Dark colours can be gorgeous – rich, cosy, dramatic. But they also absorb light instead of bouncing it around. In a room that already struggles for daylight, going very dark on walls can make it feel smaller and more closed in, especially if ceilings are low.
In north-facing rooms, basements, or spaces shaded by other buildings, you might be happier with lighter or mid-tone colours that still give mood but don’t swallow what little natural light you have.
On the flip side, a very bright, sun-flooded room can handle deeper shades beautifully without feeling like a cave. So it’s not that dark paints are “bad,” it’s just that they need the right lighting conditions to shine.
Thinking about light first, colour second, usually leads to a room that feels good all day, not just in carefully staged photos.