color scheme feel less imposing and intense. And if you don't have a need for an arched doorway (this one leads into a closet) then bring in those soft shapes with other furniture, – note the custard-colored rounded chair used here – circular cushions or smoothly shaped bed side lamps.

8. Bring textures into a dark bedroom

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

Tone down the intensity of a dark bedroom and give it a more relaxed feel by layering up plenty of soft textures. Wood can really pop against a dark wall as you can see in this space, and adds a slightly rustic touch, which is only added to with he slubby linen bedding and textured matelassé style throw. There's a very welcoming vibe against the moody backdrop. 

9. Add depth with dark furniture 

(Image credit: David Lovatti)

The grey/green walls of this bedroom may not be super dark, but the overall feel of the room is moody thanks to the striking dark wood four-poster bed. The deep blue throw and moss green cushions help too, creating a space that's not too dark on the whole but still has a cozy atmosphere.

10. Add warmth to a dark bedroom with wood

(Image credit: Paul Massey)

This dark grey bedroom makes a strong case for pairing plenty of wood with dark walls. The warm wood of the feature wall and built in bedside table add texture and interest to the space, giving that flat matte grey a real lift. The blush pink headboard only helps further soften the grey walls, creating a room that feels dark and dramatic but doesn't feel imposing.

11. Bring in texture with reclaimed pieces

In this eclectic dark bedroom, the wood wall was made from old reclaimed pallets, add a ton of texture to the space and tying together the dramatic colors with the more rustic aesthetic. The warmth of the wood is added to with the pop of yellow and those rusty brown tones of the fur throw and mix of cushions. 

12. Go for a lighter scheme 

(Image credit: Lindsay Salazar)

Dark bedroom ideas aren't all about going all over your walls and ceilings with a deep shade, you can still create a scheme that's heavy on the drama but just feels a little bit lighter. Be inspired by this space and choose a chic dark grey color palette, paired with crisp clean whites and blacks – the high contrast is just as striking as a room that's been painted in a darker hue.

13. Go for a glamorous vibe with dark metallics

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

Gold may not be a color you think of when it comes to dark bedroom ideas, but a deep metallic wallpaper can bring all the drama of a navy blue wall and more as this space proves. Vintage gold wallpaper covers the walls and ceiling of this small bedroom, bouncing around a warm, moody light and giving a gorgeous eclectic look that blurs the boundaries of the room. 

14. Play with paint effects 

(Image credit: James Merrell)

Rather than drowning the whole room in darkness, the walls of this bedroom have only been flirted with deeper hues to create an elegantly decayed look. Layers of paint and varnish were built up and then distressed to resemble the musty mystique of an old château. 

15. Combine black and blue 

(Image credit: Paul Massey)

Black and blue aren't a color combination you see all that often, but in a dark bedroom this pairing can work. The deep blue teal walls and black headboard in this bedroom create an almost monochrome scheme, but that slight difference makes the room less imposing since the blue has a much softer look than just going all over with black. 

And that gold headboard? How gorgeous, adding an expectedly glamourous feature to this bedroom. 

16. Test the dark waters with a feature wall

(Image credit: Paul Massey)

Play it safe and opt for just a feature wall in a dramatic shade. Bring it to life with crisp linens and metallic accents. The pink undertone of the surrounding walls soften the grey and prevent the room from looking too cold. 

Are dark colors good for a bedroom?

Dark colors can be the perfect shades for a bedroom, creating a space that feels cozy, inviting, and stylish. Deep blues, greys, greens and blacks are all the perfect backdrop for a calming and soothing space and can work with any style from uber-modern to boho and rustic. Plus they are ideal colors for smaller bedrooms and a more on-trend alternative to an all-white scheme, as they can blur the edges of the room making it feel larger.

What colors are best for a dark bedroom?

The best colors to choose for a dark bedroom will mostly come down to personal tastes and the overall style you are after. Dark blues are a classic choice, and look wonderful as a four-wall color, or even taken onto the ceiling too. Pair these deeper blues with white for a clean crisp look that still feels light and fresh. Deep forest greens as part of a dark bedroom scheme too as an alternative to the more traditional blues and greys.