Rich, Dark Colours for Interior Design?

Ask an interior designer about rich, dark colors and they're likely to bubble over with praise.
"Dark colors are my favorite for my own home and for clients," says designer Brian Patrick Flynn.
Chocolate brown, midnight blue, deep scarlet — even black. Deep colors are welcoming and cozy, perfect for fall and winter.
"I really like that warm, enveloping feeling that using layers of dark colors can give you," says designer Mallory Mathison.
These shades make a room distinctive and memorable, says designer Janine Carendi, but they can be tricky to use. Clients are often interested in colors like eggplant or olive green, but skittish about how the final product will look.
If you're thinking of taking the plunge, here's some advice from Flynn, Mathison and Carendi on using dark colors without creating a black hole:
Choose the right room
In large rooms, Flynn says, dark colors are a great problem-solver. The sprawling size and high ceilings of living rooms commonly found in newer houses can make a home feel impersonal.
Deep colors add warmth and coziness, he says, especially if you opt to paint the walls and ceiling the same rich color. These large rooms are often flooded with natural light, which helps to balance dark walls or chic furniture.