I like light and airy in the spring/summer, and dark and moody in autumn/winter. I would love to see some tips on how to create a versatile base that works with both- where you can switch out the decor to achieve one or the other.
I use dark fur blankets and dark throw pillows in the winter switch out to dark rich velvet curtains in the winter you can also have a winter rug vs a summer rug
@@llamasugar5478Agree ! We've had a few unseasonably warm days in Illinois that just called out for spritzes of " Green Tea " by E.Arden . 💚 Sandalwood scent in cold weather . 🤎 My go-to / " signature scent " is " Nantucket Briar " by Crabtree&Evelyn which is nice year round . 💙
I think something that is key for a practical dark and moody space (this is outside the scope of this video), is to make sure you have the opportunity to increase the light in the room for when you are cleaning the space or is looking for something. Maybe a strong overhead lighting which you normally never turn on, or the opportunity let a lot of daylight in. I live in Scandinavia and the winters are very dark here. I like my space to be dimly lit with lots of candles or soft lighting, to feel kozy and snug. But I also need to be able to turn the lights fully on when I clean because I have no proper daylight for a few months.
I've thought about exactly that because, well, Estonia doesn't get that much more light, I love a cozy dark den-ish living room with warm-toned lighting...(currently thinking of torch-like wall sconces), but if I'm supposed to be able to keep it clean, I'm going to need to have some rather aggressive daylight options for practical reasons. That room is also on the north side of the house, so natural light isn't much of an option. (I'm going to try for light and airy on the sunward side which has the kitchen. Nice bright mornings and relaxing dim evenings.)
Another Scandinavian here. Though our home leans a little lighter, I still much prefer warm soft lighting. Dimmable light sources are key, at least one in the ceiling for every room. If you have dimmers there are now good LED bulbs that go from white to warm yellow light as you dim down. If one or more rooms lack a dimmer, or you easily want to make a table or floor lamp more flexible, look into bulbs that are have built in dim functionality. Some you can change the setting for by tuening the light off and on again, other more pricey but very flexible options are app controlled.
You're not just a guy on my phone! You're also a guy on my laptop! Dark and moody is definitely my vibe right now and I'm taking these tips and running them.
Hi Nick - My living room/dining room is dark and moody and I love it. It's the look I've always wanted, and finally achieved 5 years ago. Deep purple velvet sofa, lovely mix of dark woods, gray (light to mid-tone) walls. My original art pieces are all brightly colored modern paintings to break it up. The rest of my apartment is light & bright; kind of the opposite of what one might expect. I'm quite old now, and I've never enjoyed my living space as much as I do now. 😍
My living room is dark and moody too. From chocolate walls to dark woods black painted furniture and large art in jewel tones. It feels like a big warm hug. The bedrooms are more spa like -- potter's clay or putty on the bedroom walls (very relaxing). Kitchen and halls are light (tea with honey, a beige peach tone) and bathrooms are light biscuit. Dining room, which I can see through black French doors is eco's Castenada, which is a dark pinky terracotta (very saturated). The living room faces north and is naturally dark (and so I don't have to worry about filtering light -- just closing off the inside from the outside at night), and the dining room faces south and so is naturally light. Having that colour in the dining room gives me something bright to look at from the living room even though it still reads moody.
"I respect the style even if it's not mine." Samezies! I can appreciate any design style that is done WELL and consistently and coherently, even if it's not something I would choose... even if I don't "like" it, I can appreciate that it's well done.
Could you make a video about a mood that falls somewhere between the two extremes? I know a lot of mid-tones are trending right now, but I don’t think it’s always easy to style that.
Grew up in Seattle. Now in California. I just realized I love the dark academia and my antiques because it reminds me of the wonderful times at grandma & granpas or great aunt & uncle from England. Also in the old coffee shops in my late teens & early 20s❤ ☕️. All those deep, philosophical conversations and late nights laughing & dreaming of the future. 😂
I've been dark academia before it was a thing (except for dressing like I'm in school). I was never gothic, but have always loved dark woods, books and writing stuff, darker colors, matte black or brass metals. It all feels cozy to me.
Me too. I designed and built my small, gorgeous, "Victorian Industrial" house with red brick and a lot of black metal, curved, black, roof trusses with square black mesh inserts, a double volume space with a library mezzanine, one entire wall of bookshelves for my collection, and grouped art gallery walls, sculptures in between and two glass curiosity cabinets. Everything is "curated" - so, although there's a lot to look at, it's not cluttered or untidy. Wood, leather and metal furniture and warm occasional lighting everywhere. No piece is "off-the-shelf" - but from my travels and each piece has a back-story. Very aesthetically pleasing. Then I went the "sustainable" route with the services.... so, it's small (100 sq m), double-glazed windows, full solar power, rain-water harvesting (used in my Japanese garden - using plants indigenous to South Africa), wrap-around porch directly onto the garden, with heating in winter using a 1926 ARCO parlour stove (still with its art deco legs!) Also didn't know that Dark Academia was a "thing".... But.... having a "Potterhead" child and reading Nancy Drew as a child myself, we included a secret bookshelf door, a trap door leading to a loft and a hidden-wood-panel door leading to the guest bathroom, as part of the design. It's a beautiful, unusual, fun, interesting house which is wonderful to live in. Some might call it gothic or steam punk or "Harry Potter", but it's not that.... Dark Academia or Victorian Industrial suits it better because it's a thoughtful, curated space.
Yes, Yes, YES. The world of design needs A LOT more Dark and Moody and a lot less beige. (Sorry not sorry.) Over twenty yrs ago a friend of mine described my apartment as "Ralph Lauren's library meets Oscar Wilde's opium den." He was being critical, but I took it as a compliment and have been doing Dark and Moody ever since. Thanks Nick! I've been waiting for you to do this video for YEARS. Cheers!
I loved when you had your dining room dark navy. It added just the right amount of depth and moodiness but the room still felt light. Just my humble opinion but I think it was a great example of pairing the two styles.
I love red. It makes me happy to look at, any shade of it. I have some in every room. I use a brighter red for the kitchen, a deeper red for the bedroom and a more brick, softer red for the living room, etc. It can energize you or calm you, but either way, red is the happiest color, imo. I think it's the easiest color to decorate with. There's a shade of red that goes with literally anything.
LMAO, no. I'm talking about accents. Blankets and things, kitchen gadgets, within some of the art, and the sofa. Walls are white (sadly, it's a rental for now as I sold my house though I had an awesome deep burgundy accent wall in my house and some brick). I meant that every room has some red in it, not that everything was red. That would be mental.@@suzannederringer1607
This is 1000% my vibe 🥰 we renovated our (1940s built) house in 2021 and went with a complete gothic feel. All our wood trim and doors were sanded, walnut stained and clear coated. I have a deep red, a forest green and a deep blue room. Our accent wall in the bedroom is Victorian style skull wallpaper. Black glossy cabinets in the kitchen, and little touches like custom black filigree outlet covers, vintage doorknobs, and bronze skull hand curtain holdbacks. It’s not for everyone but I feel like it’s my dream house!
This is where my two favorite styles converge - Arts and Crafts/Craftsman and MCM - especially love the Craftsman palette which can go light (dusty pastels) or dark and moody depending on which room I’m in! ❤
I keep forgetting to say it but you are hands down my favorite internet design person, always enjoy your stuff. I like the dark and moody stuff too but can't have too much of it because the house is too small. My living room is all of 8x10.5 ft, tiny. My solution was to put a dramatic Victorian style wallpaper (Black background with illustrations of some of the carvings on the stonework at the Natural History museum in London) on the wall that houses my 2 tall bookcases and desk, so it sort of peeps out behind things.I painted the rest of the room in a mid tone beige with a very slight pink undertone. Given that my sofa is cream and I found a lovely black/cream/beige persian style rug ,it turned out pretty well. The art work is mainly by a Victorian artist famed for his moody, twilight urban landscapes and a big Mappamundi canvas iv'e had for years.
@wendyrichards7458 Hi, can you tell us/me): the name of the Victorian artist famed for his moody, twilight urban landscapes? I'm still looking for one more moody art piece for my study, the only room in our small bungalow where I can get away with dark and moody academia. I will never get tired of it because it holds all of my favorite things.
I live in a 1900 square foot cabin on the side of a mountain. I have log walls along with navy, grey and charcoal drywall. I have book shelves, vaulted wood panel ceilings, and in my finished basement dark charcoal walls with a fireplaces upstairs and down. My house is moody and masculine. When I have guests for the first time I'm always told my house is cozy.
Hey Nick, just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you. I know you went through a tough transition, one that I would not wish on anyone, and it’s so good to see you come into these videos, smiling and sounding upbeat and cheerful. I truly hope you are having more good days than bad days now and that it just continues to get better for you.
Light and bright is very popular in our area, and it never was going to work in our house - 120 year old brick with traditional double hung windows. We do have 9+ ft ceilings on both levels so that helps lift the space. I"ve always gravitated to mid to dark colors, paritially because we have original shellacked woodwork and I can really only get those Ben Moore historic colors to work with it. We have bright porches and I am finally reconciled to having those light spaces (porches, garden areas) be our light spaces and the rest of the house is cozy. I love your take on lighting. Again our house was left alone for decades (thank goodness it escapes the 70's & 80's) with many rooms with no overhead lighting. Over the years we've added lighting but always multiple sources (scones, task lighting, under lighting on shelves, and vintage lamps). Anyway, I'm glad you are giving dark and moody its day in the sun;).
I’m a Goth so everyone naturally thought I’d paint all my rooms black..but no😳…I have very dark green, purple, grey and a black living room. I’ve colour drenched every room and I find velvets, faux fur and gold/brass accessories make it look sumptuous. My bathroom is black and cream, the bathroom suite is cream with gold taps.
Awesome! I'm goth in spirit but I don't dress the part. I'm too old for that, I guess. My house is more of a dark cottage style since it's a smaller space.
@@Patrick-kt5mcwell I dunno how old you are but I’m 50 this year and I’m still giving Lily Munster an inferiority complex! You wear the gear if you want, you’re never too old to be yourself and enjoy life! 🌹
I normally want light spaces but my all time favorite room was a formal library with handmade oak shelves and paneling. Antique and traditional furniture. Painted brick fireplace. Crewel work drapes. Antique Persian rug in dark jewel tones. The house was built in the 1920s but the library was clumsily done so we had it redone. Loved that house.
I love dark academia and it's so cool to see you address dark and moody decor! I'm getting bored with all the whites and grays and minimalist stuff I see everywhere (or seem to) and I like to see people taking risks. The images you showed are exactly what I want for some of my spaces! Thanks for the ideas!
Yes! My 1907 craftsman home is perfect for this. I did the living and dining room in an olive tone that goes well against the mahogany stained woods. The kitchen I painted maroon (adding more light so it's not dim but more moody). And I used a semi gloss to reflect a bit more light so it doesn't feel oppressive but more calming.
I love dark & moody!! I like the feeling of being cocooned in my cozy den or nest as my refuge from the rest of the world. But like Nick, I can appreciate a well designed space even if i wouldn't choose it for my space. There are lots of light spaces I see on UA-cam that I really like because they are well thought out. For me though, I crave dark & moody in my space.
Thank you, Nick! I didn't understand why I loved dark and moody until you explained the feeling of nesting and drawing in, like at a spa. Now, it's makes sense! I'm excited to explore this at home. I loved your explanation of lighting, I'm newly inspired to have fun building this mood at home. Much love from the Pacific NW! 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲
I love dark and moody spaces. It feels so cozy and warm. I've enjoyed it since I was a kid that had her bedroom painted a navy blue with those cheesy glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling and walls. Today as an adult I'm still into this style. It's very comfortable and calming for me.
I have dark walls and the Hue light bulbs were such a great investment because as soon as the sun starts to set, I really need that adjustable lighting!
I love dark and moody and more busy and a bit feminine, my husband prefers light and bright and more masculine. We wound up compromising with a cozy look. Obsessed with looking at dark interiors online though
I picked Vanderberg Blue from Benjamin Moore with an LRV of 11.1 for my dining room and I love it. I'm so glad I thought to get paintable outlet covers before the painters arrived so they could paint them for me while they were at it (there is a model that covers the outlets, too, so you don't have to worry about painting those). I find it very distracting to have standard white/almond outlet covers on a dark wall.
Very good tip on the outlets, the white ones stand out like a sore thumb on dark walls. And the regular (non paintable) ones look crappy when you just paint them over.
Agree on the outlets matching the wall color ! Also , as a former designer , learned to cover outlets w/ wallpaper so that the repeat / pattern aligned perfectly to the wall covering . On occasion , an outlet could be painted the base color of the wallpaper to blend in . Perfectionists !!
My home is decorated in dark academia with hints of traditional and bohemian accents… perfect for two people who have circled the globe several times and are now content to be in one place.
Love this - I went with deep green walls and soft warm lighting in my bedroom and it is the *best* feeling heading in there to go to bed in the evening - it's such a retreat, so calming.
Scary territory for some, but looks so luxurious and rich. Not a look you can achieve by just painting walls. Furnishings, artwork and tabletop decor would be very important. By the time I acquired everything, the trend would change….😊
Oooh!!!! I love Dark & Moody!!!! Very relaxing to live in. Love the traditional element!!!! I was wondering if Monica's apartment in the sitcom "Friends" could be placed into this category. I loved the purple walls & turquoise kitchen cabinets. I'm interested in painting my lounge room this colour.
Very nice, Nick. As a further step, I would love to see a video of you on Dark Academia interior design. It’s my favorite and I want to know your take on it. Thanks.
I remember seeing the home of a woman named Julia Arceri online and absolutely falling head over heels with her capacity to decorate some of her Home's spaces in the most elegant, French-inspired moodiness. My eyes were opened by her to moody possibilities in Decor!
I LOVE an led strip or any light really behind a couch, if it’s near or against a wall. Really creates that visual interest, so subtle it’s almost subconscious. Works behind any large furniture actually.
Yay Ive been waiting for this video. My home is dark and moody (except the kids bedrooms). Lots of greens and blacks, darker wood and William Morris style wallpapers. I love a cosy moody space ☺️
Painted ceilings! Painted my bedroom dark forest green, ceiling included. It’s so cozy! It’s a tip I got from the great indoors podcast a while ago. Also just to be brave sometimes.
I would love to see your ideas for a balanced home between airy and moody. I want to make my home sexy but not too dark. I like the middle in everything, neither minimalist or maximalist, not just dark or airy white. My favorite decor style is eclectic, like a sexy well traveled natural antique witch lol Your videos are super helpful, thank us for your channel 💕
I like the warm deep colors - especially in low natural light. Natural light tends to cool colors up - opposite of warm and cozy. In keeping warmth in that dark space, applying a dark warm color, fends off the cooling effect from the windows and creates a truly deep, warm, cozy space. I’m on the hunt for a deep, warm green…
As a child my grandmother had black wallpaper in her bathroom. It had colourful sea creature designs on it, but the background was black and it was so rich. The walls had tile up to 4 feet then from there to the ceiling black patterned wallpaper. The bathroom was large with a large window and it was so striking.
My Father-in- law & painted my living room Riverway by SW last weekend! Love it!- and it was fun to spend time with him while creating a lovely space! I learned about LRV from you last week! Thank you!!!
Also best tip I ever got about paint was to go for more of a toned shade. It just is so much nicer to look at and feels more sophisticated! My husband was not happy to repaint the whole house but the end result was worth it!
I live in Paraguay and my home has Brazilian mahogany, floors and open beam ceilings. I am trying to stay true to the age and architecture of the home, being Spanish Colonial. I am about to re-do my bedroom and am thinking dark and moody might be the way to go. Thank you for all your information on colors, I have learned so much from you😊
I’ve always been a fan of light furniture but my current condo was the perfect place to experiment with dark and moody. The kitchen cabinets are dark. The light coming in is not direct (courtyard so surrounded by plants and buildings). It’s been slightly uncomfortable going against my usual but so worth it. My bedroom is black, even the ceiling. Was terrified it would look goth. I’m too old for that. Went for a blue that is so dark it reads black. I think that helped keep it moody and not look like I’m trying to relive the 90’s in Seattle. Have lots of lamps but keep them around the 75% level. Really peaceful room.
Dark and Moody bedroom for me.. I want to feel cocooned, caved if you will..lol.. shut off from the outside world, my sleep improves and is much deeper.
I have a purple wall in my living room/kitchen. It is grayed down, and I love it because it is color but doesn't jump off the wall. I also have darker floors. Love darker rooms, feels more cozy to me.
Interesting video! Would love to see you making more follow-ups as I think there are even more options. For example I love mixing the two styles according to both a room's purpose and it's conditions, and so would be fun to hear your thoughts on that. And also on making a more colourful space without going overboard.
NICK JUST MAKES SATURDAY WORTH LOOKIN FOWARD TOO HE MAKES YOU LAUGH HE MAKES YOU WANT TO HEAR THAT NOTIFICATION BELL RING OVER AND OVER AGAIN SO YOU DON’T MISS HIM 🩷
I like the tie in to your newsletter re using red. I've had a red entry way forever. Red is my accent colour in the adjoining living room. I love the deep shade in my otherwise light and bright room.
You are a Design- Advisor of my own heart!!!!!!!!My colours are pomegranat- red with a little aue-de-nile blue ish-green,and the third colour is cream ....and I combined it with mid- dARK wood furnitures ...crafted mostly from 1910 to 1940....and mid-mahogany replica of English frontbrakes and sideboards of this aera....and I allways wanted to Paint the walls in a mid-dark version ..either of a cool, English-Rose brick-red, or a soft version of a cooler green, just like British dining-rooms have been.....now I am convinced, and will decorate the living- room in this range of tones....not all-creamwhite walls anymore!!! I will select the shade from my tiffany- lamps....so it s in harmony with everything!!! ( The tones of the glass are already matched to my velvet pillows and drapes.....and carpets).I want to create a kind of ,,Sabrina" or ,,Charmed"-vibe! I am over 60 now, but people still call me ,,pretty",.so I guess, it will Match my personality.....and I live with rescued cats.....finally now or never!!!! No-one I know has Not all-white walls, so I will be called crazy .....but there is enough natural light, so I can do this ,,Edwardian-Style thing now!!! Thank You Nick, for Your encouragement, to do something individually!!!
Thank you Nick! I have many light and bright spaces in my home but for three years I have been trying to figure out how to change up my den. Couldn’t figure out what I wanted. Watching you finally inspired me. Dark Den moody it is!
Thank you for bringing up the colour wheel, Nick!! It's the only way I can understand colour. I have 3 of them, including a small one to take shopping.
I absolutely love you and most of your ideas. I need more light and subtlety bright in order to not sink into depression. Because of circumstances I have to live in one room with my crazy lil doggo so spacing and light, light colors are extremely important to me. ❤❤❤❤
I've been trying to get the energy and "oomph" to redo my bedroom, and this video really spoke to me. I used to be good at impulsively picking a color and really loving it, but I've made one mistake 20 years ago, lol, and now I mostly overthink it. Your foray into darker colors really helped me. I'm going to look into your newsletter now to see if you go deeper somewhere else. Thank you for entertaining me at work every Saturday!
When we bought our house, the living room was painted a great navy. On the opposite side of the house, same floor, we painted the guest room SW black magic, which has some nice warmth and isn’t pitch black. The rest of the house is mostly creamy white and I love the balance we have. I couldn’t do more dark than this, it would be too overwhelming for me.
You are always so interesting...I love your snarkiness 😊 I especially like that you believe people should do what they love, not what someone else decides.
From experience, stay away from dark and moody in your living spaces if you are prone to depression or suffer from SADS..Dark and moody for these people works only in bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms because you don't spend much time there. Bedroom is a good place for it if you like a cocoon space for napping and sleeping, peaceful meditation, winding down. Exception would be if you have many large windows in a living room, or a kitchen with white cabinets in a southern exposure. Going dark there helps keep the reflective eye-piercing glare to a minimum.
As someone with SAD living in grey England, majority of my rooms are light and bright. However have always wanted black in my bedroom, but my mum would never let me. I have a had a black on black wallpaper on one wall, my lovely husbands only statement on decorating is no pink, so we love it. Also have a vintage red bathroom, which is lovely in the winter for candlelit baths. If I had a more vintage home I’d love a dark red dining room with mahogany furniture - all rich and sumptuous conducive for long conversations.
I have a narrow area in my home which I use as a picture gallery and painted the walls a darker olive so that they kind of just disappear and leave all of my photos/pictures to leap out at you. It turned an awkward space into something elegant and a place I love to linger.
Nick! please make a Dark Academia video! This one was very interesting, but I get the sense that you would like to delve deeper into the old English country pile study of an amateur scientist/biologist/eccentric person and what they would surround themselves with.
I noticed that years ago and note I bring home the paint color cards that I’m interested in months before I make my final decisions on the exact tints I’m going to select because I look at the paint colors during different seasons and how the sun affects the color at different times of the day.
i have a more dark space with almost all black furniture, but made my walls a muted sage color to add some brightness when i feel like it! when i keep the light low, there’s not much light to reflect, but when i open the blinds, i get a good amount. i also have a lighter table in the room that i put a dark, heavy cloth on.
I like light and airy in the spring/summer, and dark and moody in autumn/winter. I would love to see some tips on how to create a versatile base that works with both- where you can switch out the decor to achieve one or the other.
I use dark fur blankets and dark throw pillows in the winter switch out to dark rich velvet curtains in the winter you can also have a winter rug vs a summer rug
@@rikkitabor497 Agree ! Lighter drapes / sheers , throws , accent pillows ( simply change the covers ) & a few accessories for spring - summer . Easy & inexpensive .
This is a good idea. I do that with my cologne-warm and earthy in winter, light and floral/green in summer-so decor just makes sense.
@@llamasugar5478Agree ! We've had a few unseasonably warm days in Illinois that just called out for spritzes of " Green Tea " by E.Arden . 💚 Sandalwood scent in cold weather . 🤎 My go-to / " signature scent " is " Nantucket Briar " by Crabtree&Evelyn which is nice year round . 💙
I have a different comforter on my bed during summer it’s brighter and lighter - my house also is painted in a mid LRV so it’s transitional.
can we take a moment to appreciate Nick's pictures selection?
I think something that is key for a practical dark and moody space (this is outside the scope of this video), is to make sure you have the opportunity to increase the light in the room for when you are cleaning the space or is looking for something. Maybe a strong overhead lighting which you normally never turn on, or the opportunity let a lot of daylight in.
I live in Scandinavia and the winters are very dark here. I like my space to be dimly lit with lots of candles or soft lighting, to feel kozy and snug. But I also need to be able to turn the lights fully on when I clean because I have no proper daylight for a few months.
I've thought about exactly that because, well, Estonia doesn't get that much more light, I love a cozy dark den-ish living room with warm-toned lighting...(currently thinking of torch-like wall sconces), but if I'm supposed to be able to keep it clean, I'm going to need to have some rather aggressive daylight options for practical reasons. That room is also on the north side of the house, so natural light isn't much of an option. (I'm going to try for light and airy on the sunward side which has the kitchen. Nice bright mornings and relaxing dim evenings.)
Just like a movie theater, dark and cozy during the show and lite when it time to sweep up the popcorn!
You’re right about this! I have overhead lights that can blind you from 60ft, for cleaning/maintenance. They’re never put on for anything else 😂
Another Scandinavian here. Though our home leans a little lighter, I still much prefer warm soft lighting. Dimmable light sources are key, at least one in the ceiling for every room. If you have dimmers there are now good LED bulbs that go from white to warm yellow light as you dim down. If one or more rooms lack a dimmer, or you easily want to make a table or floor lamp more flexible, look into bulbs that are have built in dim functionality. Some you can change the setting for by tuening the light off and on again, other more pricey but very flexible options are app controlled.
You're not just a guy on my phone! You're also a guy on my laptop! Dark and moody is definitely my vibe right now and I'm taking these tips and running them.
He's a guy on my TV! Though I use my phone to comment.
Oh I'm all over the place!
On my desktop. 😃
My iPad
Lol
Hi Nick - My living room/dining room is dark and moody and I love it. It's the look I've always wanted, and finally achieved 5 years ago. Deep purple velvet sofa, lovely mix of dark woods, gray (light to mid-tone) walls. My original art pieces are all brightly colored modern paintings to break it up. The rest of my apartment is light & bright; kind of the opposite of what one might expect. I'm quite old now, and I've never enjoyed my living space as much as I do now. 😍
Sort of Marilyn Munster. :)
Sounds pretty!
My living room is dark and moody too. From chocolate walls to dark woods black painted furniture and large art in jewel tones. It feels like a big warm hug. The bedrooms are more spa like -- potter's clay or putty on the bedroom walls (very relaxing). Kitchen and halls are light (tea with honey, a beige peach tone) and bathrooms are light biscuit. Dining room, which I can see through black French doors is eco's Castenada, which is a dark pinky terracotta (very saturated). The living room faces north and is naturally dark (and so I don't have to worry about filtering light -- just closing off the inside from the outside at night), and the dining room faces south and so is naturally light. Having that colour in the dining room gives me something bright to look at from the living room even though it still reads moody.
Sounds fab!
Not at all.@@653j521
Putting in my ballot for a “Warm And Cozy” themed video! Love this “how to achieve a mood” series ❤
Hygge!
I can see all the brown wood antiques making a comeback as the decorating pallet turns to deeper tones
It’s about time! Thank goodness for that.
My cherry furniture looks great against bold colors....I'm toying with the idea of a bright cobalt blue wall....the Brits sure get brave with color.
"I respect the style even if it's not mine." Samezies! I can appreciate any design style that is done WELL and consistently and coherently, even if it's not something I would choose... even if I don't "like" it, I can appreciate that it's well done.
Could you make a video about a mood that falls somewhere between the two extremes? I know a lot of mid-tones are trending right now, but I don’t think it’s always easy to style that.
Mid tone LRV wall colors I think can be challenging without a lot of natural light, if you have big south facing windows I say go for it 🙌🏼
Soft and subtle?
Grew up in Seattle. Now in California. I just realized I love the dark academia and my antiques because it reminds me of the wonderful times at grandma & granpas or great aunt & uncle from England. Also in the old coffee shops in my late teens & early 20s❤ ☕️. All those deep, philosophical conversations and late nights laughing & dreaming of the future. 😂
My house is light, bright & simple but the TV/den is darker, warm & cozy. Best of both worlds :)
My bedroom is a room that I like to paint dark also. It helps me relax and sleep better.
I've been dark academia before it was a thing (except for dressing like I'm in school). I was never gothic, but have always loved dark woods, books and writing stuff, darker colors, matte black or brass metals. It all feels cozy to me.
Me too! But not into the eternal student way, either.
Back in the day it was just called the library or study. I couldn't imagine doing a whole house like this style. Bedroom, maybe.
Me too. I designed and built my small, gorgeous, "Victorian Industrial" house with red brick and a lot of black metal, curved, black, roof trusses with square black mesh inserts, a double volume space with a library mezzanine, one entire wall of bookshelves for my collection, and grouped art gallery walls, sculptures in between and two glass curiosity cabinets. Everything is "curated" - so, although there's a lot to look at, it's not cluttered or untidy. Wood, leather and metal furniture and warm occasional lighting everywhere. No piece is "off-the-shelf" - but from my travels and each piece has a back-story. Very aesthetically pleasing. Then I went the "sustainable" route with the services.... so, it's small (100 sq m), double-glazed windows, full solar power, rain-water harvesting (used in my Japanese garden - using plants indigenous to South Africa), wrap-around porch directly onto the garden, with heating in winter using a 1926 ARCO parlour stove (still with its art deco legs!) Also didn't know that Dark Academia was a "thing".... But.... having a "Potterhead" child and reading Nancy Drew as a child myself, we included a secret bookshelf door, a trap door leading to a loft and a hidden-wood-panel door leading to the guest bathroom, as part of the design. It's a beautiful, unusual, fun, interesting house which is wonderful to live in. Some might call it gothic or steam punk or "Harry Potter", but it's not that.... Dark Academia or Victorian Industrial suits it better because it's a thoughtful, curated space.
@@bedofromkokstad9034 That sounds absolutely fabulous!
❤
Yes, Yes, YES. The world of design needs A LOT more Dark and Moody and a lot less beige. (Sorry not sorry.)
Over twenty yrs ago a friend of mine described my apartment as "Ralph Lauren's library meets Oscar Wilde's opium den." He was being critical, but I took it as a compliment and have been doing Dark and Moody ever since. Thanks Nick! I've been waiting for you to do this video for YEARS. Cheers!
Best description ever 😂
A fabulous compliment, sounds like a place that has stories!! ❤
Oh my gosh, yes, that's definitely a compliment!
That sounds fantastic!
I loved when you had your dining room dark navy. It added just the right amount of depth and moodiness but the room still felt light. Just my humble opinion but I think it was a great example of pairing the two styles.
He liked it too but when he put the house on the market he painted it a light neutral to appeal to potential buyers.
I love red. It makes me happy to look at, any shade of it. I have some in every room. I use a brighter red for the kitchen, a deeper red for the bedroom and a more brick, softer red for the living room, etc. It can energize you or calm you, but either way, red is the happiest color, imo. I think it's the easiest color to decorate with. There's a shade of red that goes with literally anything.
My office is deep red and gold and I find it so comforting!
I always thought maybe people who think red is such an angry color are just angry people. lol For me, it's joyful and alive. @@JaimeLeighArt
Your whole house is RED ???
LMAO, no. I'm talking about accents. Blankets and things, kitchen gadgets, within some of the art, and the sofa. Walls are white (sadly, it's a rental for now as I sold my house though I had an awesome deep burgundy accent wall in my house and some brick). I meant that every room has some red in it, not that everything was red. That would be mental.@@suzannederringer1607
This is 1000% my vibe 🥰 we renovated our (1940s built) house in 2021 and went with a complete gothic feel. All our wood trim and doors were sanded, walnut stained and clear coated. I have a deep red, a forest green and a deep blue room. Our accent wall in the bedroom is Victorian style skull wallpaper. Black glossy cabinets in the kitchen, and little touches like custom black filigree outlet covers, vintage doorknobs, and bronze skull hand curtain holdbacks. It’s not for everyone but I feel like it’s my dream house!
This sounds like a dream! Wish I could see
I love moody spaces & I'm a huge fan of dimmers. Dimmers can make a huge difference whether you want ambient light or light & bright ❤
Dark and moody design style -- Arts and Crafts (Craftsman). Tons of dark wood, dark tile, and muted dark-ish wallpaper.
This is where my two favorite styles converge - Arts and Crafts/Craftsman and MCM - especially love the Craftsman palette which can go light (dusty pastels) or dark and moody depending on which room I’m in! ❤
I keep forgetting to say it but you are hands down my favorite internet design person, always enjoy your stuff. I like the dark and moody stuff too but can't have too much of it because the house is too small. My living room is all of 8x10.5 ft, tiny. My solution was to put a dramatic Victorian style wallpaper (Black background with illustrations of some of the carvings on the stonework at the Natural History museum in London) on the wall that houses my 2 tall bookcases and desk, so it sort of peeps out behind things.I painted the rest of the room in a mid tone beige with a very slight pink undertone. Given that my sofa is cream and I found a lovely black/cream/beige persian style rug ,it turned out pretty well. The art work is mainly by a Victorian artist famed for his moody, twilight urban landscapes and a big Mappamundi canvas iv'e had for years.
Hear hear.
@wendyrichards7458 Hi, can you tell us/me): the name of the Victorian artist famed for his moody, twilight urban landscapes? I'm still looking for one more moody art piece for my study, the only room in our small bungalow where I can get away with dark and moody academia. I will never get tired of it because it holds all of my favorite things.
John Atkinson Grimshaw, lots of prints on etsy, happy hunting@@rosehill1595
I live in a 1900 square foot cabin on the side of a mountain. I have log walls along with navy, grey and charcoal drywall. I have book shelves, vaulted wood panel ceilings, and in my finished basement dark charcoal walls with a fireplaces upstairs and down. My house is moody and masculine. When I have guests for the first time I'm always told my house is cozy.
Hey Nick, just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you. I know you went through a tough transition, one that I would not wish on anyone, and it’s so good to see you come into these videos, smiling and sounding upbeat and cheerful. I truly hope you are having more good days than bad days now and that it just continues to get better for you.
Light and bright is very popular in our area, and it never was going to work in our house - 120 year old brick with traditional double hung windows. We do have 9+ ft ceilings on both levels so that helps lift the space. I"ve always gravitated to mid to dark colors, paritially because we have original shellacked woodwork and I can really only get those Ben Moore historic colors to work with it. We have bright porches and I am finally reconciled to having those light spaces (porches, garden areas) be our light spaces and the rest of the house is cozy. I love your take on lighting. Again our house was left alone for decades (thank goodness it escapes the 70's & 80's) with many rooms with no overhead lighting. Over the years we've added lighting but always multiple sources (scones, task lighting, under lighting on shelves, and vintage lamps). Anyway, I'm glad you are giving dark and moody its day in the sun;).
LOVE DARK AND MOODY.
Can you do something on integrating plants into interior design next?
I’m a Goth so everyone naturally thought I’d paint all my rooms black..but no😳…I have very dark green, purple, grey and a black living room. I’ve colour drenched every room and I find velvets, faux fur and gold/brass accessories make it look sumptuous. My bathroom is black and cream, the bathroom suite is cream with gold taps.
Awesome! I'm goth in spirit but I don't dress the part. I'm too old for that, I guess. My house is more of a dark cottage style since it's a smaller space.
@@Patrick-kt5mcwell I dunno how old you are but I’m 50 this year and I’m still giving Lily Munster an inferiority complex! You wear the gear if you want, you’re never too old to be yourself and enjoy life! 🌹
I normally want light spaces but my all time favorite room was a formal library with handmade oak shelves and paneling. Antique and traditional furniture. Painted brick fireplace. Crewel work drapes. Antique Persian rug in dark jewel tones. The house was built in the 1920s but the library was clumsily done so we had it redone. Loved that house.
dark and moody-the best
I love dark academia and it's so cool to see you address dark and moody decor! I'm getting bored with all the whites and grays and minimalist stuff I see everywhere (or seem to) and I like to see people taking risks. The images you showed are exactly what I want for some of my spaces! Thanks for the ideas!
Yes! My 1907 craftsman home is perfect for this. I did the living and dining room in an olive tone that goes well against the mahogany stained woods. The kitchen I painted maroon (adding more light so it's not dim but more moody). And I used a semi gloss to reflect a bit more light so it doesn't feel oppressive but more calming.
I love dark & moody!! I like the feeling of being cocooned in my cozy den or nest as my refuge from the rest of the world. But like Nick, I can appreciate a well designed space even if i wouldn't choose it for my space. There are lots of light spaces I see on UA-cam that I really like because they are well thought out. For me though, I crave dark & moody in my space.
Thank you, Nick! I didn't understand why I loved dark and moody until you explained the feeling of nesting and drawing in, like at a spa. Now, it's makes sense! I'm excited to explore this at home. I loved your explanation of lighting, I'm newly inspired to have fun building this mood at home.
Much love from the Pacific NW! 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲
I love dark and moody spaces. It feels so cozy and warm. I've enjoyed it since I was a kid that had her bedroom painted a navy blue with those cheesy glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling and walls. Today as an adult I'm still into this style. It's very comfortable and calming for me.
I have dark walls and the Hue light bulbs were such a great investment because as soon as the sun starts to set, I really need that adjustable lighting!
I love dark and moody and more busy and a bit feminine, my husband prefers light and bright and more masculine. We wound up compromising with a cozy look. Obsessed with looking at dark interiors online though
I picked Vanderberg Blue from Benjamin Moore with an LRV of 11.1 for my dining room and I love it. I'm so glad I thought to get paintable outlet covers before the painters arrived so they could paint them for me while they were at it (there is a model that covers the outlets, too, so you don't have to worry about painting those). I find it very distracting to have standard white/almond outlet covers on a dark wall.
Very good tip on the outlets, the white ones stand out like a sore thumb on dark walls. And the regular (non paintable) ones look crappy when you just paint them over.
Agree on the outlets matching the wall color ! Also , as a former designer , learned to cover outlets w/ wallpaper so that the repeat / pattern aligned perfectly to the wall covering . On occasion , an outlet could be painted the base color of the wallpaper to blend in . Perfectionists !!
My home is decorated in dark academia with hints of traditional and bohemian accents… perfect for two people who have circled the globe several times and are now content to be in one place.
i recently painted my room dark green and i love it
Love this - I went with deep green walls and soft warm lighting in my bedroom and it is the *best* feeling heading in there to go to bed in the evening - it's such a retreat, so calming.
Scary territory for some, but looks so luxurious and rich. Not a look you can achieve by just painting walls. Furnishings, artwork and tabletop decor would be very important. By the time I acquired everything, the trend would change….😊
Oooh!!!! I love Dark & Moody!!!! Very relaxing to live in. Love the traditional element!!!! I was wondering if Monica's apartment in the sitcom "Friends" could be placed into this category. I loved the purple walls & turquoise kitchen cabinets. I'm interested in painting my lounge room this colour.
Thank you for this video! This IS my vibe. I love this look.
Very nice, Nick. As a further step, I would love to see a video of you on Dark Academia interior design. It’s my favorite and I want to know your take on it. Thanks.
Great points about tones and shades, about adding black to a bright colour.
I remember seeing the home of a woman named Julia Arceri online and absolutely falling head over heels with her capacity to decorate some of her Home's spaces in the most elegant, French-inspired moodiness. My eyes were opened by her to moody possibilities in Decor!
One of my favorite videos of yours. This is my vibe. Thank you!
Dark n moody feel cozy n comfortable maybe because it reminds of the womb
I LOVE an led strip or any light really behind a couch, if it’s near or against a wall. Really creates that visual interest, so subtle it’s almost subconscious. Works behind any large furniture actually.
Yay Ive been waiting for this video. My home is dark and moody (except the kids bedrooms). Lots of greens and blacks, darker wood and William Morris style wallpapers. I love a cosy moody space ☺️
I turn off the lights and light a candle. Done.😊
Loved it. And... if you want some rooms light and bright and some moody and dark... that's OK too.
I expected more discussion about Gothic in interior design for the "Dark and Moody" video. To me that is the 1st thing that comes to mind.
Designers should respect (and get excited about) all styles so they can help their clients
Painted ceilings! Painted my bedroom dark forest green, ceiling included. It’s so cozy! It’s a tip I got from the great indoors podcast a while ago. Also just to be brave sometimes.
This is my favourite style. Thank you Nick!
I would love to see your ideas for a balanced home between airy and moody. I want to make my home sexy but not too dark. I like the middle in everything, neither minimalist or maximalist, not just dark or airy white. My favorite decor style is eclectic, like a sexy well traveled natural antique witch lol Your videos are super helpful, thank us for your channel 💕
I like the warm deep colors - especially in low natural light. Natural light tends to cool colors up - opposite of warm and cozy. In keeping warmth in that dark space, applying a dark warm color, fends off the cooling effect from the windows and creates a truly deep, warm, cozy space. I’m on the hunt for a deep, warm green…
Just what I needed. Thank you!
As a child my grandmother had black wallpaper in her bathroom. It had colourful sea creature designs on it, but the background was black and it was so rich. The walls had tile up to 4 feet then from there to the ceiling black patterned wallpaper. The bathroom was large with a large window and it was so striking.
I feel the same about Scandi spaces that you Nick feel about dark spaces. Give me moody spaces and a bright main bath and a moody powder room.
Hi Nick, please do a video about home design and plants❤
My Father-in- law & painted my living room Riverway by SW last weekend! Love it!- and it was fun to spend time with him while creating a lovely space! I learned about LRV from you last week! Thank you!!!
@@allalala9916 yes! That's why i just fell in love with it. Thank you!
Can you please do a video on natural pigment paints? Farrow and Ball, Abigail Ahern, Fire and Earth, etc. Thank you, Nick!
Also best tip I ever got about paint was to go for more of a toned shade. It just is so much nicer to look at and feels more sophisticated! My husband was not happy to repaint the whole house but the end result was worth it!
I live in Paraguay and my home has Brazilian mahogany, floors and open beam ceilings. I am trying to stay true to the age and architecture of the home, being Spanish Colonial. I am about to re-do my bedroom and am thinking dark and moody might be the way to go. Thank you for all your information on colors, I have learned so much from you😊
I’ve always been a fan of light furniture but my current condo was the perfect place to experiment with dark and moody. The kitchen cabinets are dark. The light coming in is not direct (courtyard so surrounded by plants and buildings). It’s been slightly uncomfortable going against my usual but so worth it.
My bedroom is black, even the ceiling. Was terrified it would look goth. I’m too old for that. Went for a blue that is so dark it reads black. I think that helped keep it moody and not look like I’m trying to relive the 90’s in Seattle. Have lots of lamps but keep them around the 75% level. Really peaceful room.
I have been waiting for a video like this. Been decorating moody for as long as I can remember. I’ve always respected wood and loved dark colors.
Hello darkness my old friend 🖤 I'm ALWAYS watching you vídeos, how did I miss THE ONE? More dark&moody ideas please!
Stunning examples thank you so much Nick😍😍
I like light & airy in the day to feel awake and energized and dark warm moody at night to feel relaxed and cozy
Dark and Moody bedroom for me.. I want to feel cocooned, caved if you will..lol.. shut off from the outside world, my sleep improves and is much deeper.
Cau you make a video about how you create symmetry with paintings or mirrors and shelves and fill awkward corners please?
I also love a dark primary bathroom! Any tips and tricks for achieving this look? Hard to find good inspirational photos but I love the spa vibes!
I love a dark, moody, cozy space. I also prefer fall/winter vs spring/summer. Too much bright light just triggers an ocular migraine, for me.
I have a purple wall in my living room/kitchen. It is grayed down, and I love it because it is color but doesn't jump off the wall. I also have darker floors. Love darker rooms, feels more cozy to me.
Interesting video! Would love to see you making more follow-ups as I think there are even more options. For example I love mixing the two styles according to both a room's purpose and it's conditions, and so would be fun to hear your thoughts on that. And also on making a more colourful space without going overboard.
NICK JUST MAKES SATURDAY WORTH LOOKIN FOWARD TOO HE MAKES YOU LAUGH HE MAKES YOU WANT TO HEAR THAT NOTIFICATION BELL RING OVER AND OVER AGAIN SO YOU DON’T MISS HIM 🩷
I love that Nick uses some pictures of Page Wassel’s old home😍
Ooh! I love dark and moody! Thank you, Nick!
Thank you so much for covering this topic
I did the dark and moody living room with a mix of mid century pieces and industrial pieces. I adore it! ❤
I love listening to you talk about tints, tones, and shades.
I like the tie in to your newsletter re using red. I've had a red entry way forever. Red is my accent colour in the adjoining living room. I love the deep shade in my otherwise light and bright room.
I painted 2 doors, going on 3, in plum. Looks fantastic. Now, for the rest of the house! Great video, Nick ❤
You are a Design- Advisor of my own heart!!!!!!!!My colours are pomegranat- red with a little aue-de-nile blue ish-green,and the third colour is cream ....and I combined it with mid- dARK wood furnitures ...crafted mostly from 1910 to 1940....and mid-mahogany replica of English frontbrakes and sideboards of this aera....and I allways wanted to Paint the walls in a mid-dark version ..either of a cool, English-Rose brick-red, or a soft version of a cooler green, just like British dining-rooms have been.....now I am convinced, and will decorate the living- room in this range of tones....not all-creamwhite walls anymore!!! I will select the shade from my tiffany- lamps....so it s in harmony with everything!!! ( The tones of the glass are already matched to my velvet pillows and drapes.....and carpets).I want to create a kind of ,,Sabrina" or ,,Charmed"-vibe! I am over 60 now, but people still call me ,,pretty",.so I guess, it will Match my personality.....and I live with rescued cats.....finally now or never!!!! No-one I know has Not all-white walls, so I will be called crazy .....but there is enough natural light, so I can do this ,,Edwardian-Style thing now!!! Thank You Nick, for Your encouragement, to do something individually!!!
I want to make our basement entertainment room/library a dark academia SO BAD. Thank you for breaking down the palette!
Thank you Nick!
I have many light and bright spaces in my home but for three years I have been trying to figure out how to change up my den. Couldn’t figure out what I wanted. Watching you finally inspired me.
Dark Den moody it is!
Thank you for bringing up the colour wheel, Nick!! It's the only way I can understand colour. I have 3 of them, including a small one to take shopping.
I absolutely love you and most of your ideas. I need more light and subtlety bright in order to not sink into depression. Because of circumstances I have to live in one room with my crazy lil doggo so spacing and light, light colors are extremely important to me. ❤❤❤❤
I've been trying to get the energy and "oomph" to redo my bedroom, and this video really spoke to me. I used to be good at impulsively picking a color and really loving it, but I've made one mistake 20 years ago, lol, and now I mostly overthink it. Your foray into darker colors really helped me. I'm going to look into your newsletter now to see if you go deeper somewhere else.
Thank you for entertaining me at work every Saturday!
When we bought our house, the living room was painted a great navy. On the opposite side of the house, same floor, we painted the guest room SW black magic, which has some nice warmth and isn’t pitch black. The rest of the house is mostly creamy white and I love the balance we have. I couldn’t do more dark than this, it would be too overwhelming for me.
I have insomia, so having my room really dark is very helpful. Plus blackout curtains 😅
You are always so interesting...I love your snarkiness 😊
I especially like that you believe people should do what they love, not what someone else decides.
I am drawn to warm and calming spaces which I guess leans into those muted darker tones.
From experience, stay away from dark and moody in your living spaces if you are prone to depression or suffer from SADS..Dark and moody for these people works only in bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms because you don't spend much time there. Bedroom is a good place for it if you like a cocoon space for napping and sleeping, peaceful meditation, winding down. Exception would be if you have many large windows in a living room, or a kitchen with white cabinets in a southern exposure. Going dark there helps keep the reflective eye-piercing glare to a minimum.
As someone with SAD living in grey England, majority of my rooms are light and bright. However have always wanted black in my bedroom, but my mum would never let me. I have a had a black on black wallpaper on one wall, my lovely husbands only statement on decorating is no pink, so we love it. Also have a vintage red bathroom, which is lovely in the winter for candlelit baths. If I had a more vintage home I’d love a dark red dining room with mahogany furniture - all rich and sumptuous conducive for long conversations.
I have a narrow area in my home which I use as a picture gallery and painted the walls a darker olive so that they kind of just disappear and leave all of my photos/pictures to leap out at you. It turned an awkward space into something elegant and a place I love to linger.
Nick! please make a Dark Academia video! This one was very interesting, but I get the sense that you would like to delve deeper into the old English country pile study of an amateur scientist/biologist/eccentric person and what they would surround themselves with.
Have you done a video on how sunlight affects paint colours?
I noticed that years ago and note I bring home the paint color cards that I’m interested in months before I make my final decisions on the exact tints I’m going to select because I look at the paint colors during different seasons and how the sun affects the color at different times of the day.
very helpful. thank you
i have a more dark space with almost all
black furniture, but made my walls a muted sage color to add some brightness when i feel like it! when i keep the light low, there’s not much light to reflect, but when i open the blinds, i get a good amount. i also have a lighter table in the room that i put a dark, heavy cloth on.