The tone of the walls or floors in the interior of a home can be completely arbitrary. After all, this question entirely depends on the personal preferences of the apartment owners. Some people want to see pink walls and dark red floors in their home, while others prefer a more restrained design in cool colors. Considering this point of view, it should be noted that the floor in the interior of the apartment may well be dark. This option looks luxurious and stylish, as we can see by looking at the photo.
Fashionable solution
Do not think that a floor painted in a dark tone is anything unusual. Not at all. Subtle colors of stone or earth are more than natural for floor decoration. Although, looking back at history, it should be noted that light surfaces in the interior have always been considered a sign of wealth and respectability. Today, for example, dark laminate is a completely fashionable and modern solution. One cannot but agree that against the background of a non-staining floor, light-colored furniture looks very impressive, and in any room. But, despite the visual appeal, floors made in dark colors have both advantages and disadvantages.
Dear Me
Replace old wallpaper, choose a new wall color - do you think it's easy? Actually, not really
Most interior design advice is aimed at the “greenfield renovator.” Or those who are ready to clear the old world to the ground and build a marvelous new one in its place. But what if you’re just tired of the old wallpaper and you’re trying to figure out whether the next “color of the year” will suit the existing decor of your home? We tell you how to evaluate the “compatibility” of the main planes in the interior.
If you don't know where to start, start with the floor. Because if you already have a “dream wallpaper”, then for the sake of it you will probably redo your entire environment. And if you just need to update the interior with minimal losses, you should focus on the flooring. After all, it is changed least often, while the ceiling or walls are easy to repaint.
If the floor is dark
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Many people are concerned about the question: if the floor is dark, what kind of walls should there be? Don't be afraid of "active walls". On the contrary, appreciate how lucky you are with a dark floor: you can simultaneously experiment with bright rich shades and expressive prints. Fact: Dark tones of the flooring are perfectly combined with the active color (pattern) of the walls and light ceiling. However, this combination looks quite catchy, so it is better to choose the main (cabinet) furniture in light colors for the room.
Author: Fotograf Lisbet Spörndly – See more interior solutions: living rooms
Low or high room is not so important. An option with a dark floor and richly colored walls is suitable for both high and low ceiling rooms. If you want to visually lift a room, go darker with a rich tone or use wallpaper with a vertical pattern.
Posted by Nooks - More Design Ideas: Living Rooms
If the floor is dark in a narrow room
Apply the principle of an accent wall and under no circumstances change the appearance of the floor, let it remain dark. And feel free to make the walls deep and rich in color, and the ceiling white.
From: DesignMe – See more interior design photos
If at the same time you need to visually “correct” a narrow room with a low ceiling or, conversely, correct a high room-well, it is enough to add a light color to one of the “short” (in case of expansion) or “long” (in case of decrease) walls to the previously described scheme . This solution will optically correct the configuration of the room.
Posted by Dyer Grimes Architecture - Browse interior design photos: bedrooms
If the floor is dark and you don’t like bright walls
If you like a more measured and traditional palette, but bright shades are not for you, choose the “gradient” effect that is relevant today. Do not confuse with “degrade” (when there is a transition from dark to light on one wall). By gradient I mean the same shade of varying degrees of pigment saturation, which moves from wall to wall and then to the ceiling: say, the ceiling has 5% saturation, one of the walls has 60%, the other has 75%.
From: Different Designs Group - Find new interior solutions: dining rooms
The dark floor will be complemented by walls of darker and medium tones and a light ceiling. In this case, one color scheme is used, only the shades will be different. Interestingly, this technique is suitable not only for paint or wallpaper, but also for curtains - “large” surfaces covering walls. Or just for part of the wall.
Important: This combination is suitable for any type of room. The main thing is to correctly distribute the color load across all horizontal and vertical planes.
If the floor is dark and you want to experiment
Try making a dark ceiling - not darker than the floor, of course, but with a clearly defined tonality.
Author: Nina Frolova - More design ideas: design ideas
Interestingly, this combination is suitable for rooms with both high and low ceilings. If you are not afraid of non-standard solutions, choose one of two options. Dark floor, light walls (photo above) and dark ceiling - this combination looks very modern.
If the floor is light
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You can work on the principle of “developing opposites”: make the walls dark and contrasting. They will look even more active due to the light floor and ceiling. By the way, the combination of dark walls and light floors makes the room more elegant.
Bright interior and light floor
Author: Alexander White - See more interior solutions: bedrooms
Perhaps the most familiar combination from our selection. Light floor, light walls and light ceiling.
To prevent the interior from seeming monotonous, you can choose an original pattern for the walls or a bright and unusual color of furniture that will attract attention.
Light floor and dark ceiling
Author: Yuri Grishko - View photos of interior design: corridors
A light floor can be perfectly combined with a dark ceiling and with dark and light walls. This option is suitable for rooms with high ceilings. One or two dark walls (for example, you can match graphite or dark chocolate wallpaper to a light floor) will help add harmony and integrity to the composition.
Tip: Do not use too obvious a contrast for this option, so that the planes of the room are not strictly divided in half.
Colorful floor or bright carpet
Author: Cornerstone Architects - More interior design photos: living rooms
Taking a bright and colorful floor as a basis, complement it with light walls and a light ceiling. Add some bright accents to the decor, leaving the main light palette - this solution will help balance the main accent of the floor.
Author: Ekaterina Lovyagina - Other interior solutions: living rooms
A bright motley floor, a dark ceiling and light walls is a combination for those who are looking for the brightest and most unusual in the interior: such a palette will not let you get bored. A bright pattern in this case can also be present in textiles. But it’s better to leave the walls plain.
Disadvantages of a dark floor
The ability to amazingly reduce a room, both in length, width and height. That is why designers do not recommend using black, brown and chocolate tones in small apartments when decorating the floor in the bedroom and living room. A dark background is an excellent indicator of cleanliness in the premises. On such a surface all the crumbs of debris, footprints, and traces of poor cleaning are visible.
Dark laminate does not like scratches and dents from furniture legs. Therefore, in high-traffic areas and under the legs of chairs, armchairs and sofas, you need to place a carpet that will protect the floor.
Which doors are suitable?
The dark flooring should blend well with the rest of the interior elements. This applies not only to furniture and wall decoration, but also to structures such as windows and doors. So what do you need to know about this?
The combination of dark flooring and snow-white doors will look especially advantageous. The walls in the room may have a soft cream or beige color. Wallpaper or paint are used as finishing materials. Discreet light doors will harmonize well with a dark floor. This option is much more practical than classic white doors.
Fans of bright, fashionable combinations can be advised to use a combination of dark floors and light gray doors. Wallpaper in neutral and warm colors will look good with them. They will help to dispel the discreet calm colors.
Many people mistakenly believe that a dark floor in the interior goes well with dark door panels. Wenge-colored designs with brown veins look great with floors of similar shades. For such combinations, it is better to choose furniture in light shades. Designs in dark ash colors will also look good. In combination with dull flooring, it is better to dilute them with white walls.
Many people find it necessary to complement the interior of a bedroom with a dark floor with a black door. Such canvases can be used both for interior decoration in classic and modern styles. Try to avoid completely matching the shade of the floor and the door. Otherwise, they will simply merge with each other and will look ugly.
Dark floors and dark walls in the interior can be diluted with bright door panels. These can be contrasting green, blue, yellow, pink and turquoise solutions. Such options will look original and bright.
Positive traits
The non-staining color floor creates a feeling of stylishness, respectability and solidity. Therefore, to create an original, but at the same time elegant interior in the living room, it is necessary to use a game of contrasts. For example, against a dark laminate background, you can place a sand-colored carpet and complement the picture with light furniture. We see one of the design options in the photo.
Experts are sure that a dark floor in the kitchen or bedroom is associated with reliability and confidence, since such a covering is very reminiscent of a strong earth. But so that the interior of the home does not look gloomy, the tone of the floor cannot be black, but rather chocolate or wood tones.
Choosing a kitchen set
What can be done so that the interior, for example, with a beautiful dark brown floor, is inspiring, and the room does not look gloomy? Choose the right color!
Choosing kitchen furniture:
- Light.
Light furniture fronts will make a dark kitchen more spacious and comfortable. A countertop that matches the floor will give the room an elegant look.
- White.
The most popular option in combination with dark floors, especially in a small room, is white furniture with a light countertop. More and more often you can find a combination of black floors and white furniture in the kitchen.
The modern design of the room is emphasized by dark doors that match the color.
To make the room look more interesting, dilute the interior with bright colors.
- Beige.
Under a brown or rich gray floor, you can choose a beige, wooden or “wood-like” set. A successful combination of colors will please both the owner and his guests. This house is warm and cozy.
- Gray.
A gray set will perfectly set off a dark wood-like floor, highlight its color and help make the room more comfortable. The material can be anything to suit your taste and budget.
Glossy furniture facades will visually increase the space, and the owners will like the practicality of gray color.
The stylish look will not leave anyone indifferent.
- Green.
A rarer color for furniture, green, has been gaining popularity lately.
When paired with dark floors, green furniture looks stylish and bold.
And if part of the set is made of dark wood, ideally combined with black tiles, the result will be simply incredible.
- Blue.
A blue kitchen may look different with white and dark walls, but both options will be equally stylish and unusual.
Glossy facades will visually increase the space - but you must remember that this option is most suitable for spacious rooms (including when combined with a dining room).
Types of flooring
Almost every type of finishing material that can be used for decoration is produced in a rich variety of colors. That is why choosing the right material is quite simple. But in most options, preference is given to wooden coverings:
Darkened beech and oak parquet. Parquet flooring is made of wenge or other types of dark wood that are naturally so. Dark laminate that imitates the above-mentioned wood samples.
Of course, natural material is quite luxurious, although impressive. For budget design options, we can recommend porcelain stoneware or dark-colored tiles that imitate natural stone or marble. The photo shows a floor finished with black artificial marble. But it is important to know that finishing with artificial materials creates the feeling that this is not a living space, but a museum hall.
You should not use chocolate and black tones in carpeting. The worst option is a fleecy surface, dark brown or black in color, which gives the room a sloppy look.
Kitchen-living room
In the kitchen combined with the living room, you can safely use any of the floor shades without fear of visually reducing the space.
Black color will allow you to experiment with the set; you can not stop at classic cabinets, but choose two-color or bright furniture fronts.
The photo below shows a kitchen-living room with a dark floor and white walls, some of the cabinets are white, the other is brown.
How to create a beautiful interior
The most advantageous option is to decorate the kitchen walls in light colors and the floor in dark colors, in combination with light furniture, which can be made in milky, beige, soft creamy tones. By the way, in the living room you can add a few more accessories in light green or turquoise colors, which will add a special zest to the room.
For those who want to paint their home with bright, rich colors, they can use combinations of blue, emerald, gold and lilac shades against the background of a non-staining coating. This design is quite suitable for bedrooms and living rooms. However, in order not to overdo it with color schemes, you should remember that textile accessories should be the same tone as the furniture upholstery or flooring. Provided that the furniture is selected in shades lighter than the floor.
Another design option is a chocolate floor, and one of the walls is a bright, rich color, shown in the photo. This design move allows you to expand a small bedroom or living room. If the room is spacious, then the accent wall can be decorated not with a single color, but with a bright picture. At the same time, the remaining walls are painted in neutral tones, and the interior always uses a couple of dark-colored details.
To summarize, it must be said that dark floors are a sign of luxury and elegance. However, with the correct placement of accents and moderate use of dark shades in the design, even budget housing can look chic. And if you add window and door openings in the same tone to the floors in a non-marking color, then you can safely talk about a successful renovation.
Style
I would like to note that a dark floor is a universal choice for any style, and high-quality material can allow you to change a completely boring interior in a few years, leaving the floor covering.
Let's consider interesting design options in different styles:
- Classic.
The kitchen-living room with a dark floor in the photo looks majestic and beautiful, made to last. Every detail: from the pale, unobtrusive pattern of the carpet to hand-carved wooden furniture – fits thoughtfully and harmoniously into a single style solution.
This is a wonderful example of a kitchen with a dark floor and light walls, especially piquant - two-tone walls, where two shades are used that combine with each other:
- Country.
A rustic style with a brown floor and light furniture is shown in the photo below. Cozy atmosphere, space, air, light - you won’t want to leave the house.
Old, shabby furniture that has seen more than one generation, clay utensils and a retro lamp go perfectly with the deliberate roughness of the dark-painted wooden floor, blue-gray wallpaper, and an antique stove.
This style is also suitable for a small kitchen with a dark floor, it will be cozy and cute.
- High tech.
The photo below shows an example of a white kitchen with a brown floor and panoramic windows. Although supporters of the high-tech style prefer artificial materials, the use of natural wood in combination with a laconic design also has the right to life.
Minimalism, high technology, ergonomics, discreet colors - you will not regret your choice. Beauty is no less important than functionality. White walls will visually enlarge the space, and even on a cloudy autumn day you will feel comfortable and cozy.
- Loft.
This style is gaining more and more popularity among residents of the metropolis. Brick walls, beams on the ceiling, plants in tubs, lamps hanging from the ceiling - the style is especially loved by young people who are in no hurry to start a family.
The photo shows a design option with gray flooring and furniture, but with a light apron and walls, which visually enlarge the space and give that feeling of spaciousness and air necessary for the loft style.
- Neoclassical.
A neoclassical kitchen features modern materials and a recreation of a classic style. The photo shows a successful example of a kitchen renovation with a dark floor and light furniture.
Notice how advantageous a light kitchen with a brown countertop and floor looks, while carved furniture elements look especially impressive.
- Minimalism.
An interior in which there are no unnecessary details is always attractive because it gives a feeling of freedom and lightness. This does not mean that the space will be empty and dull, no, accents and details will always be appropriate, and by changing them you will update the design.
The photo shows an option in the minimalist style: wooden floor, walls, ceiling and furniture of the same color, a well-thought-out lighting system, several decorative elements - the kitchen is magnificent.
Decorating a living room with a dark floor
Choosing furniture
Here you can put emphasis on the furniture, choosing it much lighter and brighter than the floor.
But remember that such colorful furniture will only be appropriate in certain styles.
But whatever the style, you should not choose furniture that is too large and massive, as the color of the floor will make it seem even larger.
To avoid narrowing the space or making it too shaded, do not clutter the living room with too much furniture and other items.
Creating the right lighting
As we said before, a dark floor shades the space too much. And to prevent this from happening, you need to choose the right lighting.
Rays of light directed not at the floor itself, but at different sides of the room, will help to visually expand the room.
Having chosen a glossy floor covering, direct the rays in the opposite direction, directly onto the floor, which will diffuse the light throughout the living room.
To create a brighter effect, use LED small lights.
Decorating the living room
No decoration will be attractive and bright if you do not use accessories:
A soft carpet, preferably a light shade. The interior of the room will look luxurious if you choose natural materials - bear or tiger skin.
You can put a figurine in one of the corners.
Having made light walls and ceilings, you can contrast the paintings by choosing darker shades.
The sofa can be decorated with multi-colored decorative pillows and a light bedspread.
Recommendations from experts
To preserve the beauty of the room, follow a few tips:
Try to remove dust from the floor surface every day.
If you want to rearrange, move the furniture very carefully, as you can easily damage the floor.
In addition to a good source of lighting, white doors will help illuminate the room.
The living room is the room where guests are most often brought, which means it should look decent. The floor has a significant influence on the harmonious interior of the living room.
A wide variety of materials and a wide choice of textures allow you to find the style of flooring that will ideally complement the look of your living room.
