
There are instances when painters alike artists want to paint in a dark color, but they do not want to use black paint.
Using black paint can make wall paint look flat, and it can be difficult to work with. Fortunately, there are several ways to make a dark color without using black paint.
- One way to make a dark color is to mix blue or purple paint with red paint.
- Another way to make the paint darker in color is to mix some green or yellow paint with blue paint in your original paint.
- The third best way to make the paint color darker without using black paint is by mixing some transparent red oxide and ultramarine blue together in your lighter paint shade.
All these methods will create a dark, rich color that can be used for many different projects.
Steps to Darken Paint The Easy Way
Making the paint color darker isn’t as difficult as it might seem. By following a few easy steps below, you can create a darker, richer color that appeals to your senses.
Here are a few things you will most likely need to have:
- Your Original Light Colored Paint
- Blue, red, or purple paint
- Paint a mixing stick and a container to mix
Instructions:
Step 1- Start by adding a little bit of the darker paint to your lighter paint, then mix the two colors together until you have achieved the desired shade.
Step 2- If you want to make the paint even darker, simply add more of the darker paint until you are happy with the results.
Step 3- Once you have achieved the perfect shade, apply the paint to your project and enjoy your new, darker color.
Remember, if you’re making a lot of paint in large quantities, it’s a good idea to measure how much each color is used in order to figure out how much more of that color you’ll need.
This will help you get a warmer or cooler tone, depending on the colors you use and how much of each color you add.
As a general rule, adding more of a cool color like blue or green will make your paint darker, while adding more of a warm color like red or yellow will make your paint lighter.
Feel free to have fun while experimenting with different shades and tones to create the perfect color for your project.

Can You Make the Paint Darker without Using Any Paint?
If you want to avoid the paint altogether and desire to use something else to make your lighter paint look darker, consider using a dark-colored stain or varnish in the original paint.
Mixing this can give your project a unique look, and it will also protect your lighter paint from scratches or other damage.
I have also once tried some compressed charcoal to make my latex wall paint color darker, and it worked very well.
You can follow the following steps if you want to try:
- Crush some compressed charcoal with a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder
- In a cup, mix it well with burnt umber in a ratio of 1:1
- Then mix it in your light latex paint bucket to get a decent dark color paint
This recipe may or may not work depending on the brand and the color of the latex paint that you are using.
If the paint is not too thick, the charcoal should be able to mix well. However, if the paint is too thick in consistency, you may need to add more burnt umber to help thin it out so the charcoal can be mixed in better.
Compressed charcoal can also be used to make a black color by itself. If you want a paint color that is truly black, then use a ratio of 2:1 for the charcoal and the burning umber.
If you are trying to darken oil-based paints that are white, light gray, yellow, or ivory, you can try mixing in some soot to darken the color. Soot is the main ingredient in lampblack, which is a type of pigment.
You can also consider making your own soot by burning a piece of paper or wood in a metal pan. Once the soot has cooled, just add it to your paint and mix it well.
Always test the color on a small area before applying it to your entire project, no matter what recipe or method you use to make your paint darker. This will ensure that you are happy with the end results.
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Jack Luis is a semi-retired painter who loved painting his clients’ ideas on their walls.
He had worked as a painter for over a decade serving customers in areas such as Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Beaufort, and Georgetown, SC (South Carolina). Today in his free time, he likes to read and write about the newer techniques implemented in his profession. You may read more about him here or get in touch with him here.