If Your House Feels Flat, It’s Probably Not Your Decor, It’s Your Paint Colors – These Are the 6 Shades You Should Add to Your Scheme That Always Add Depth
From rich browns to moody blues, designers use these paint colors when soft neutrals don't quite cut it
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If you've ever stepped back from your finally complete room and questioned why it seems to fall flat, you're not alone. Indeed, carefully selected furniture, lighting, textiles, and window treatments aren't always enough if the wall color isn't quite right.
And so, instead of attempting to add more soul to your room with more decor, it might be worth taking a look at your paint colors. While neutrals work wonderfully in certain rooms (light-flooded spaces that feel light and airy), some spaces benefit hugely from a richer palette of paint colors.
6 Paint Colors Designers Use to Add Depth to Rooms
'Some fear that adding a dark color to a space will make it appear claustrophobic; however, dark colors cleverly absorb the light, making the division between walls appear blurred,' explains Helen Shaw, color expert at Benjamin Moore. 'This "blurred edges" effect adds depth and dimension to a room, making the space appear larger, rather than more cramped as some may fear.'
Beyond the wall colors themselves, it's also important to choose the right paint finish when looking to add more depth to a room. 'When used thoughtfully, an all-encompassing gloss finish can bring real drama to a space,' adds Helen. 'Deep, jewel-toned hues add warmth and sophistication, creating a cozy retreat, especially when paired with ambient lighting. They not only reflect light and enhance dimension but also inject a space with a sense of characterful luxury.'
1. Soothing Teals
In this dining room, the walls were painted with Benjamin Moore's Aegean Teal in an eggshell finish, while the trim is Benjamin Moore's Amazon Green in semi-gloss.
Decorating with teal is soothing yet exciting when used on the walls, and Benjamin Moore's Aegean Teal is a favorite for the designer Kristen Fiore of Kristen Elizabeth Design. 'Aegean Teal adds depth due to its complex blend of warm and cool undertones,' she says. 'The blend of blues and greens, although cool in nature, read warm when balanced with the cool gray undertone. This complexity forces the eye to process multiple tones, creating a three-dimensional richness on a flat wall.'
Because teal is a blend of blue and green, a room's lighting will affect which tones are most prominent. 'Aegean Teal changes significantly throughout the day depending on its light source,' adds Kristen. 'We love it in low-lit rooms, but the color really comes to life when you color-drench a room with a lot of natural sunlight. South-facing rooms work the best as the vibrancy of the blues and greens is pulled forward.'
'When the sun goes down, and you switch to warm artificial light, it deepens into a cozy, enveloping teal,' she says. 'We like to experiment with different accent colors such as Amazon Green to create a dark, dramatic accent, Farrow & Ball's Oval Room Blue or Borrowed Light to pull the blues and grays forward, and for a more contrasting, softer traditional feel, Benjamin Moore's Edgecomb Grey is a good friend.'
2. Blue-Toned Grays
Farrow & Ball's Inchyra Blue was used here in a matte finish, 'which enhances the color’s depth while keeping the overall look soft and inviting,' says Ansley.
Adding more interest to your walls doesn't need to be loud – a well-chosen blue-toned gray paint adds more color than classic gray paints, but with enough restraint to keep things feeling neutral.
Farrow & Ball's Inchyra Blue is a popular blue-gray, which adds moodiness and drama to rooms. Ansley Majit, the founder of L+P Interiors, describes it as 'a super complex shade that adds instant depth without overwhelming a space.'
'Its slightly dusty quality keeps it feeling refined and relaxed at the same time, sophisticated, but never too formal,' she adds. 'This color is especially effective in rooms with less consistent natural light, because it maintains its richness in darker conditions while responding beautifully when light filters in. In softer or indirect light, the color feels warm, layered, and dynamic rather than flat.'
'We love pairing it with ocher and warm gold tones to bring in contrast and warmth, and it’s equally striking alongside deep dusty pinks and rich maroons,' adds Ansley. 'While it’s a true color, it functions almost like a neutral; it’s incredibly versatile and complements a wide range of palettes.'
3. Dark Pine Greens
Benjamin Moore's Tarrytown Green was used all over in this dining room foyer, but in a range of finishes, including matte on the walls, flat on the ceiling, and semi-gloss on the millwork.
Green paints add depth to rooms while offering a relaxed and calming feel, and going for a dark tone is a simple way to add a sense of drama. Although bold, Benjamin Moore's Tarrytown Green is cool enough to feel livable. 'The color is complicated, ranging from green to blue to almost black depending on the light,' explains the designer Jessica Helgerson, who used this moody shade in this dining room foyer.
When using a shade as dark as this one, it's important to consider the room's lighting conditions. According to Jessica, it lends itself to rooms that don't receive direct sunlight, where it can be used liberally, and is best used in smaller doses in brighter rooms. 'This color works well as an overall color in rooms that are naturally darker, or as an accent in sunnier spaces,' she says. 'It is a lovely complement to warm tones like terracotta or gold.'
4. Rich and Warming Browns
In this bedroom, Benjamin Moore's Dixon Brown in a flat finish adds warmth, along with White Dove in a satin finish on the trim.
If you're drawn toward neutral hues, consider adding depth to your room with a rich chocolate brown on the walls. Sophisticated and grounding, decorating with brown is warming and cozy.
'This rich chocolate brown wraps the bedroom in a cozy cocoon, but more importantly, it creates depth through contrast and dimension,' explains the designer Paloma Contreras, who used Benjamin Moore's Dixon Brown. 'Dark brown is one of those colors people hesitate to use, yet when done well, it allows lighter furnishings, artwork, and textiles to really stand out.'
'A color like this naturally adds dimension, so the room feels layered and interesting rather than flat,' adds Paloma. 'Dixon Brown feels warm and grounded, and when paired with creamy whites, natural textures, and brass, it brings a beautiful sense of richness to the space.'
'In very dim rooms without contrast, a color like this can feel heavy,' she adds. 'But when it is balanced with light textiles, mirrors, and warm metals, it reads intimate and refined rather than dark. It works best in rooms with natural light, especially soft or indirect light that enhances its warmth and richness.'
5. Moody Reds
In this color-drenched dining room, Farrow & Ball's Preference Red in a high-sheen finish adds drama and moodiness.
If you're feeling braver, why not go for a moody shade of red on the walls? Incredibly warming, red paints make a bold statement, but choosing the right shade is key. Farrow & Ball's Preference Red is a popular wine color that leans more towards a plum shade than traditional red.
In this dining room, Preference Red was used to color-drench the space. 'I'm always drawn to red when a room needs conviction,' says the designer Kristina Khersonsky of STUDIO KEETA. 'In this space, the red feels intentional rather than decorative. It anchors the room emotionally, and instead of floating, everything else around it – like the furnishings, the art, the light – has to push against it. Red has the rare ability to create both intimacy and drama at the same time.'
'Red absorbs and reflects light in a way that changes throughout the day,' Kristina adds. 'In the morning, the light is reflective and can feel energetic. In the evening, it deepens into something moodier and cocooning.'
6. Mossy Greens
Benjamin Moore's Great Barrington Green in a matte finish adds softness and warmth to this modern living room.
A mid-tone green paint is a great way to add depth to a room, while keeping the space feeling uplifting and soothing, rather than moody and dramatic. In this living room, Benjamin Moore's Great Barrington Green was used, adding warmth and complementing the wood tones.
'This home is a jewel box as it’s rich in color, emotion, and memory,' explains the designer Sarah Goesling, owner and principal at Goesling Group. 'It’s designed to feel special, expressive, and lively, and every moment tells a story to create a deeply personal space for our client.'
'Like most of Benjamin Moore’s Historical Color Collection, this color plays best with natural light,' adds Sarah. 'With the large, wall-to-wall windows in this living room and kitchen, we had the benefit of embracing the natural light. I believe letting the color exist in its most natural environment is the best version possible.'
Once you find a paint shade for your space that works in harmony with your style, the room's lighting, and the decor itself, you'll be well on your way to creating a room that offers depth, warmth, and interest. While it can be tempting to stick to a palette of neutrals, the richer and more nuanced shades listed here can add a lot more coziness and movement, without overwhelming with too much vibrancy.
