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Design: Grey Hunt Interiors, Photo: Christy Kosnic
Good decorating is often about creating drama in a space—but lately, we've been noticing an uptick in moody, midnight-dark bedrooms that take the decadent vibe to a whole other level. Some folks may prefer waking up in bright and cheery lemon-yellow rooms to kickstart their energy in the AM, but if you ask us, starting your day in a dark space is a small price to pay for getting to curl up in your own personal glamour cave every night. (We can't be the only ones who like to feel like enigmatic Victorian recluses every once in a while, right?)
And while the dark bedroom trend might seem over-the-top or polarizing at first, it's actually surprisingly easy to achieve—even if glam-goth isn't your vibe. The main ingredient? A budget-friendly can of paint (or two) in this season's most dreamy blues, purples, dark greys, or—yes—blacks. From there, you can see where the mood takes you—whether you balance out the scene-stealing hue with lofty white linens, go for an all-dark vibe to match, or embrace your maximalist side with plenty of print, pattern, and color to poke fun at the inherent drama of such an attention-demanding hue. Contrary to what you might think, there's no need to be overly serious when picking one of these dramatic shades.
Read on to see how different designers and homeowners are channeling their dark side to fit their personalities—be it boho, whimsical, or modern macabre.
Moody Meets Modern
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This dreamy bedroom checks two trends off in one. The rich, decadent wall color is offset (and modernized) by of-the-moment cane accents in the form of this bedframe, while retro-print textiles add a playful pop of pattern.
The Light Side Of Dark
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Proof positive that achieving a moody and mysterious bedroom look doesn't *always* mean painting your walls a super dark hue. This grey bedroom from The House That Black Built is surprisingly light for the titular house...but it's still heavy on dramatic vibes, thanks to black and white zigzag textiles, overstuffed charcoal pillows, and black and gold metal accents.
Just A Dip
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Not ready to commit to a whole deep-dive on murky blues? Try out the trend on an accent wall like this space—you'll get the dreamy, dark effect without zapping all the light from your space. If you change your mind, it's all the easier to repaint—without spending half your budget on primer.
Total Blackout
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Back in black. Light wood flooring, high-shine reflective metals, and tons of texture keep this black-painted bedroom from feeling cave-like. Instead, a textile wall hanging helps the space feel light and just a bit bohemian.
Camp Nights
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Bet you thought dark bedrooms had to be ultra-glam, right? Not necessarily. This cool, camp-inspired bunk room has us falling head-over-heels in love with the rustic-meets-contemporary look. Eclectic textiles, graphic prints, and of course that iconic rock wall add tons of depth to this grey-blue room.
Floor Show
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Look where you're walking—a dark painted floor lends a subtly Scandi vibe to this space (and is a clever alternative to painting the walls, when most of the walls are taken up by windows anyway). Deep indigo bedding echoes the darkness of the floorboards.
Cheeky Charcoal
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This feminine space proves that dark bedrooms can still be playful and whimsical. The light blush bedding adds a refreshing break to the sea of dark walls.
Old Hollywood Vibes
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Design: Grey Hunt Interiors, Photo: Christy Kosnic
We're already dreaming of waking up in this feminine, fierce bedroom by Grey Hunt interiors. The dark walls add just the right amount of drama to touches of leopard print and pink, creating a space befitting a starlet.
Elegant With An Edge
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Dark walls ground this masculine yet luxe room, helping all the rich textures stand out even more—from leather to plush fur to the sleek antlers overhead. We love how this designer managed to marry soft with hard and masculine with feminine to create a custom look that just works.
Lush Wonderland
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Who knew leafy greens looked so good against dark walls? This jungle-y bedroom is glamorous to the max, with its palm prints and big cat energy...but it's also a little whimsical and fun, to balance things out.
Half & Half
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Another clever way to get the on-trend dark bedroom look without going overboard—Sonia from Zus Interieur created faux "paneling" in the form of colorblocking her bedroom. The effect is moody and just a bit modern art-inspired (in the best way).
Pattern Play
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Design: Ginny Macdonald for EHD, Photo: Tessa Neustadt
This dark, dramatic wallpaper might've been overwhelming on all four walls—but as an accent wall highlighting the rich blue bedframe, it's pure perfection.
Try picking just one wall to showcase with a regal, vintage-inspired wallpaper—you'll get the elegance and high-impact effect without zapping all the light from the room (and your wallet will thank you, too).
Welcome To The Jungle
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Sensing a theme? We're kind of obsessed with pairing leopard print (especially this quirky oversized version) with dark bedroom walls. The mix of textures in the bedding really stands out against the luxe dark backdrop, too.
Rockabye Baby
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Dark bedrooms for a baby? Believe it. While you might think of pastel pink and blue first when it comes to decorating for little ones, black, navy, and dark grey nurseries have actually been a growing trend in recent years. And this ultra-graphic take shows why—it's fun, sleek, and unexpected at the same time.
Chain Gang
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Is this wallpaper the most glamorous thing ever, or what? The gold chain motif is just dripping in old-school luxury, while bright white linens keep things feeling au courant.
Boho Black
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We love a free-spirited, boho take on this trend. This colorblocked space makes use of chair rail to lend a polished—but ultra-easy-to-achieve—look to the room. Gold accents, soft textiles, and a few eclectic accessories complete the effect. This might be the most laid-back take on dark bedrooms we've seen—even factoring in the stellar canopy bed