How to lighten a dark room

House renovations can be expensive endeavors. For instance, a mid-range kitchen remodel could set you back up to $75,000! That’s a huge sum of money by anybody’s standards.

But there’s good news.

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to transform the rooms in your home. Sometimes, the most effective changes you can make are the simplest- and cheapest!

Turning a dark and gloomy space into something altogether brighter is the perfect example. Knowing how to lighten a dark room can deliver a whole host of benefits.

It’ll feel more spacious and airy; calmer, happier, and healthier. The décor will seem more attractive and you’ll be more productive at work too. Better still, the house will be more enticing to prospective buyers if you ever come to sell.

Would you like to boost the levels of light in your house? Let us help! Read on to discover our top tips for adding light to a room full of gloom.

Let There Be White

If you want a room to feel lighter, make it whiter. Make that your mantra running as you embark on this endeavor.

White, for obvious reasons, is an ideal color with which to paint and decorate. It reflects natural light and has a clean, expansive quality that’s an attribute to any room. By contrast, darker colors, such as navy blue or walnut, create a dim and brooding décor.

Be careful though.

Too much of anything is never good! Going overboard with white can back-fire. White walls, floors, furnishings, curtains/blinds, and bedding can make everything seem too sterile and clinical.

Counteract this with some bold flashes of color. Bright cushions, curtains, or carpets can complement an all-white decor and offset its starkness.

Brighten Walls With Artwork

Painting your walls white is a great starting point. However, you can take it a step further by hanging brightly-colored artwork as well.

Let’s face it, a blank white wall is far from inspiring! Light, sure. Bright, absolutely. But cheery, eye-catching, and inspiring?

That’s up for debate.

Framed color photos, quirky paintings, and vibrant images can change that. They’ll add character, attract the eye, and make everything brighter to boot.

You don’t even have to paint the walls white beforehand! Adorning the walls with lots of bright and happy images will have a very similar effect. There’ll be extra cheer in the air and a lighter atmosphere all-around.

Paint the Ceiling

Painting the ceiling white is another clever way to welcome more light into the room. In one fell swoop, you trick the eye into perceiving greater height.

Your space becomes taller and more open all-around. Better still, a white ceiling will help to reflect any light that’s shining onto it. Aim standing lights, spotlights, or sconces upwards and you’ll reap the rewards.

Pick a shade that’s as bright as can be! Unlike other areas or elements of the room, anything off-white will diminish the effect. Choosing the whitest white available will maximize the impact of painting your ceiling.

Install Lots of New Lights

The most effective way to lighten a room? Install more light sources!

Where you have one primary light, consider adding a second, third and even a fourth. This is vital in dark rooms that don’t enjoy much natural sunlight. With nothing coming in from outside, it’s up to you to generate the light you want.

The type of light(s) you buy will have an impact too. Hanging fairy lights on the walls may look lovely and shed an ambient glow around the space. But, alone, it’s unlikely to lead to a well-lit room…
 
 
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