How to Brighten up a Dark Room
While many people thrive in the darkness, it is certainly not for everyone. In fact, the connection between light deprivation and depression makes it crystal clear that the amount of light we get throughout the day – while we might not be aware of it – significantly alters our mood. Lock yourself in a room with no windows, and you may soon regret this decision.
With this in mind, you might want to remodel your room to accommodate more natural light. It is an excellent way to keep your body clock working as intended and breathe new life into your living space. Besides switching from heavy draperies to Roman blinds – such as those found on Buy Blinds Online – you may want to place a few mirrors in your room, add ambient light sources, pick transparent furniture, and keep wall art to a minimum.
Here is everything you need to do to transform your dark room into a place full of light and happiness:
Pick the Right Color Scheme
The first step towards lightening up your room is picking a suitable color scheme. Your paint job should not only reflect your personality, but also make your room feel warmer and more inviting.
The colors you use in your home affect how light bounces around the room. If you want to make a dark room seem brighter, you should avoid using deep and rich colors on the walls and opt for light and neutral tones instead. Lighter colors — such as white, beige, and gray — will filter in more light than darker shades, making your room look bigger and brighter. For example, if it is your garage that you want to make less of a dark scary place, a light-colored epoxy garage floor might just do the trick.
If you are not ready to commit to painting the entire room, consider adding a few colorful accents in the form of pillows, rugs, or artwork. If you are interested in arts and crafts, you can even create a few decorations yourself. For example, you can grab a Baker Ross discount code, buy a few stickers, and let your imagination do the rest. The right colors can make a small dark room seem much bigger and brighter.
Let the Light In
It might seem like an obvious solution, but many people forget that they can control how much light comes into their homes. If you want to brighten up a dark room, open the curtains and let the sunshine in!
If your bedroom faces a rather dark environment, you could replace heavy draperies with Roman blinds. These come in a wide array of colors and styles, so you will not have trouble finding something that matches your tastes and style. As opposed to curtains – which block all light from entering the room – Roman blinds allow more natural light in while providing privacy and blocking out excess glare.
When night comes around, you can easily draw the blinds closed to keep out unwanted light, but they will let plenty of light into the room during the day. They will also make your room feel larger since it will no longer be so dark and oppressive.
You should also clean your windows regularly to ensure that they are not blocking any light. In addition to letting natural light in, you might add a few lamps and light fixtures to your room. For instance, table lamps are an excellent way to add ambient light to a space without making it feel too bright.
Choose the Right Furniture
The right furniture is essential to a successful lighting overhaul. If you have heavy and dark furniture, it will absorb all the light in the room and make it feel smaller. The best thing you can do is opt for transparent pieces that allow light to come through, such as glass or clear plastic.
In addition to choosing the right furniture, you should also pay attention to its placement. If you want to make a small room seem bigger, place your furniture against the walls. This way, you will create the illusion of more space.
Add a Few Mirrors
Mirrors are an excellent way to reflect light and make a small room seem bigger. If you want to brighten up a dark room, add a few mirrors to your living space. You can hang them on the walls or place them on tables and shelves.
For the most immediate impact, place a mirror opposite a window. This way, you will reflect the natural light coming into the room and make it feel more spacious.
While it is not advisable to place mirrors directly opposite each other, you should definitely add a few of them to capture as much light as possible. It will brighten up your room and make it appear larger, which is always an excellent way to improve the looks of your home’s interiors.
Keep Wall Art to a Minimum
While artwork can add character to your home, it can also make a small room feel cluttered. If you want to brighten up a dark room, keep your wall art to a minimum. Choose a few pieces that you love and hang them in strategic places.
You should never forget about your taste, but some of the most beautiful rooms in the world are those without any decor at all. Having said that, the fewer walls you have covered with art pieces and the more natural light you let in, the better. It is a simple rule of thumb that works well in any room.
In Conclusion
There you have it – our five simple tips for brightening up your dark room. Try one or two, and see what a difference they make in your life!
While this list is by no means exhaustive, we hope it offers you a good starting point and helps you fight the good fight in the future. Remember that even the most minor modifications, such as changing the color scheme of your room or adding transparent furniture, can bring outstanding results.
Our homes are where most of us spend a tremendous amount of time. Given this fact, it is worth investing in the aesthetics and functionality of your living space. This way, you can ensure every day you spend inside your four walls will be a good one.
- by Matt Watts