Decorating for the Night

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Hey Butterballs! Did everyone have a good turkey day?  Mine was great too!  And while most of you are trimming your trees and decking your halls, I'm still pondering the decoration of my formal living room and dining room at Project Dollhouse.

Here are some thoughts about these spaces. They'll be used mostly for larger than normal family meals and holidays. At night.  So how do you go about decorating a room for night time use?  My plan is to embrace the darkness of it all.

Mario Buatta in Architectural Digest

Dark walls are a must. They make a dramatic backdrop for night time entertaining.

And do you know what looks amazing against dark walls?  Gold accents!  They add warmth and keep the dark spaces from feeling too somber.


 I also plan to use (mostly) classic furnishings. Since these rooms will be used as gathering spaces for family and friends,  I want them to feel homey and comforting.


Smart fabric choices are also important for night time rooms. I think it's a great idea to add in fabrics that have a sheen.  Consider using silk

and/or velvet in your night time spaces.
And finally - have fun with it!  Alex Papachristidis used modern art and textiles to add another dimension to this mostly classic living room.


So there you have it.  Do you have any rooms you decorate specifically for night time use?

For more updates on this and all of my decorating projects, make sure you follow me on Instagram and/or follow The Green Room Interiors on Facebook.

The  Green Room Interiors provides Interior Decorating and Design Services to happy homeowners in Chattanooga, TN.  If you'd like to discover the joy of living in a well-designed home, contact Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com


18 comments:

Coulda shoulda woulda said...

As I live in London it seems I always have to bear in mind the grey or stark white light...But you have a point about nighttime decorating bc most people are at work during the day and only enjoy their home at night.

Kerry Steele- Design du Monde said...

My formal dining room has all of the above plus a twinkly chandelier. I imagined it for nightime use and made the walls glossy chocolate brown and used ivory silk curtains and an antique gold mirror. Its one of my favorite rooms.

Ashley said...

You are really onto something here, Kim. The combo of dark walls, homey furnishings and silk curtains? Sensational.

Can't wait to see it take shape!

Carol@6WilsonBlog.com said...

I *love* dark rooms and velvet. Just.gorgeous. I wish I could do that in my own home, but I don't have a room that lends itself to it. Can't wait to see what you do!

Thehouseofhampton said...

Excellent plan! My house is far to small for evening use only. So I say go for it ! I agree with the gold accents and a lighter reflective drapery. As usual, I can't wait to see the big reveal!
Sharon

My Interior Life said...

Glad you had a great Thanksgiving! You know I'm all about embracing dark walls! Can't wait to see what choices you make!

pam {simple details} said...

What a fun project, they're lucky to have you, stylish friend! I'm loving all the dark walls, I want them somewhere! :)

Donna Benedetto said...

Love your night time room choices.
I am right there with you, I think the dark rooms need fabric that have shimmer to them, abstract art always look gorgeous against dark walls as well. I also think that with dark walls you really have to pay more attention to detail in these spaces otherwise you could have a cave like effect.
Donna
thebeneblog.com

home before dark said...

After living with an all white downstairs, I've joined the dark side of the force. Yup: black. I think it's a hoot that I'm 64 and think black is cool and so many of the young ones are horrified! My vision is like an old-fashioned scrap book with black pages that frames the pictures. During the day the big room faces the garden, but at night the darkness and firelight take over.

Heather Peterson said...

I love this--my living room is a nighttime space (despite the white walls), with upholstery fabric on one piece that has metallic threads--slightly dull during the day, but sparkly at night!

Rebecca { MyDarlingHouse} said...

I love all the dark walls, especially the lacquered ones! If I could pull that off on my old lumpy plaster walls I would do it in a second!

Patty Day @Pattys Epiphanies said...

Love the rooms. They are striking!!!
and the gold accents.....perfection!

Vel Criste said...

Oooh, dark walls and velvet together are so lush and decadent! I can't wait to see how this room will turn out Kim! I have huge windows all around, so definitely no nook or cranny to do night time decorating only, but I do adore these types of rooms a lot!

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

Dying ot paint something dark myself!! So quaint and rich.
Can't wait to see what you do.
Teresa
xoxo

Kim said...

Oh I cannot wait to see you embrace the night! I love a good dark room! xo

My Notting Hill said...

Love that dining room w/the green silk curtain!

Unknown said...

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House of Pemberley said...

You are awesome! I cannot wait to see your rooms!