Introduction
So what does moody really mean? When I interpret moody for a room, it means creating depth with richer tones of color. To me, it doesn't mean creating a deep, dark cave for a room (unless that's what you are going for). It's about a mix of patterns, textiles and color that work together to soften a room while bringing it richness.
Color
Ah color, the foundation of a moody room. This is where it all starts and is how the tone of the room is built upon.
What I think really makes a room feel moody is when the walls, ceiling and trim are all painted the same color. I know this a big risk for most people (it is a lot of color). If this is you, try painting the wall behind your couch/loveseat or media wall a darker color. You in no way have to paint your entire room to give it a moody effect.
What you can also try is painting your ceiling and crown molding all one color. I absolutely love this look and can't wait to implement in my own home. When it all comes down to it, updating your walls with paint is easy to change if you end up not loving it.
Wood Tones
Creating a moody vibe for a room all comes down to layering. Layering textures, tones and materials. One way that I love to create these layers is with wood tones.
Wood tones bring warmth to a room and by combining them with the dark colors, it helps the room achieve a cohesive feel. Begin with your main base color, as mentioned above, and then build your wood tone off of that. If you choose a deep blue as your base color, choose a pecan or golden oak piece, woods that have orange undertones, to compliment it. If your base color is green, use cherry or mahogany to compliment the room.
Photo Credit: Devol Kitchens
Lighting
For a moody room, lighting is key. The goal is to make the room feel inviting, but not overly bright. The best way I like to achieve this ambiance is ambient light or diffused natural light. If your room has a window that faces north, diffused natural light is easy to achieve, but what if your doesn't face north? This is the time to implement translucent curtains or shades. The light will diffuse as it's going through the shades or curtains to create light and soft shadows in the room.
If your room doesn't have windows, use a soft and diffused lamp or ceiling fixture that has a translucent shade. This lighting will create soft shadows that makes the room seem welcoming, and not harsh.
Pattern
You can have so much fun with pattern in moody rooms. Pattern gives the room an unexpected touch. What is great about patterns is that you can use as much or as little pattern as you want. Pillow covers or wall art are great ways to subtly introduce pattern elements. If you want to introduce even more pattern, include pieces of furniture that have a pattern. If pattern doesn't scare you even in the slightest, wallpapering your walls is the way to go.
Photo Credit: @strikeme_pink
Metal Accents
Metal accents further define the aesthetic you are trying to achieve for your room. For example, if you are going for more a vintage vibe, incorporate gold and brass metal accents for this look. These accents could be on light fixtures, shelf accessories or furniture legs.
If you are going for a more modern look for your room, white and black metal pieces work great to give the room a sleek feeling with clean lines. Other ways you can add in metal accents are with door, shelf or cabinet hardware or accent pieces of furniture (side tables or ottomans).
Photo Credit: @rebekahwestoverphotography
Summary
Creating a moody room is definitely an aesthetic that gets a lot of people out of their comfort zones. That is ok. Your design evolution is a journey and it starts with getting out of your comfort zone. Start with small changes and build from there. There is no time limit on design. Hopefully this post helped give you ideas on how to begin to push your creativity.
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