Shade
Key Characteristics
- ✓Created by adding black to pure color
- ✓Darker than original hue
- ✓Creates drama and sophistication
- ✓Absorbs rather than reflects light
- ✓Makes spaces feel intimate and cocooning
- ✓Increases color intensity and richness
Types & Variations
Works Well With These Styles
Placement & Usage Tips
Use deep shades in rooms with good natural light to prevent them from feeling cave-like. Balance dark walls with lighter furniture and textiles. Reserve the deepest shades for accent walls or smaller rooms where intimacy is desired—libraries, powder rooms, bedrooms.
💡 Pro Tip
Dark shades require excellent artificial lighting. Install multiple light sources at different heights—table lamps, wall sconces, floor lamps—to prevent deep-colored rooms from feeling gloomy. The layered lighting will make dark walls glow rather than recede.
Related Terms
Tint
A lighter version of a color created by adding white, reducing intensity while maintaining hue.
Tone
A muted version of a color created by adding gray, reducing intensity while maintaining depth.
Jewel Tones
Rich, saturated colors inspired by gemstones, including emerald, sapphire, ruby, and amethyst.