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How to brighten up a dark room

There’s enough gloominess in the world without letting it into your home – kick out the shadows with these top tips on how to brighten up a dark room.

Let the light in

It sounds obvious but if there’s a way to let more light into a room, that could resolve your problem! Knocking through walls, adding extra windows or enlarging existing ones, even adding French doors – it all helps to let the lovely light flow in.

Just give us a ring and we can scope out the potential for giving your property a new window or two. It doesn’t have to be as much of a headache as you might think – we can advise on planning permission and our considerate and professional approach means you’ll barely notice the works.

Get glittery

You don’t need to have a big mirror ball (unless you want one!) – simple tricks can help reflect light to give your special place more oomph. Firstly, watch out for curtains hanging over the windows and blocking out light. Thermal window blinds can be a brighter solution while also keeping you snug. It sounds obvious, but dark surfaces look dark! White paint works wonders if your dark walls, ceiling, woodwork etc are dragging you down.

There’s also the mirror option. A few strategically placed mirrors can help brighten up a dark room, not to mention adding style and elegance. We can help you pick the best spot for your glittery new friend. Using glass, shiny metal and reflective fabrics can also help to lift a room.

Lamps, lamps, lamps

If natural light and bright reflective surfaces still aren’t cutting the mustard, it really pays to take a good hard look at your lighting system. So many of us still have a single lamp hanging from the middle of the ceiling, creating shadows and a glaring light. Think about your favourite pubs, hotels and cafes – they use lots of smaller lights to create ambience and comfort.

In many dark rooms, spotlights can be a real miracle. They add sparkle and brightness without hanging down from an already low ceiling. Think about having lights at different levels – fitted under kitchen cupboards, or a standing lamp in a dark corner. Wall lights and fairy lights can also give a lovely glowy feeling.

If you’re ready to brighten up your dark room, check out Theresa Gonzalez’s tips on Apartment Therapy about how to transform your dark space then give us a call to get started!

How to brighten up a dark room