Flip through an interior design magazine, and you may find that several of the homes display the same bulletproof trends over and over again. Not in a bad way, necessarily—things like natural lighting, neutral bedding and pale paint can do no wrong in the right space. But according to Acadian House Kitchen + Bath Design owner/designer Kathy C. Simoneaux, a bit of darkness is often just what a room needs for a final, elegant touch.

“Don’t be afraid of using dark finishes when making selections in the kitchen or bath for fear of the space becoming ‘too dark,’” she says. “Instead, focus on selecting adequate lighting with proper placement and wattage for your needs, such as implementing task lighting in your prep space and balancing pendant lighting with can lights.”

To learn more about Simoneaux and Acadian House Kitchen + Bath Design, visit acadianhousekitchenbath.com.