The Best Paint Colors for Low-Light Rooms

Choosing the best paint color for a room is tricky enough, requiring at the very least putting paint swatches up on the walls for a few days to make certain you know what the color looks like in every light before committing. But when a space lacks natural light, when it travels from dim to dimmer to dark as the day progresses, choosing a paint color becomes even more challenging. Colors that are too muted or too cool can make sun-deprived interiors feel uninviting. Instead, play up the light from lamps and overhead fixtures with lighter, warmer shades to visually expand dark spaces and create a welcoming atmosphere for you and your guests. Flip through for 9 eye-catching hues that can rescue any dark corner in your home.

Lavender

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Lavender Paint for Dark Bedrooms

The versatile appeal of lavender is especially welcome in low-light rooms. It has a wide range of shades that work well, from barely-there tints to dusky violet hues. For a more grown-up interpretation, pair lavender with gray, black, and white; when coordinated with bold purples and blues, it turns playful.

Sherwin Williams

Pale Yellow

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Yellow Paint for Dark Kitchens

What better way to mimic natural light in a room than with sunny yellow walls? Light, buttery hues reflect artificial light luminously without the risk of overpowering the space, as a bolder shade might. Enhance the classic look of yellow interiors with white woodwork and warm wood tones.

Bullis Photography

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Chocolate Brown

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Brown Dining Room

While most dark paints make a low-light room feel smaller and more confining, chocolate is a warm, inviting shade that makes a space cozy. Balance this strong color with light accents, such as white woodwork, pale carpeting, or patterned fabrics, to keep the look from feeling too heavy.

Interior design by Maria Killam

Powder Blue

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Blue Bathroom

This timeless blue can brighten even the darkest corner of the home. It's well-suited to traditional interiors when paired with crisp white details, dark wood furnishings, and deep red tones in upholstery. It can also skew retro by adding cherry red or lime green to the mix.

Interior design by Melissa Lenox Design

Warm Orange

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Orange Dining Room

Apricot, pumpkin, tangerine—all these shades of orange can transform an interior with few sources of light into a gathering place that exudes warmth. Chalk it up to orange's ability to glow radiantly when lit by lamps, candlelight, or even sunlight from a small window.

Interior design by Terrat Elms Interior Design

Gray

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Grey Dining Room

Elegant gray has become the new neutral in interior design. One big reason for its popularity is that it works equally well in both sun-bathed and sun-deprived spaces. For dimly lit spaces, choose a lighter shade for the walls and incorporate bright accents into the room through woodwork, fabrics, and accessories.

Interior design by Jane Lockhart Interior Design

Ocher

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Gray Dining Room

Whether you choose an ocher reminiscent of a wheat field or one closer to gold, this color works wonders for dim rooms. It's most often used in more traditional settings, highlighted by white mantels, molding, and trim. Shine the woodwork with a semi- or high-gloss paint to add a bit of dazzle.

Interior design by Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc.; photographed by Anice Hoachlander from Hoachlander Davis Photography, LLC

Pink

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Pink Bedroom

Cheerful pink is a natural choice for rooms where sunlight is limited. The shade you're drawn to dictates how and where best to use it. Pale rose and seashell can brighten all four walls, but bolder hues like watermelon and fuchsia can overwhelm a dimly lit space—save those for an accent wall.

Zillow Digs home in Larchmont, NY

Lime Green

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Green Bathroom

Lime green energizes interiors both large and small—perfect for a poorly lit room. Many homeowners use it on an accent wall, but feel free to coat all four if the look suits you. This bright hue works to cheer up either traditional settings like bedrooms and baths or an out-of-the-way spot like a laundry room.

Zillow Digs home in Seattle, WA

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Believe it or not, even with the vast number of paint color options available, a select handful of hues surpass all the others in popularity. We spoke with industry experts to uncover their best sellers. Click to view now!