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Dark walls, from inky blue to charcoal and black, are refined and dramatic – but decorating around them without making your space feel too dark can be tricky. If you’ve been thinking of painting one or more walls a deep, dark hue, these ideas for colour and decor pairings should help.

Natural wood
Natural wood, whether in a mirror frame, rustic tabletop or chair, helps lighten up dark walls while also emphasising their richness. You can’t go wrong with a driftwood or barn wood mirror or a country-style table.

Sculptural shapes
Place anything colourful or white in front of a dark wall, and your eye will be immediately drawn to its contours. Try placing a group of pottery pieces on a console or mantel. Or highlight the shape of an unusual table or chair by positioning it in front of a deep, dark wall.

Green plants
Potted plants and indoor trees look even lusher when placed in front of a dark wall. The dark colour recedes into the background, creating the feeling of having a mini forest in the room instead of a few plants. Bonus style points if your plants have a sculptural shape, like the topiaries shown here.

Large artwork
A single piece of oversized art hung on a dark wall has the most impact – even more than a salon-style grouping. The drama of a deep wall colour draws the eye. This works especially well with artwork with a large white mat and a slim black frame.

White
If you feel at all unsure about which direction to go in with the other elements in your dark painted room, choose white – it always works. In this bedroom a charcoal wall is set off by a grouping of wall-mounted plants on white bases, white bedding and white window treatments.

Pale, watery hues
Soft and ethereal, pale aqua, mint, champagne and silvery grey bring lightness to a room with dark walls. Try these watercolour-inspired hues in bedding, a throw or pillows for an elegant feel.

Rich mustard and teal
These hues complement deep blue, grey or even dark chocolate walls by bringing in the colours of fall. Just a small touch of mustard, teal or both hues will do – try a throw, pillow covers or curtains.

Wild card pairing: brights
A flash of hot pink, neon yellow or vibrant turquoise is daring – and exciting! Brights work best with black or charcoal; adding these bold hues to a room painted another dark colour (like navy or forest green) is riskier. Test out a fun colour pairing with a low-cost addition like hand towels or a cluster of bright vases.

Mirrors
Dark walls in a room without much natural light run the risk of making it feel oppressive. Boost what light you have by adding mirrors – even small, decorative mirrors, like the ones shown here, can help lighten things up. If the room is very dark, add a larger mirror, either on the wall or leaning against it.

Acrylic and glass
Like mirrors, clear materials, such as acrylic and glass, can help a dark space feel a bit lighter. Swap out a timber piece, such as a console, for a glass or acrylic version. Or add a large glass vase filled with greenery for a quick boost.

Rich texture
Dark walls call out for touchable textures, such as velvet, silk, oiled wood and fluffy mohair. Consider a plush velvet sofa, velvet or silk accent pillows, or a mohair throw in a living room with dark walls.

Oriental rugs
Rolling out an Oriental rug is a good way to marry a daringly dark wall colour with a traditional home. These carpets tend to include a range of rich, deep colours, lending them well to dark walls in just about any hue.

Antiques
As with using traditional rugs, bringing in an antique piece or two is a wonderful way to take the edge off a strong wall colour. In the room shown here, dark walls look refined alongside an eclectic mix of antiques and modern Lucite chairs.