The Original Vision
Maybe you remember that from the very beginning of building our house, I had a clear vision for the downstairs powder room. I wanted it to feel moody, dark and cozy, but also have that wow factor for guests.
My idea was to use classic black and white mosaic tiles on the floor, with a black border, and white subway tiles in the shower area. Since the room has no windows, I knew I had to lean into its strengths. That meant embracing the coziness and going for a darker wall color. I also wanted to add wall moulding and keep the lower third of the walls white to bring in some balance.
At the time, I was too afraid to go with true black because I thought it might feel too heavy. Instead, I chose a dark navy blue. But as soon as the painter finished, I could tell something was off. It was not even the color itself, it was the finish. The sheen felt completely wrong. Instead of cozy, it looked cheap and uncomfortable. Since repainting right away was not an option, I decided I would come back to it later, especially since I was planning to install the moldings myself anyway.
When It Didn’t Feel Right
Before moving in, the powder room still needed to become functional. That meant installing the vanity and all the plumbing first, and leaving the aesthetic changes for later.
At first, I used an old dresser as a vanity. I actually liked the original wood tone in the space, but because I was unsure, I decided to paint it white. I also reused an old mirror, which was too small for the room, and that was white as well. The brass faucet and wall lights added a bit of warmth, but overall everything felt too white and lacked character. The navy walls with the wrong finish only made it worse.
Deep down I knew I should have gone with a matte black from the beginning, but I was too scared. Whenever I mentioned repainting the bathroom black, people thought I was crazy and said it was a bad idea. The only one who told me to go for it was Mr. Right.
Taking the Risk
One day I finally decided to trust my instinct. I installed the mouldings and painted the walls a soft matte black. Not a harsh jet black, but a deep warm tone. Immediately I could see a huge difference. The ceilings in that room are quite high and with the white ceiling, the space felt like a narrow tunnel. So I painted the ceiling black as well.
That turned out to be one of the best decisions. The ceiling blended into the walls and removed the harsh line between them. It felt like a soft, dark cocoon instead of a tall, narrow space. The room actually started to feel more balanced and even a bit more spacious. Over the years I have learned that if you want to use dark colors, the darker the tone, the more matte the finish should be. It creates a much richer and more inviting feel.
(If you want to learn more about choosing the perfect paint color, read this: How to Choose the Perfect Wall Color (and Avoid Regrets Later)).
One thing I immediately knew I had to fix was the white dresser. Since removing paint is much harder than repainting, I decided to paint it the same black as the walls. I also added a protective coat to make it more resistant to water. This change made a huge difference. The dark vanity against the lighter elements felt much more intentional. Even though the room is very black and white, the warm black tones and touches of brass make it feel surprisingly cozy.
What Made the Difference
Another big improvement came from the mirror and lighting. This time I found a much larger mirror at home, about three times the size of the previous one. It instantly made the room feel more open. I painted the frame the same color as the wall because I did not want the mirror itself to stand out, only its reflection.
Lighting played a huge role in transforming this space. In a room without natural light, it becomes even more important. In addition to ceiling and wall lights, I added hidden LED strips to create layered lighting. One strip went under the vanity and another behind the mirror frame. This soft ambient light made the space feel more luxurious and much more inviting. We also connected both strips to motion sensors, which means you can use just the soft lighting at night without turning on bright lights.
In the end, this powder room has become one of the most talked about spaces among our guests. Many people say they would have never expected such a dark room to feel this good.
What I have learned from this project is not to be afraid to change things if they do not feel right. Interior design is a creative process, and as long as you are willing to experiment and even make mistakes, the results can surprise you in the best way.
I am extremely happy with how it turned out. Without those initial mistakes, I would not have learned nearly as much about color, lighting and designing spaces without natural light.
If you want to learn more lighting, read this next: The Ultimate Lighting Guide: How to Fix Flat Lighting and Create a Cozy, Well-Lit Home
