Dark interiors

Building a dark room in a rented flat, grouping objects, and the difference between a home and a film set.

• Why dark rooms need more light sources, not fewer

  Dark walls absorb what pale walls bounce back. How many light sources a dark room wants, the three heights to put them at, and the glare mistake.

  2 November 2026

• Mixing metals in a dark room: brass, blackened steel and silver

  Which metal is the accent and which is the background, how many finishes is too many in one sightline, and what patina does to a careful match.

  2 November 2026

• Building a dark room in a rented flat, starting with textiles

  Textiles get you most of the way to a dark room and come with you when you move. What to buy first, in what order, and what barely matters.

  2 November 2026

• The difference between a dark home and a film set

  Three things cause the film set effect: one light source, nothing in use, and everything the same age. How to work out which one your room has.

  2 November 2026