7 Easy Ways To Make A Dark Room Brighter

Want to know how to make a dark room seem brighter? These 7 tips will help brighten your room and make it seem bigger too!

How much light a room receives can really set the mood of the people in it. How many times have you walked into a large bright room and felt instantly lifted?

As people spend more and more time indoors, at our desks and computers, it’s essential to bring as much natural light as possible into the home.

It could be that your home is outdated and in desperate need of renovation or that you’re limited to a rather small space.

Whatever your situation and no matter the size of the room you’re working with, these tips can help you to create a space that is bright, airy and happy.

You don’t need a lot of money to effect these changes in your home and they are suitable for all budgets, depending on what materials and methods you choose!

Here are my top tips:

Paint the walls and ceilings white

White coloured walls will reflect any light in the room, thereby making your room look bigger and brighter than it actually is.

Dark walls will have the opposite effect and make a space seem small and dingy so consider giving your walls a lighter coat this winter.

You don’t need to go for stark white if you think that’s too plain or clinical, you could opt for a soft yellow or another light, pale colour.

If you want as much natural light as possible then this is a great way to achieve that as it doesn’t involve artificial lamps. Here’s a guide to hassle-free painting.

Don’t forget the floor!

The walls and ceilings are relatively easy to change and whilst the bottom of the room is a little more tricky, it’s just as important.

If you’re wondering how to make a room with dark carpet look brighter then the best thing to do is invest in a new, lighter carpet. Obviously, this can be costly, in which case you could opt for a large, light-coloured rug.

A light carpet does bring its own difficulties however as it will get dirtier much easier and any stains will be very visible. If this is a concern for you then you might choose to opt for some light wood floorboards.

Add mirrors and reflective materials

Mirrors have the double effect of making your room seem twice as big as it actually is but also making the room significantly brighter.

The reflection in the mirror can make it seem at first glance that there is much more space in the room and some strategically placed mirrors will undoubtedly add to the room’s aesthetic.

The mirrors will also reflect any light that bounces off it, creating more light in your dark room. 

You could place a large mirror above a mantlepiece, hang a long mirror on your bedroom wall or simply buy a large standing mirror.

You can also opt for furniture with reflective materials, metal being the obvious choice, which will also help light bounce around the room. Another option to consider is a glass table.

Change your lampshades

If your room is currently lit by a single bulb, which is covered by a lampshade, it’s no wonder you’re not getting enough light!

Lampshades can create a sultry, moody atmosphere, but if you’re seeking to brighten up the room then these will have to go.

Get rid of any lampshades in your room and opt for exposed light bulbs or ceiling lights. Not only are these trendy but they’ll allow for unobstructed light in your room.

Edison bulbs are a great way to achieve a minimalist look in your home without expending too much cost. Make sure to hang them quite high up them producing too much glare in your eyes.

If you’re not quite ready to go naked then you could opt for a metallic shade that will have the double effect of both producing light and bouncing it around the rest of the room.

Remove any external obstruction

The cause of your light issues might not be the inside of your room at all, but that enormous tree sitting in your front garden.

In some cases, this may be out of your control and you won’t be able to change this. However, if said tree or bush belongs to you, it’s time to get snipping or remove it completely!

Of course, there needs to be a balance between privacy and a bright, light room. If the room in questions is on street level, you may want to consider sheen curtains or shutters if you’re taking an axe to your overgrown bush to protect yourself from prying eyes. We’ve all seen YOU on Netflix.

If the offending plant doesn’t belong to you but is significantly blocking your right to light, I would suggest approaching your neighbour or local council if you’re in an apartment and requesting that it is suitably pruned.

Swap heavy curtains for blinds

Long, heavy curtains can block the precious light coming into your room so consider swapping these for a lighter fabric or going for blinds instead. Blinds take up less space and allow for light to come in from all angles making this a double win.

Unlike curtains, you can filter the amount of light coming into the room throughout the day so the room can be as bright or as shady as you please.

What’s more, blinds are usually cheaper than curtains, they’re more durable and easier to clean. If you’re aiming for a minimalist style of interiors then blinds are a perfect option.

Invest in some floor lamps

I’ve always thought that overhead lighting is the best source of light for a room but recently I’ve discovered that really good floor lighting can help a lot too.

This is a great option if you’re not able to carry out any proper DIY on your room and just want to add some extra elements to the room to make it brighter.

I firmly believe floor lamps are some of the best bright lamps for dark rooms. The one in my room offers twice as much light as my two overhead lights do and it’s much more convenient as I can move it around the room to suit the shape of the room and where I want to sit in it.

Use LED lightbulbs too for an extra bright light.

Browse below for some of the best floor lamps for dark rooms:

And that’s it! Making a dark room look brighter doesn’t have to be difficult or too costly, it can be as simple as painting the walls white, buying a cheap floor lamp and a large mirror.

Are you worried about having dark rooms this winter? How will you address the problem?

If you liked this post, check out these:
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Laura

Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?

Laura is an award-winning travel and book blogger based in the UK. She studied French literature at Oxford University and is now an IP lawyer at a top law firm in London. She was named UK Book Blogger of the Year in 2019 and loves to combine her passion for books and travel with literary travel.