The first space uses cool, dark grays as its main color palette. The gray walls and furnitures meld with the dark exposed brick and hardwood flooring for a look that is decidedly dark but certainly not frightening. Instead, it has a certain stylish bachelor pad appeal with a few industrial notes for good measure.

The next space also uses a good deal of gray, but the cool tones are balanced with some playful splashes of color and pattern. In particular vibrant yellow dining chairs, patterned throw pillows, and a tucked away bed draped in a psychadelic blanket are perfectly framed by the otherwise neutral space.

This next space, a studio in Moscow, uses an almost concrete shade of gray as its base. To stand out from this dreary color and bring some vibrance to the room the designer has chosen to include some stunning lime green furniture and a smattering of indoor plants. The resulting space feels creative and fun but sophisticated at the same time.

In this space from architect Pavel Vetrov, we move away from the grays into the more brown and coppery neutral tones. The walls in this home are done in varying textures, which makes the space feel quite modern, while creamy white furnishings complete the look.

This 80 square meter (861 square feet) home in the Ukraine is again enveloped in shadowy gray tones. When it comes to these dark colors that can feel harsh and constricting, it is important to include plenty of soft textures so as not to be offputting, and this design certainly manages to do that.

Finally, a lovely and simple design that, due to natural wood, sunlight, and some splashes of teal does not feel quite as dark as most of the other homes on this list. For another creative textured wall option take a look at the bedroom with its perpendicular wood slats.