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TV presenter and author Michelle Ogundehin explains how to balance stronger, dark colours in a room scheme to maximum effect.

There’s been much talk recently in interiors of the 60:30:10 rule, a way of apportioning neutrals, darker shades and pops of contrast for the ‘perfect� scheme. The theory is that, by following the given ratio, you maintain balance � your dominant colour calms, your secondary colour enriches, and your accent colour energises. Ordinarily, I scoff at dictates. I believe they are a lesson in the dissolution of interiors to mathematical formulae, when place-making should be intuitive, loose and dynamic. What works in one space will not work in another. And rules are made to be broken. However, when it comes to using dark tones in com­bination with neutrals, this ‘rule� definitely has its place.

To explain: 

Drench a room entirely in colours like walnut, mustard, olive or chocolate brown, and it can add immense depth, warmth and refinement to a home. The feel will be sheer cocooning indulgence. If this is the goal, then do not veer from the path of the total envelopment, and do not feel compelled to add in any contrast. And the smaller the room, the better.

But, once you start to mix such shades with paler hues, it gets a little more complicated. The aim is for one to lift the other, bringing out the best aspects of all. As such, dark colours are best used to anchor key elements in a room. For example, Olive cabinetry in a kitchen paired with Driftwood walls and an Orkney White ceiling would create a calm, grounded foundation.

In bedrooms, a dark feature wall behind the bed can feel both cocooning and restorative, especially when paired with lighter, calming contrasts such as Orkney White-inspired linen shades or a Silver Birch-painted ceiling. Accents of Blakeney Blue � perhaps in a velvet cushion or statement throw � could then introduce a bold, but balanced, elegance to this otherwise earthy palette.

Even Mustard, typically a more adventurous choice, works harmoniously when framed by deeper colours and softened by surrounding neutrals. Indeed, the key is to let such shades lead no more than about 30% of the space, thus grounding a room without overwhelming it. Then, your paler tones act as freshening agents, sharpening the deeper notes without feeling stark.

Nonetheless, consider the placement of dark tones carefully. Use them lower down � think skirting boards, cabinetry, or the bottom half of walls � balanced by lighter shades above. Finally, fulsomely embrace texture, and introduce layered lighting to bring darker surfaces to life, otherwise they could feel flat. Result? A palette which combines calm, contrast and character, making any space feel instantly more considered.

Decorating with Neptune’s deeper shades 

If you’re tempted to decorate with darker shades, colour-drenching Neptune colours like Ink, Constable Green or Walnut across woodwork, walls and ceilings is a beautifully enveloping solution. Eliminating the distraction of high-contrast lines, this technique blurs the edges of a room, creating a greater sense of space. It’s especially effective in smaller rooms such as snugs and cloakrooms, where our highly pigmented paint feels rich and velvety, even in low light.

As a mid-dark shade, our new mellow brown, Saddle, is perfect for bringing drama to stand-out pieces of furniture, like a dresser or kitchen island, without overpowering the room. Its grounded, earthy undertones ensure it pairs well with a broad palette of accent colours, too. Try it alongside warm greens like Olive, add contrast with the soft blush of Potter’s Pink or Old Rose, or for something a little unexpected, touches of Blakeney Blue can add a fresh lift while still feeling rooted.