For many homes, there is one room that never seems to get enough light. This can be a bathroom or office space that you have set aside if you are working from home. Having enough light, natural or otherwise, can make a room more usable and make it seem larger, more relaxing, and clean. Fortunately, there are lots of different ways to brighten up a dark room.
Add Windows and a Skylight
One of the best ways to let some light in is to add a new window. Although small windows will work great for an area like the bathroom, you might need to add larger windows to areas like the kitchen or living space that does not receive enough sunlight.
However, depending on your house’s location, adding new windows might not be an option due to privacy reasons. For these areas, adding a skylight is a great alternative, especially if your home can handle the modification. Just ensure that you reach out to a contractor to advise you on the placement of the skylight and to complete the work.
Add New Lighting Fixtures
Adding new windows and skylights can be challenging,especially if you do not know where it is possible to install them due to how your house is constructed, or you are worried about the cost of the new installations. Adding lighting fixtures is a great alternative to windows and skylights.
In addition to making a darker space brighter, the right lighting fixture can also act as decor. The good news is that there are lots of different design options available from retailers like Moleta Munro. Whether you are looking to add light to the kitchen, living room, small home office space or dining area, Moleta Munro can help you find the right designer or contemporary lighting option.
Paint the Walls
Letting light bounce around inside a room is a great way of lightening up a room. Painting the walls with a lighter hue will reflect light around the room while darker shades will absorb it and negate the effect of the windows, skylights and lighting fixtures you add.
Painting your wall in a lighter hue is also a great alternative for spaces with furniture that has a bolder colour as it can help brighten them up.
Get the Right Curtains
While you may want to use curtains to keep the light out, hanging the right curtains can make a room feel and look brighter. This is especially true if you hang the curtains higher and open them as wide as possible. This way, they do not block light coming into the house through the windows while making the space seem larger.
The right curtains can also reflect some light at night and when they are closed, thereby making a darker room appear brighter.
Utilise Reflective Surfaces
As with painting your walls a bright hue, reflective items in the house can make it brighter. Adding some metallic decor is a great way to make a room brighter while improving its overall aesthetic. Also, if you have some additional wall space, you can add a few mirrors to bounce light around a room. If you like, you can also place the mirrors strategically to reflect light off the table or floor to light up fixtures without blinding those looking at them.
Trim Your Hedges and Trees
If you have overgrown trees and hedges, they may block light and limit the amount that gets into your house. This is especially true where you have smaller windows and you need as much open space in front of them as possible. You should take the time to trim your trees and hedges to get them out of the way. If you cannot do this yourself, hire someone to do it for you. An added benefit of doing this is that it increases your home’s kerb appeal.
Use Rugs and Carpets with a Light Colour
Just like when painting your walls, a dark rug will absorb the light coming in while one with a lighter hue will reflect the right making the room brighter. To make the room feel even brighter, try to get one with a natural texture and that matches your colour scheme.
Hire an Interior Designer
If you have trouble switching your decor to reflect light and make a room appear brighter, you could hire an interior designer. They will advise you on how best to arrange the items in your house as well as what items to get rid of or add to make a room appear brighter.
Having a room that is darker than the other rooms in your house can seem like a daunting challenge. However, there are a few things you can do to brighten up a room, from the drastic and costly addition of skylights and windows to cheap options like strategically adding mirrors to a darker room.
