A deep, earthy brown, almost fading into black, with a warming and stately personality that will catch your attention with its endless confidence.
Empty Stage (Dulux): What Color Is, Review, and Use
For a long time, homeowners took brown for granted. Well, almost no one was saying their favorite color was brown. Yet, nobody thought that most of the natural things they liked so much were brown colors. Take the trees, mountains, and earth up to your favorite chocolate or coffee. Aren’t they brown? Slowly yet firmly, interior designers began to help homeowners rediscover brown and its potential in interior design. So, today, we proudly see people falling in love with brown. Unsurprisingly, this natural tone has become one of the most popular hues in fashion and design. Some even call it the new neutral. Following this inspiring history of brown recovery, we want to inspire you with a brown design makeover through one of the season’s trendiest shades – Empty Stage by Dulux.
Empty Stage Paint Color Features
Almost black, this deepest brown tone shares the same darkness and naturalness with earth. Despite its dramatic sense of depth, Empty Stage is a generously warm paint color, rendering endless comfort and warmth. It’s impressive how the same paint color can be simultaneously so dark and saturated. Traced to rich-grained wood, the deep forest soil, and the mysterious foothills – Empty Stage speaks to those who find beauty in everything natural. This dark chocolate shade is meant for exclusive design projects that read stately and confident. There is one more thing to mention: since moody color palettes of dark colors are all the rage now, Empty Stage is a true winner.
Empty Stage: Is It Warm or Cold?
You may wonder how Empty Stage can render warmth while being dark and almost black. If you deal with paint colors often, you may know about the RGB (red-green-blue) value. Undoubtedly, red stands for warmth. At Empty Stage, the red concentration outruns green and blue, the latter, especially, being responsible for coldness. However, the difference is not that noticeable. Still, it makes the brown shade from Dulux a warm paint color.
How Does Lighting Affect Empty Stage?
You should know – the lighter the paint color, the more affected it will get by lighting. That’s surely not a problem for this dark brown shade. Nonetheless, this paint color varies under different conditions. If you decide to paint walls in a north-facing room, Empty Stage will seem paler and played down by a resurfacing gray undertone. At the same time, the same earthy color will reveal a hidden orange undertone in south-facing rooms, especially where direct sun rays hit. We won’t even mention how dark this brown will seem at night. However, artificial lighting will come to the rescue. Now, again, play with the lighting temperature to achieve the desired result.
Empty Stage LRV
The Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is used to determine how dark or light a paint color is. While designers say Empty Stage is close to black, we want to see how close it is in figures. With an LRV of 6, meaning it reflects 6% of the light it receives, Empty Stage is pretty close to 0 (black). Translating it into words – this mysterious brown won’t bounce around the tiniest amount of natural light. Be careful how you style it in your home. It better be a large room with plenty of natural or artificial light. However, moody palettes are a thing now, so who knows? This may turn into a new design idea.
Empty Stage Undertones
We wouldn’t say there are any perceivable undertones in Empty Stage. It is a true brown shade. The resurfacing of the orange and gray notes results from different lighting conditions – more of a visual effect, we would say.
Similar Colors
Exploring the specifics of Empty Stage, we came across other similarly popular browns. So, if you already love this color as much as we think, you should absolutely know the following colors similar to Empty Stage from Dulux:
Coordinating Colors
Soft neutrals and pinks are popular colors to pair with this dark and dramatic brown. Light tans, greens, and blues with a similarly refined air will add brightness to this overly dark brown. We managed to find a few great paint colors to pair with Empty Stage in the same 2024 Forecast that this brown had been included in.
Use of Empty Stage in Interior Design
Despite its seriousness, Empty Stage is a versatile brown shade. No wonder colorists call it a new neutral. However, you cannot deny its exclusiveness and suitability in time-tested design styles. Not least, you can give it a try in a moody color palette meant to create a soothing and cozy atmosphere. If you like this color but don’t know how to style it, read on for a range of design ideas with Empty Stage.
Classic Style
Undoubtedly, the first and best design style for this deep brown is a Classic interior that bears the beauty of the past. Wall molding painted dark brown, stylishly carved wood furniture, printed textiles, and more or less dark color palettes lead to a fashionable design scenario.
Modern Design
If you are among the few homeowners who enjoy the dramatic and stylish character of moody interiors decorated with deep shades, sleek silhouettes, and functional layouts, you should absolutely try an all-brown color scheme. The art of hidden beauty in this stately paint color is the unique feature of such a design idea.
Living Room
Instead of black, which renders a stronger accent, try dark brown in the living space. It can be an accent wall, a statement fireplace, a standout bookshelf, or an all-brown palette. While the latter is not for everybody, a brown accent in a light-painted living room is a versatile option in any design style. Experts recommend the brown and cream duo – inviting, comfy, and elegant simultaneously.
Bedroom
If you paint your bedroom in Empty Stage, you won’t have the desire to leave the personal space for a long time. It embraces the bedroom like a cocoon and makes sure you feel safe. Indoor plants, wooden surfaces, and light-colored textiles are a must for dark-brown walls. However, you can go with moderate doses, such as an accent wall or a brown headboard. If you want to experiment with dark color in the interior, make it gradually and start with brown.
Kitchen
Imitate wood through color. A dark brown shade like Empty Stage by Dulux will stylishly color your cabinets. Whether a contemporary kitchen or a traditional interior, this rich brown tone will mix quiet luxury with organic style. Everyone will keep asking you who designed your kitchen. Make sure your cooking space has enough artificial light sources, especially at night.
Bathroom
Empty Stage is not your usual brown. You’ll want to use this luxury paint color in the most exclusive design ideas. In the bathroom, it goes for walls in combination with expensive stone vanities, golden hardware, and catchy wall sconces. However, you can as easily create your own design concept led by Empty Stage.
Use of Empty Stage in Exterior Design
Empty Stage from Dulux is a one-of-a-kind brown that instantly steals attention. Its versatility allows for a multitude of design styles. The best option is to consider an all-brown exterior or a brown front door with light-painted exterior walls. That’s one of the most imposing paint colors we’ve ever seen.
Empty Stage by Dulux is expected to be one of the trendiest brown shades. Add expensiveness to your property through a naturally confident paint color with earthy traces.
