How to Style Dark Built-Ins
Creating a Styling Moment in Your Home…
When we did our rental living room makeover, one of the main things I wanted to include some form of a built-in shelving unit. It’s so practical for storage but also displaying some precious, decorative items. When it came to DIY-ing the built-ins, I knew I wanted to paint it in a dark colour. However, when it came to decorating it, it was a little more difficult than I expected it to be. Styling dark built-ins is a little different than white shelving. However, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be on a roll. I love how it turned out, the mixture of tones and textures. It’s exactly what I wanted to achieve in our living room, adding some more depth to the space.
If you’re just starting to dip your tone into going a bit darker with your interior style or want to head down that route but have no idea where to start, I hope these tips will help you conquer your fears and get you styling like a pro…
THE SAME RULES APPLY.
The first thing to note is the same rules apply as if you were styling a light built-in. So grouping objects together and layering decorative pieces still apply when styling dark built-ins. The difference comes in your objectives. Rather than blending in objects, you want your decorative pieces to stand out. This is where we would go slightly different in terms of styling.
CREATE CONTRAST WITH COLOUR.
Creating contrast with colour is a great way to add interest when styling dark built-ins. For my shelving, I went with some pinks and greens, a theme that has is running throughout my home. You want to pick colours that you’re drawn to, that reflect your personal style and taste.
What you don’t want to do is have everything to stand out. You want to have some moody elements in there. Pairing a couple of different dark colours together allows your eyes to rest for a while still creating contrast and depth.
SHOP DECORATIVE OBJECTS.
ย 
ADD DARK TEXTURE.
Something that is also equally as important is to use dark textures within your styling. It makes such a difference! Wood tones, woven materials are a great medium colour that opens up the shelving. These tones compliment metallics such as silver and brass.
When it comes to metallics, it all depends on the type of dark paint you used. For myself, I used a cool tone/ blue-based paint. So to warm it up, I went with brass accessories to bring some warmth to the shelving.
SHOP COFFEE TABLE BOOKS.
USE SCULPTURAL OBJECTS.
Another way to style dark built-ins is to use decorative sculptural objects as bookends to your design is a great way to shake things up. A decorative bowl or vase, trinkets and even frames are a great way to add a little difference and interest to your styling.
Frames also make a space feel personal. Whether they are displaying a photograph or a piece of art, they really bring your built-ins to life. One thing to consider is to stagger them on your shelves so that it doesn’t become too overwhelming to the eye.
GO LARGE WITH DECORATIVE PIECES.
When dealing with dark decor, you don’t want to rill the shelves with tiny objects. I love introducing boxes and baskets that are substantial enough to fill the space. Plus, they can provide a secret place of storage. Form and function blended together.
Other larger items that I’ve brought to the shelving is my fabulous globe. I just love the item and it adds height and interest to the space. Also, coffee table books. Everyone knows my love for coffee table books, especially if you follow me on Instagram. The larger the better. They are great for showing off your interests as well as being substantial to take up space on the shelving.
SHOP MY LIVING ROOM.
