How to Make a Room Brighter and Happier?
Everyone has that one room in their home – the one that they’re never delighted. Most of the time, this room tends to be small and dark – such as a spare bedroom, the laundry room, or the basement. You think that, because of its size and the fact that it doesn’t get much light, it’ll always be dead space. But did you know that brightening up a dark and dingy room is quite easy?
5 Ways to Brighten a Dark Room
A large percentage of interior design has to do with appearance. Does it help to have a lot of natural light and space with which to work? But does the absence of these elements spell doom? Not quite.
Here are some simple ways to brighten up any room – no matter the circumstances.
1. Change the Paint Color
The color of your walls can have a big impact on how light or dark a room appears. If you want a smaller space to appear bigger and brighter, whites, light grays, light blues, and other pastels are preferred to blacks, browns, reds, and other darker colors. You can do some in-depth research to learn about some more specific colors and other dos and don’ts.
2. Hang Mirrors
Mirrors are wonderful additions because they make rooms appear bigger and serve the purpose of refracting light. If you have space, a large mirror is the best solution. But there are other options.
“While a small mirror by itself will not reflect a lot of light back into your room, small mirrors can still brighten a space if they’re placed in groupings,” one designer explains. “A mirror collage on a wall opposite a window or below a light source also adds a focal point to your room as it brightens.”
3. Choose the Right Furniture
Something as seemingly small as the furniture you put in a room can impact the overall perception of light. For example, large, black pieces of furniture are going to absorb light and make the area feel smaller and darker. On the other hand, lighter furniture – such as a transparent egg chair – can make a room appear bigger by allowing light to pass through.
4. Add Dimmable Overhead Lighting
Overhead lighting isn’t usually the best choice. It tends to introduce too much light into a room and makes it feel more like an exam room than a homey living space. But in dark spaces, dimmable overhead lighting can be appropriate. The key word here is “dimmable.” You must be able to adjust the setting to give it a warm appearance at all times of the day.
5. Install Glass Doors
Depending on the type of room you’re working with, you may be able to increase the transmission of light into space by replacing a typical wooden door with a glass door. A glass-paned door – complete with blinds – can allow you to have privacy when it’s necessary while introducing light when appropriate. It’s an excellent choice for rooms that are only used occasionally – such as a home office or study. You can see some really neat design ideas in this article from DigsDigs.
Use What You’ve Got
Sometimes you just have to work with what you’ve got. If you don’t have a lot of natural light, you have to find ways to use artificial light in a manner that’s warm and tasteful. Don’t have the ability to make a room bigger physically? Make it look bigger with different designs and layout choices. Interior design is all about using what you have and letting creativity take control. You’ll be amazed by what happens when you’re willing to adapt.
