Why I Love Dark Paint Shades for Bedrooms

I just finished painting our bedroom and – surprise – I went with a dark color! In this post, I’m chatting about the best dark paint shades for bedrooms, and why I’m such a sucker for a nice, dark bedroom.

The first time I picked a dark and moody color to paint my bedroom, I was nervous. I felt like all I ever saw were bright and airy bedrooms, and it felt like such a risk to choose something so different and bold for our room. It was in our second home, and we picked Calligraphy by Behr. It felt so dark at the time, but two houses later I can say it’s the lightest color I’ve chosen for a bedroom in years and years!

I’ve come to love dark paint shades for bedrooms and so it’s no surprise that we went with something nice and moody for our room in this house, too! I just finished painting our bedroom Dirty Chai by Clare Paint and, oh boy, it was such a great choice.

Video Review: Dark Paint Colors for the Bedroom

Why a Dark Paint Color for the Bedroom?

For me, having a dark paint color in my bedroom feels like a warm and cozy hug. When I walk into my bedroom at the end of the day, the dark walls envelop me and help me lean into relaxation. It soothes my nervous system and signals to my body that it’s time for rest.

Who knew paint could do so much?!

In addition to that, dark, inky hues can really lend a sense of sophistication to a room. They add depth and warmth to the space, and create a ton of visual interest. It’s a choice that makes your room feel layered and interesting, and I’ve never regretted choosing a dark paint color for my room!

The Best Dark Paint Colors

Looking for the perfect shade for your space? There are a ton of deep hues out there that are perfect for your bedroom, but I have a few that I’ve used over the years that I can highly recommend.

The Best Dark Blue Paint Colors for Bedrooms

If I had to choose one dark blue paint color to tell you to paint your bedroom, it would be Ink Black by Behr. This is the color we had in our last bedroom and it’s easily the most-asked-about paint color I’ve ever used. It’s gorgeous and cozy such a great choice for any space.

Other dark blue paint colors I’ve used and loved are:

• Goodnight Moon by Clare Paint (see it in Grant’s room in our current house)
• Starless Night by Behr (see it in Jackson’s room in our last house)

The Best Dark Green Paint Colors for Bedrooms

Dark green paint colors are one of my go-to choices for any space in the house and I have a lot of them that I love! My current favorite is Field Trip by Clare paint – it’s what we used in Jackson’s bedroom in this house, and it’s such an incredible color. Honestly, if he hadn’t chosen it for his room I might have used it in my own!

Other dark green paint colors I highly recommend are:

• Current Mood by Clare Paint (see it in Grant’s room at our last house)
• Bonsai Trunk by Behr (see it in our entry in the last house – probably my second-most-asked-about paint color I’ve ever used!)
• Black Evergreen by Behr (see in in the bonus room at our last house)

The Best Dark Neutral Paint Colors for Bedrooms

And, of course, that brings us to this house where I painted my bedroom brown! If you would have told me a decade ago that I’d be using (and loving) brown paint, I would think you’re crazy. But here we are! I went with Dirty Chai by Clare Paint for our bedroom, and it truly feels like the perfect color for this room. It’s so incredibly cozy and fits the vibe of our house perfectly. I probably will still be adding some trim or paneling or something to the walls at some point, but for now this is the perfect thing to make the space feel a little more like us.

Here are a few other dark neutral paint colors that I really love:

• Coffee Date by Clare Paint (see it in our dining room here)
• Carbon Copy by Behr (see it on our kitchen island at the last house)

Not Ready to Go All In?

If you love the idea of using dark paint shades in your bedroom but you aren’t ready to fully commit, here are a few suggestions:

• Try painting an accent wall first. Get your feet wet with something dark and bold and see how you like it! I’ve done this in friends’ houses with both this dark green accent wall, and this black accent wall!
• Try adding some dark wallpaper! If you want something cozy and dark but maybe don’t want it all to be paint, try choosing some wallapper you love for the top half of the wall to break things up.
• Add dark decor. Not quite ready to paint anything? Choose some bold and dark bedding, some dark curtains, or even just a dark-colored rug. Get an idea of how it feels to start slowly. darkening things up in your bedroom, and then you can try painting later!

So now, I’ve got to know. Would you try painting a dark shade in your bedroom? What’s your go-to bedroom paint color?!