Who likes living in a dark room that resembles that of a cave? No one. A dark, poorly lit room can make one feel as if they’re in a solitary confinement, isolated from the outside and inaccessible. It can be pretty soul-sucking, to be honest.
Photo by Joseph Albanese
Don’t fret, there are ways you can combat the dark room syndrome and lighten it up a bit. Take notes for here are a few of the many ways you can brighten up and make a dark room feel more airy.
Light it up
Have you got heavy curtains or blinds? Get rid of it or replace it with lighter material and shade to let natural light travel through your space. The oldest rule in the book: do not block the sunlight especially in dark rooms.
In addition to letting the light in, do bring in accent lights in the room. Uplights and downlights are great items to put in a dark room. It breathes life in an otherwise isolating space. Task lighting are also effective in target lighting which you may want to consider. Experiment with different kinds of light and find the right illuminating balance without making the dark space even more cold and absolute.
Hang a mirror
A mirror covers a lot of decorating woes and serves a lot of decorating “wow(s)” when positioned accordingly in the room. It’s a no-brainer, mirror improves lighting and gives an illusion of a bigger and more airy space in a small room.
Place the mirror strategically in a way where it will make the room appear larger than normal. You can place a table lamp near the mirror; ensure the lamp is placed in a manner where the light reflects on the mirror. By doing so, it will give an illusion of a more brighter space.
Go for lighter colors
White walls, light wood flooring, light textiles, basically go for lighter colors in contrast with the dark room to make the ambiance seem airy and open.
If you’ve already got dark walls, skip dark-shaded blankets, pillow covers, bed sheet, rug, and the likes. Shy away from bold colors and instead, go for neutral and soft tones in contrast with the already dark walls. If you’re a renter, speak with your landlord if you could do some repainting or cover up the walls with temporary wallpapers.
Brighten the ceiling
The ceiling is the part of the house people frequently overlook. In fact, the ceiling can be the game-changer in a room, you just need to know how to use it to open up the room.
If you already have dark walls, color your ceiling white or other neutral tones. This will create balance and give an illusion of a more open space. If you paint the ceiling the same shade as the dark walls, it will seem as if the room is too enclosed. If you paint it white, it will make the room appear to have more breathing space.
When it comes to lights, consider installing pot lights closer to the walls. By doing so, the light will cast down on the walls and can showcase some otherwise unnoticed details such as corner traditional cabinets and the likes.
Keep clutter at bay
Seriously, cut the clutter and have a good storage organization. In terms of dark rooms, less displays and clutter means more space to breathe. Visual chaos only makes a space look too busy. Get rid of the picture frames, unnecessary displays, too bulk storage cabinets and furniture, and the likes.
What other tricks and tips you know that makes a dark room appear more airy and bright? Let us know your secrets—leave a comment below!
Author Bio: Chie Suarez is a passionate writer for PAAL Kit Homes, a company that manufactures and supplies steel-framed kit homes that help Australian families build their dream home. Chie has a deep interest in home design and decoration.