DARK & DRAMATIC INTERIOR STYLING

If you were to look at my light and airy house, with a clear bohemian mid-century modern vibe running through it, you'd think that dark and dramatic was far from one of my go-to interior styles. But you'd be wrong. I absolutely love this kind of style, it's just that the environment that I live in doesn't allow for something so bold and avant garde if you like. For me, there is something unbelievably glamorous about bold colours, sleek silhouettes, sumptuous textures and statement walls, especially when all teamed together. 

You don't have to have a vast budget when it comes to creating this kind of look though - it's all in the clever styling...

A bold contrast, say black walls and white wood work, will create drama in any room. It's not unknown for me to favour black walls, and I think the bathroom below makes a really powerful statement. As does black furniture with stark white walls - how amazing is that Louis XV inspired chair?

Statement walls are key to dramatic interiors - how amazing does this wall mural above look? I would absolutely kill for something like this in my hallway or even in the downstairs toilet. When you have something as striking like a large scale pattern or statement wall, you can't be scared to add even more glamour with colour and texture.

Which brings me to my next point - fabrics and surface textures. The art to creating a dramatic room but with real livability is texture. Think furs, rich velvet, Egyptian cotton sheets, silks, sheepskin throws - various textures that contrast with each other, while still being super comfortable to relax in. Nobody want's an amazing show room, which you can't even use because you're scared of perching on the edge of the chair.

If I was creating a really dramatic interior, I'd make sure I had plenty of mirrored surfaces, velvet textures, graphic art work on the walls, metallic finishes, stunning statement light features, a mix of eclectic and modern furniture with plenty of detail. By detail I mean huge vases of flowers, lanterns, throws, candles, plenty of glass and brass and finely tuned vignettes. 

Are dark and dramatic interiors a style you'd feature in your house? I'd love to know what you think to the inspiration I've pulled together, is there anything that catches your eye. I can't help but love the desk above with the huge picture of Biggie - someone get me that print.