When I see a dark bathroom with gold sconces and a marble sink - Etta Jones starts singing 'At Last' and suddenly I'm getting ready for a soirée in my evening gown with pearls and blood red lipstick. It's a total mood and I can't get enough.
When people tell me they are afraid of dark bold paint I *always* say "BATHROOM"! Start in the bathroom. Small footprint, lower cost, and a big ol punch in design.
When figuring out your style or when taking your style to the next level, start small. Don't go in painting your biggest rooms. Start in a bathroom or a closet. Going BOLD doesn't mean taking a huge risk. It means stepping into unfamiliar territory and exploring it. Explore it with more confidence than fear.
If you're on the fence about exploring with dark colors, you're not alone. Here's how the conversation usually goes :
Them: "But won't it make my bathroom feel small?"
Me: "Bathrooms are already small. Unless your home has been built having large bathrooms, then your bathrooms are most likely standard size which isn't big. Unlike a large room painted dark, a small room won't change much in size to the eye."
Them: "Will it look dungeon-y"?
Me: "One word - Lighting. I don't mean in the actual sense of bringing in more lighting, I mean the look of the lighting. Dark walls can be dramatic and finding a style of lighting that compliments the dark color without competing with it can can be a little tricky. Putting in a style of lights that are as equally dramatic as the paint can give off very Victorian vibes - which is fine if that's your style; but most people want something a little more modern and most of us don't live in 100+ year old Victorian homes. Dark bathrooms pair very well with Gold and Bronzes. Simple hanging lights or sconces in these colors look very sharp while bringing in a 1920's Art Deco feel - which is super elegant with a slight modern twist."
Them: "What if I hate it?!"
Me: "This is why starting in the bathroom is your best bet. It's OK if you find out going dark it not for you. Designing your home is a journey. Just like when you were a little child and your didn't know all your favorite foods, or when you were choosing a college major and you had no clue what you'd be good at or even like. Finding your style is all about Finding it. It won't already be there but it will reveal itself as your explore it. This is the only way." 
I encourage you to look up pictures of dark rooms. Check out the differences between a Navy Blue room vs a Forest Green room. Compare Black to Deep Reds. Before you start painting the walls, get crafty with the kids and paint pictures only using dark colors. Explore a different color pallet than what you're use to. Don't go into it looking for all the answers but rather finding little pieces of your style undiscovered. Decorating and designing doesn't have to be stressful. Keep those creative juices flowing and you'll grow more than you know in this area of your life.
XO- Keri