1. Choose Airy Window Treatments
The type of window treatment you choose can greatly alter the mood of your interior space. Assuming that your room has windows, you want to avoid using heavy drapes or curtains that shut out light. Instead, you can consider neutral-colored and lightweight blinds, semi-sheer shades or roller shades to liven up the room with a touch of energy and light.
2. Add a Skylight or TDD
Installing a skylight can dramatically open up a room, flooding it with warm natural light. You will be able to bathe in the warmth of the sun during the day and soak in the silvery starlight during the night. If a skylight is not exactly suitable for your home, you can use Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs) as a creative alternative.
3. Repaint the Room
It's amazing what you can do with a dab of paint. Light, neutral colors can open up the room and reflect light. When choosing the right color for your room, Interior Designer Edith Gregson shares that “flat, matte or satin finishes will soak up light, while semi-gloss, high-gloss and lacquer finishes tend to reflect light, which make a darker room feel brighter and lighter.” On the other hand, if you happen to have a low ceiling and want to breathe a generous atmosphere into the room, painting the walls and moldings with the same color will definitely add the impression of height and depth.
4. Add a Mirror or Three
Mirrors can be an affordable and effective way to brighten a dark room. Floor-to-ceiling mirror tiles, for example, can make an especially big impact in a small room with its ambient illumination. Table mirrors, wall mirrors or standing mirrors can also work well if you position them to reflect from the brightest source of light in the room. Additionally, placing two mirrors opposite of each other can also make the room appear larger, while increasing the complexion of the space.
5. Be Creative with Lamps and Lights
Hanging pendant lamps can add warmth to a seemingly small and dark space. Apartment Therapy suggests hanging lamps at different heights to create a layered light effect. Generally, choosing lamps of different sizes and textures will give the room a more interesting visual presentation. You may also experiment with wall, floor and table lamps to create an attractive interplay of light.
6. Play with Recessed Lighting
Sometimes, it’s not how much light you use, but how you use it. Homeowners can experiment with recessed lighting fixtures, known as “can lights,” to lighten up the dark, overarching ceiling. By installing a dimmer switch, you can use these fixtures to set a romantic mood or make a bold statement. For homeowners with bright light bulbs already installed the house, you can redirect your lamp toward the walls and ceilings to create a soft, warm glow and reduce the harsh shadows.
Bio: Paul Kazlov is a “green” home remodeling enthusiast and an industry pioneer in innovation in home renovation. Paul writes for the Global Home Improvement blog and strives to educate people about “green” products such as metal roofing and solar. Learn more about Paul's work here: www.globalhomeinc.com. Follow him on Twitter: @PaulKazlov.
I love light rooms but we have one room that is so dark we are thinking of putting a sky light in. It is just such a big job that we have been putting it off!
ReplyDeleteI have a skylight in my entryway and in the guest bathroom and I love both of them. I wish I could have had one in my room as well.
DeleteI hate a room that looks dark especially in the main rooms of the house like the living room, dining room, and the kitchen. You're absolutely right, the elements that you add in the room can make a lot of difference. I make sure that I choose light colors as well, it adds life to the room especially with the walls and the curtains.
ReplyDeleteLight colors always make a room look more spacious, especially the color white. I'm in the process of repainting my kitchen to a lighter color.
DeleteI love natural light and would live in a glass house if I could. :) The more windows, the better! These are all great ways to give a room more light.
ReplyDeleteI used to think that way when I was younger. I would LOVE to live in a glass house.
DeleteMy craft room desperately needs more light. I'm going to implement a couple of these ideas. I have a couple of mirrors in the closet not in use right now that will work in the decor nicely. Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome and you do need to put to use those mirrors.
DeleteThese are great tips. My studio apartment used to look out onto a brick wall, nothing could have helped. Mw we get light and it makes a huge difference, and the more light, the better!
ReplyDeleteMitch
When I lived in Brooklyn in my apartment, we got light in our living room and my bedroom but every other room needed the lights on. It's the one thing I don't miss about apartment living.
DeleteI need to add some more light to our living room. We have been thinking about adding a sky light or additional recessed lights. Having a bright home is so important!
ReplyDeleteIf you suffer with depression, the more light you have the better.
DeleteIt's crazy what a difference a little paint can do. We repainted our one of the rooms in our basement light blue almost grayish (it used to be dark blue) and boy, what a difference! The room not only gets more light but it looks bigger!
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing about paint, white or lighter colors sure do make everything look much more roomier.
DeleteWe are lucky to have lots of windows in our condo so although small, it's bright and feels bigger! We added mirrors too. Repainting? Maybe in a year :)
ReplyDeleteMirrors sure does make a difference. I have one in my entry way and it's awesome!
DeleteThese are really great ideas. I need to change my curtains because they do darken my room too much! Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteI love dark curtains in my bedroom so that it blocks out the light but I make sure to pull them when I get up so that my room looks bright and airy.
DeleteThese are great tips and I love that our living room/kitchen has a vaulted ceiling because it helps it feel open and the light bounces off the white ceiling.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! I don't have vaulted ceilings and would have loved that!
DeleteI totally need to let more light into the hallway and bedrooms. I really like these ideas. Natural light may not be an option for our hallway.
ReplyDeleteI have a skylight in my hallway and love the look of it.
DeleteThese are all great ways to give your room more light, what wonderful ideas!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah and thanks for stopping by.
DeleteGreat ideas, love the airy photos that go with this post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment.
DeleteI Iove more light in my rooms! Now when it's time to watch a scary movie it must be dark.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you. I'm the same way too.
DeleteThese are great tips. I already do some of them. I dislike a dark room in a big way.
ReplyDeleteOh you and me both. I love lots of light, except when I'm sleeping of course.
DeleteI have always wanted a skylight but we still rent so it's not possible but I do know that if I ever have a home, it's one of the things that I would want.
ReplyDeleteOh you'll love it, I didn't go out looking for one when we bought our new home but I got lucky to get 2 of them.
DeleteGreat tips!!! It's crazy how something like a lighter shade of paint can really lighten up a room!
ReplyDeleteOh it really can. It's one of the reason why I'm in the process of repainting my kitchen.
DeleteOur bedroom is super dark and I am hoping we will be able to paint it soon cause I think it would help a ton! Especially when winter comes and it is dark for 2 months straight.
ReplyDeletePainting it in a light color will surely help that.
DeleteThese are all great ways to give you more light in a room. Painting or being creative with lamps can really improve the lighting in a room. Thanks for sharing the ideas.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome Rebecca and thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI love these tips!!! Getting more light in a room is so important, I live in Washington where it is always overcast so it can be hard to do.
ReplyDeleteHave you thought about adding more lights/lamps to help with that?
DeleteThese are all great ideas! I used to live in a flat with a closed balcony and the only window was towards it. Now I'm lucky to live in a flat with 2 big windows, and there is a lot of light coming into my living room. I love it, especially on sunny days. But my dream house will have to have ceiling to floor windows.
ReplyDeleteOh with kids I could't do ceiling to floor windows but that's a great idea indeed.
DeleteGreat ideas! My current room has an alright level of light but I know when I move I'm going to be looking for something with much bigger windows and I'll paint the walls white!
ReplyDeleteI love white, especially in the kitchen. It just looks so much cleaner to me.
DeleteAlthough I'm much too lazy to do anything like this, I must admit it looks nice!
ReplyDeleteStop being lazy and go out and do it!
DeleteI love a room with a lot of light but it's hard with living in Florida. It's a must to keep our shades closed 24/7. Gets too hot.
ReplyDeleteOh I can totally get that but what about in the fall/winter?
DeleteMy studio needs more light. I'll have to think about the mirrors.
ReplyDeleteGive it a try and see if it works for you.
DeleteI wish I could have all my clients do this! It can be tough to work with low light, and not just for photography. It's because it's tough to be in less light. I personally am a spring and summer girl.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for light and airy!
I'm not for the spring and summer because of the heat but I'm all for light too.
DeleteI find light super important in interior design. At least I need a lot of light no matter what season it is or is it day or night. You have picked up fantastic points!
ReplyDeleteThank you Tina and I can understand how that would work in your business.
DeleteThese are all such great ideas. I am loving all the natural light that is being let into the room.
ReplyDeleteI love natural light and if I can have skylights in every room or a glass roof, I would totally do it.
DeleteLovely post. I love having lot of light in our home. Makes me feel better.
ReplyDeleteIt does make you feel a whole lot better. Dark places depresses me.
DeleteGreat tips shared! Light rooms give very positive aura and I'll try to put mirror in my living room after your suggestion!
ReplyDeleteThat might be a good idea. I have a big mirror in my entry way and I love it.
Deleteadding the mirror to me is the real deal, as i have a large mirror in my room aswell... thanks for this read, all tips here are truly nice aswell.
ReplyDeleteMy closet doors is one big mirror and I just LOVE it.
DeleteYou have some amazing ideas here. I believe more light in room leads to positive vibes. And windows and light paints definitely will help
ReplyDeleteI wish I had more windows but I'm working with what I have but will definitely be painting a few of the rooms.
DeleteI love playing around with light and painting my room white. Thanks for more tips
ReplyDeleteI'm about to paint my kitchen a lighter color to make it more airy myself.
DeleteThe mister is in charge of the lighting in our home. He buys it all and ask my opinion. I want a home with an open floor plan for maximum natural light.
ReplyDeleteWell you can always throw some hints out. I know I do whenever my husband is about to do anything.
DeleteGreat tips you've got here. I would probably go for repainting first, I guess it will bring so much light into the room :)
ReplyDeleteRepainting is also one of the cheaper methods so yes I would go with that first.
DeleteWe have skylights in our home, and I agree they give so much light, and create bigger effect of the rooms where they're installed. Love these tips!
ReplyDeleteI have them in the bathroom and the entryway and you're right. I would love to install one in my own bedroom but I'm not so sure I'll want that bright light when I have a migraine. :)
DeleteI love spaces, where is a lot of light ! I think it's something very important to me.
ReplyDeleteI love light over darkness myself.
DeleteMirrors make so much difference if you position them well - and repainting the room - those are exactly what I did!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely one for repainting it's also a lot cheaper than doing other things.
DeleteI love this!, I love open and bright rooms, especially the living room. Great post, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteOh I love them too and wish sometimes I had more, especially downstairs.
DeleteFor some reason my room always feel dark even though its not. I like open and airy rooms, I will try adding some more mirrors.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very good idea Ana.
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