Whether it’s the use of dark furniture, or using styling and decor in darker tones creating contrast with lighter elements, or perhaps a dark monochrome mix throughout the space - dark bedrooms have always been a timeless and sophisticated look which has been reimagined throughout the decades.
Through the use of different textures, materials, tones, lighting, and colours, bedrooms with dark furniture and styling produces a space which feels grounded, warm and cosy, creating an enhanced space and a sanctuary for relaxation.
In this blog, we will go into detail about how to style dark wood bedroom furniture, and a few tips and tricks to create both functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces to live, sleep and relax in.
Image source: B2C Furniture
The Appeal of Dark Furniture in a Bedroom
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Timelessness and Elegance
The use of dark furniture and styling in a bedroom adds a type of elegance through depth and character, and by adding pops of contrasting colours, or by using a mix of different fabrics and textures, you can create a focal point and interest in your bedroom design. This use of contrasting textures and tones can create a sense of elegance and timelessness, without the need to constantly change or update the space.
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Versatility in Design
Similar to creating your focal point, the use of mixing various styles of furniture can also keep your space looking fresh, versatile and timeless! Mix pieces of furniture from different styles like traditional and contemporary or mid-century and modern, and also a mix of materials like dark wood furniture with soft lighter linens, as the juxtaposition between these styles is what can also create cohesion in a space.
Image source: Pinterest
Selecting the Right Dark Furniture for Your Space
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Considering Size and Scale
When styling any type of space, it is important to consider the room dimensions and the scale of the pieces you plan to put in there, as large items in a small space can look overcrowded, whereas smaller items in a large space can look under-scaled! We always recommend using techniques to map out the space before purchasing pieces, like putting masking tape on the floor and walls to help visualise the scale and positioning. The positioning of the furniture is just as important as you want a natural flow throughout the space, and not have the space feel crowded and awkward to manoeuvre. We have a selection of dark hardwood bedroom furniture in various sizes which will suit a variety of spaces, browse our selection here.
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Material Matters
The types of materials being used are also incredibly important, as these create different textures and tones throughout the space and have different benefits. For example; various hardwoods and timbers can create a soft, warm and natural feel within the space, whereas metals and chrome are more hard, structured and modern. It doesn’t just end with the furniture as well, it's also good to consider the soft furnishings and which types of materials can be used, such as linen curtains, velvet bedheads and plush cushions. All of these different textures create interest throughout the space!
Colour Schemes that Compliment Dark Furniture
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Light and Neutral Tones for Balance
Colour schemes and complementary tones are a great way to showcase dark furniture - without always making the entire space feel dark. For example, using dark hardwood furniture but pairing this with light and neutral tones on things like the walls, floors, curtains and rugs, and using neutral colour pallets such as beige, flax, white and grey. Alternatively, you can create a tonal dark and moody look by using complementary darker colours, such as navy, green, black, browns and dark greys.
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Bold and Vibrant Accents for Contrast
An easy and effective way of creating colour, personality and focal points to your space is by using different accent pieces and textiles, and thinking about basic colour theory of opposing, contrasting colours working cohesively in the space (for example, dark blue/navy with a pop of orange/mustard). But don’t over do it! These should only ever be used as an accent in your space. Our Cannes Headboards in Green and our Paris Occasional Chairs in Mustard are fantastic examples of colour contrast with dark bedroom furniture.
Image source: B2C Furniture
Image source: B2C Furniture
The Role of Lighting in Showcasing Dark Furniture
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Natural Light Maximisation
Natural light and lighting techniques need to be taken into consideration when arranging your dark furniture, to ensure the lighting is enhanced throughout your space. Thinking about the positioning of your furniture so it does not block windows and natural light, and once again taking into consideration the scale and size of your furniture to allow for the most natural light as possible. Dark furniture can sometimes create a dark space, so ensure the lighting is perfect!
When dressing your windows, there are a myriad of options available such as curtains, blinds and shutters, and you should think about what is the most functional and versatile for your living style. If you like diffused lighting, choose sheer curtains or shutters and if you prefer dark spaces you can use block out blinds or curtains. A nice tip is to use double tracking for your curtains, and have block out curtains on one track and sheer curtains on the other!
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Ambient and Accent Lighting Techniques
When it comes to ambient and accent lighting for dark furniture, ’big lights’ are the devil! Well… maybe not the devil, but to create an ambient space there are many ways to achieve this without feeling like you’re in a football stadium. Big lights can be changed out to pendant lights, with softer and warmer bulbs rather than ‘cold/bright’ bulbs - always check the warmth temperature of your bulbs as the ‘neutral’ and ‘warm’ tones are always the way to go. The use of table lamps, floor lamps, and accent lights such as wall lights and neons can really create a bright, warm space without making the lighting too overwhelming.
Featured: Paris Entertainment Unit in Rustic Walnut
Accessorising Around Dark Bedroom Furniture
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Choosing the Right Bedding
When thinking about how to style dark bedroom furniture, the choice of bedding and bed linens is just as important as styling the rest of your space. An easy option for this would be neutral bedding as you can interchange this without concern of clashing colours. Alternatively, if you’re feeling a little risky and adventurous, feel free to throw in colours using the same techniques we mentioned previously, like matching contrasting colours. You can also add textural throws and pillows to create points of interest and difference.
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Decorative Accents and Artwork
Dark bedroom furniture decor is less complicated than it appears! Similar to choosing the right bedding, a bedroom with dark furniture can be easily styled with the right choice of decorative accents and artworks. The artworks and decor you choose are completely personal, however you can use simple styling techniques such as creating levels with books, clustering decorative items, adding textured throws and pillows, as well as nicely framed artworks to create a personal yet cohesive space.
Image source: Pinterest
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Mirrors and Metallics to Brighten the Space
When thinking about bedroom decor ideas with dark wood furniture, mixing those materials and textures are incredibly beneficial to the space! Dark, warm, hardwood furniture pairs really well with warmer metals and chromes such as brass and copper accents. You can also use mirrors to both brighten up the space by reflecting light, but also create an illusion of the space being larger than it is. When choosing a mirror, our recommendation is bigger is better!
Dark Bedroom Ideas and Examples
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Minimalist and Modern
Featured below is a minimalist bedroom that uses dark furniture as a sleek, modern statement. The simple styling, bedding, artwork and side table ensures the dark hardwood bedframe stands out from the rest of the space and creates a simple yet elegant and chic focal point.
Image source: Sarah Ellison
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Warm and Cosy
In the room featured below, we have a warm, inviting bedroom that pairs dark furniture and dark tones with soft, warm lighting and plush textiles. The use of earthy tones throughout the artwork and bedding creates a cosy feeling that makes you want to rug up with a warm cup of tea, while watching the rain pour outside.
Image source: Pinterest
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Luxurious and Glamorous
For bedroom ideas with dark furniture, not everything has to be too dark! You can make a space look luxurious and glamorous by adding the different textures of chrome/metal, mirrors, lighter walls and decor - perfectly exampled in the image below:
Image source: Pinterest
Maintaining and Caring for Dark Bedroom Furniture
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Cleaning and Dusting
When cleaning and dusting furniture - it can be over complicated and overwhelming when in reality, keeping it simple is best! For hard surfaces (metal, glass, timber) use a microfiber cloth to wipe off any dust and only use a simple natural soap and warm water solution (no harsh chemicals) if you feel you need a deeper clean. Always do a spot test first in a less conspicuous area!
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Avoiding Scratches and Damage
There’s a myriad of tips on how to avoid scratches and damages on furniture and again, simple is best.
- If you have hardwood floors and you’re not utilising rugs or carpets, ensure all of your furniture has felt feet to avoid scratching the floors.
- To avoid scratching and damages on furniture surfaces, always use coasters, placemats and tablecloths to avoid scratches, water or heat damage.
- If you have pets (specifically cats and dogs) make sure you use strategically placed blankets, throws or covers on all upholstered furniture so they can’t scratch or damage the furniture, while also ensuring the pet hair doesn’t get all over the furniture too!
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Protecting from Sunlight
Sunlight is the number one cause of fading for furniture - whether it is timber, metal or upholstered furniture, everything fades over time!
To ensure longevity of your pieces and avoid fading and sunlight damage, ensure you are placing your furniture in locations which do not receive direct sunlight - or if they do, ensure you are using the proper window treatments such as curtains, shutters and blinds to protect your furniture. The best type of curtain to use in this scenario is a ‘sheer’ curtain as it diffuses the light without blocking it out entirely.
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When to Refinish or Replace
At B2C Furniture, we are incredibly proud to offer furniture that uses sustainable manufacturing practices as well as offering some fabric choices which are eco-friendly and made from 100% recycled plastics. Sustainability is a huge factor for our business, and we urge customers to make conscious decisions when purchasing furniture to ensure you are buying quality pieces which will stand the test of time, or offer solutions when you need to refinish or replace pieces.
Pieces made from natural materials such as timber/hardwood tend to fade and lose colour over time. This is a natural ageing process and while some people enjoy the aged/antique look of furniture, there are ways of keeping your furniture in tip top shape such as sanding back and re-staining/applying natural oils to the furniture to give it a new and updated finish. You can also sand back the furniture and add a couple layers of durable furniture paint if you want a new look entirely.
When it comes to furniture made with upholstery or fabric, after these pieces age they can sometimes fade, tear or come apart at the seams. We would recommend contacting your location seamstress or upholsterer, or a bespoke furniture maker/restorer, as these are fantastic services who can update and upgrade your furniture, as well as revitalise the life and energy of the piece.
Replacing furniture should really only be done when entirely necessary. If the pieces over time are completely worn beyond repair, look into recycling the timber and fabrics at local recycling points. Otherwise, if the items can be repaired/restored we strongly recommend doing this. You can even resell the furniture on online marketplaces to make a little money back once you’re ready to move onto new pieces! Always reduce, reuse and recycle where possible!
Image source: Pinterest
Conclusion
When we think about styling bedrooms, or entire homes in general, I always suggest thinking about it as one whole space rather than small spaces/sections. For example, not just thinking about your dining area, but how this ties into the rest of the space with the living room furniture and kitchen, and how those pieces then work together with furniture throughout the rest of the home such as bedrooms and home offices, to create an entirely cohesive space which feels connected. Vice versa with the bedroom furniture inspiring the rest of your home's furniture and decor. Think about everything from the furniture, to the colour of paint, the colour of your joinery and cabinets, your flooring and tiles, your curtains and window finishing, your lighting, your decor etc!
Using all the styling tips and tricks mentioned above, you can easily transform your bedroom into a warm, sophisticated space that evokes the feeling of serenity and relaxation. Don’t be afraid of dark furniture and dark styling, but also don’t be afraid to use contrast and accent colours! Just make sure you keep the ‘colour theory’ in mind (using complimentary opposing colours) or go for a beautiful monochromatic look using all of the same colours and tones throughout the space. Don’t forget to use different textures and materials and go crazy with your art and decor if you’re a maximalist, or show restraint if you’re a minimalist and just focus on the key pieces with a few accents. Most importantly, make it personal, make it your own!
B2C Furniture has an incredible collection of hardwood furniture and our bedroom furniture in particular is the perfect starting point for your new space! For dark hardwood furniture, I would recommend looking for pieces in rustic walnut, black or grey as a starting point and then expanding from there. Be sure to also check out our bedside tables, occasional chairs and chests of drawers for some beautiful accent pieces.
Image source: B2C Furniture
Styling Inspiration
How to style dark wood bedroom furniture using products from B2C Furniture:
Using the advice and tips we have mentioned earlier in this blog, we’ve put together a little styling inspiration below using several different pieces from B2C Furniture, and we have linked these products below for your reference. Check it out below:
Shop the look:
- Rome Bedside Table in Rustic Walnut
- Franki 2PCE King Bed Set in Rustic Walnut and Green
- Paris Chest of Drawers in Rustic Walnut
- Paris Occasional Chair in Rustic Walnut
- Franki Side Table in Rustic Walnut
- Jax Wool Pattern Rug
Common Questions About Styling Dark Bedroom Furniture
How to make a small bedroom look bigger with dark furniture?
Unfortunately we cannot be magicians and physically make a smaller room larger, however there are creative and simple solutions to trick the eye into making a space appears larger by using the following tips:
- The strategic use of colour contrast: Paint your walls in lighter shades to create a stark contrast with the furniture. This helps the furniture stand out, while also adding brightness to the space and makes the room feel more spacious.
- Take a minimalist approach: When spaces are overly decorated and cluttered, this can make them feel busy and enclose the space. Minimise clutter and choose decor and artworks which are less busy in nature, and select less bulky furniture with slim profiles/legs and open space in/under them to create a sense of openness in the room.
- Lighting your space: We spoke about lighting earlier in the blog - and this is an important role when it comes to opening up the room. Choose bedside lamps and floor lamps to add a warm brightness to the space, but also use sheer curtains to allow a bright diffused natural light.
- The illusion of mirrors: Don’t forget the importance of mirrors and how they reflect the light back into the space, while also creating the illusion of a larger room! We said it before and we’ll say it again, when it comes to mirrors, bigger is better!
- Space saving furniture: Use multifunctional pieces including bedside tables with drawers and underbed storage/gas-lift beds so you minimise the use of overly bulky pieces of furniture.
Can dark furniture work in a contemporary bedroom design?
Absolutely it can! In fact, dark furniture is usually the go-to for contemporary bedroom designs as most dark furniture offers that sleek, modern, dark sophisticated look that a lot of people are after. Regardless if it's a contemporary or more rustic/traditional space, it always comes down to balance and how you have thought about the rest of the room. Whether you are going for a minimalist look, or something a bit more curated and modern, dark bedroom furniture adds an elegant depth and grounding to the space. Don’t forget the tips and tricks we mentioned earlier in this blog regarding the use of contrast with colours and bold accents, the mix of textures and materials, and the use of lighting design to enhance your contemporary look.
How can one integrate dark bedroom furniture into a light-themed room without overwhelming the space?
Similar to the advice given above and earlier in this blog - it all comes down to balance in the space and creating contrasting yet cohesive elements. Dark furniture works beautifully with lighter elements surrounding it as it then becomes the grounded feature to the space. Using lighter colours on the walls and light tones in your soft furnishings such as bedding, curtains and rugs, this will soften the space while simultaneously highlighting the dark furniture and making it a feature. Again, don’t forget to play with textures and light as this will further soften and enhance the space!
What colour walls compliment dark bedroom furniture to create a balanced and cohesive look?
Neutral tones are always the safest bet when it comes to styling dark hardwood bedroom furniture. The versatility of neutral walls as a backdrop for dark furniture highlights how shades of white, cream, or light grey can make the furniture stand out while keeping the room feeling bright. For a more dramatic effect, we suggest deeper tones like navy, deep green, or charcoal, which can create a sophisticated contrast with the dark furniture.
We strongly recommend the use of colour samples to test how different hues interact with your choices of furniture and lighting in the room. Go to the paint aisle in your local hardware store and gather as many samples as possible and hold these up against your furniture in different lighting to ensure you are getting the best result. There is also a potential of using wallpaper with subtle patterns to add depth and interest onto the walls without overpowering the furniture, or alternatively finding something with a dark, graphic pattern to create interest throughout the space.
How can accent pieces be used to enhance the visual appeal of dark bedroom furniture?
The best way to enhance the visual appeal of dark bedrooms is to use accent pieces which introduce contrasting colours, patterns and textures to the room. By selecting soft furnishings such as decorative pillows, throw blankets and rugs, you can easily enhance the visual appeal of your bedroom. If you have a little extra space, include some occasional pieces of furniture such as an armchair in a vibrant, contrasting colour. You can also include smaller accents such as chrome/metal accessories in lamps and decor, as well as pops of colour in artworks on the walls! You can also simply incorporate greenery of plants and flowers to bring life and colour, enhancing the overall aesthetic. Remember the importance of maintaining a balance to ensure the room feels cohesive and not cluttered.
Image source: B2C Furniture
