The decision to go for either light or dark furniture has been a longstanding design question. Both light and dark furniture look great, however, the colours you select will influence the space and ambience of your interior.

Dark furniture

• Dark furniture helps shrink a room, so it is a good choice when you have a large, spacious room that you want to make appear cosy and comfortable or more intimate and inviting.

• Dark furniture can help create a distinguished, formal and sophisticated look.

• Dark furniture can serve as a focal point.

Light furniture

• Light coloured furniture helps create the illusion of space and make a room appear larger.

• Light coloured furniture is versatile and goes well with most floor and wall colours.

• It brightens up your space and evokes a feeling of cleanliness.

Design factors

Whether you go with light or dark colours for your furniture there are a few simple design rules to complement your colour choice.

• A room furnished with darker tones may require more lighting and stronger lighting than one that features white or light-coloured tones.

• As a general rule use your dominant colour for 60 percent of the room, a secondary colour for 30 percent and an accent colour for 10 percent.

• Balance dark furniture with light coloured accessories such as cushions, lamps, rugs, curtains or blinds and vice versa with light furniture.

• To achieve a cool ambience, select dark furniture with a light background and for a warm atmosphere, use light furniture with a dark background.