2017 Color Of The Year: Shadow

Benjamin Moore has made it’s pick for the 2017 Color of the Year, and this year they went bold. Last year they chose a white , but dark wall colors are definitely trending and I think they went with that trend for 2017. The color is called Shadow.

The hue is a rich, deep amethyst. It’s dramatic, and could be paired with stark whites and other jeweled tones.

I’m going to be honest here, I’m not loving it. I do love if a dark room is done well.  What is missing in the room above is a repetition of the wall color. It’s almost ignored. A backdrop is only as good as it’s surrounding textures. There is also a black fireplace surround that comes out of nowhere. Below is this same color by Benjamin Moore  and it’s done well:

Dark walls are difficult for a novice to achieve successfully. It takes a lot of trial and error to get it right.

I want to feel sexy and warm in a room with darker walls – rich and cozy, almost engulfed or hugged by my surroundings. But it must have the right amount of balance. Natural materials such as plants, marble, pottery, wood, metallics and rustic elements create a cohesive look. These darker colors feel historic, they give us a sense of place and time.

Below are some rooms that I love and I feel they are more well balanced, the light and dark hues are mixed appropriately, and they feel chic and rich.