Adding a touch of light and a splash of colour can radically alter the appearance of a room, from dingy and frightening to bright and welcoming. It’s easy to feel like there’s not much to be done to liven up a dark living space, but there are plenty of ways to brighten up even the darkest corners.
Here are some quick tips for making even the darkest rooms look brighter:
Limit Dark Colours
One way to brighten a dark room is by using light colours for accents. A darker section of a space will often feel more open when it contains lighter touches, like art or plants. To make a room feel brighter, limit the use of saturated colours to one wall or area and paint the other walls with something light. This will help create a more balanced look in your space.
Add a Mirror
Large mirrors with slender frames are the best way to bring light into a dark room and reflect artwork. This will make it feel less cluttered without drawing attention away from what you want to display.
Think About Flooring
A quick way to brighten up a dark room is by replacing or adding flooring that’s too dark with lighter options. Natural colours will reflect the light, making the room look brighter no matter how big or small it is. Add a light-toned area rug to bring instant brightness to any space.
Let The Light In
Window treatments that let in plenty of light and still allow your space to feel private are a classic way to brighten up dark rooms. Sheer curtains are perfect for this, as they let the sunlight shine through while still allowing you some privacy.
Paint the Ceiling White
A lick of fresh white paint on the ceiling will make your room appear larger and brighter. This is a quick way to brighten up a room and make it feel more spacious. Heavy wooden beams can darken a room; painting them is just one option for changing their look without losing their character.
Use Neutral Tones
Neutral-coloured paints can reflect light, brightening a room and making it look larger. This makes them well suited to virtually any decorating style. They can be used to create the ambiance you want and bring colour or subtle shadings that affect the atmosphere inside your home.
Professional decorators – such as Scott Anson Painters and Decorators Ltd. – can make your home appear brighter and bigger, helping to create an open and airy feeling in a room that may have felt dim and uninviting before.