5 Ways to Make a Room Bright

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Rooms with few windows and little lighting can seem small and dark. However, changes can be made to make a room bright: from small aesthetic changes to more important structural changes. Learn how to make a room bright according to your spending possibilities.

Steps

Method 1 of 5: Paint the Walls

Step 1. Refresh the walls

Old white or dark colored walls can make any space seem cramped. Do a few chores with great care before painting: clean, plaster the cracks and put masking tape on the edges of the walls.

Step 2. Choose a light color

Ivory, cream and all near-white colors reflect light and make a space seem larger. If you need to paint over a darker color, take into account that you will need to apply a coat of primer first, or choose a product that already contains the primer.

• Use matte or satin paint on the walls. Glossy finishes will be too blinding. You have to make the room look like a light canvas if you want to make it bright.

  

Step 3. Consider very light blue or other light colors for a section of wall or a whole wall

If you want to focus attention on a fireplace or another part of the room, you should paint it an even lighter color than the rest of the room. Always use the lightest pastel colors, so as not to make the room seem darker when you cover a large space.

Step 4. Apply reflective wallpaper to one wall only

Wallpapers add more style to a room, even if they are a little difficult to apply. Place it on a wall opposite a window to reflect the light.

Method 2 of 5: Replace the Floors

Step 1. Remove old or dark carpet

Unless you have stain-resistant, light-colored carpeting, it could make the room look dirty and dark. Consider replacing the carpet with a light-colored linoleum floor.

• Linoleum looks like parquet but is much less expensive. Many even put it on their own.

  

Step 2. Cover the dark carpet with rugs

If you can't replace dark parquet or carpet, get a large jute or woven rug. You can also opt for other types of rugs or a light stain-resistant rug.

Method 3 of 5: Illuminate

Step 1. Consider redoing the windows

If you work in a room with no windows or with small openings, consider a window enlargement project. Even just a small window in a basement can transform a small room into a cheerful bedroom. Ask for a quote to get an idea of the cost of the work.

• Even if it will be an investment, putting a window and a masonry closet in a basement will increase the value of a home. Ask a real estate agent if making this "bright" change is also worthwhile financially.

  

Step 2. Don't rely on the front light

There may be light during the day, but it will be darker in the evening. Choose a type of lighting that starts from the ceiling to make the room appear larger and brighter.

Step 3. Add ambient or indirect lights

Lights above a closet or around a focal point will give the room an extra layer of light. Aim the ambient lights up, and not down, whenever possible.

Step 4. Hang a chandelier in the center of the room

Choose one that is made of glass or one that looks like glass to reflect the light coming from the windows more.

Method 4 of 5: Choose Furniture

Step 1. Unleash light colors:

have chairs, armchairs and sofas upholstered or buy new ones. Cream, light brown and light blue can add brightness to any room. The dark furniture, black ones, dark gray and dark skin would attract all the attention, making you look away from the light walls and all the rest of the furniture.

Step 2. Place large furniture, such as dressers and shelves, on walls perpendicular to the windows

Use opposite walls for mirrors, light-colored furniture upholstery, and wallpaper. Doing so will favor the expansion of light throughout the room.

Method 5 of 5: Choose the Decorations

Step 1. Add mirrors

Here are some creative ways to make a room look bigger, brighter, and more stylish with mirrors.

• Find some antique mirrors and hang them close together. It will almost look like an art installation and they will reflect the light on the room.

  

• Use a long, narrow mirror on a large wall to make a room appear larger. Place it on the wall opposite a large window to reflect more light from the outside onto the room.

  

• Take some small square mirrors and make a composition of them on a wall, where you wish there had been a window. It will give the illusion that there is actually an extra window there.

  

• Place floor-length mirrors in hallways or alcoves.

  

Step 2. Insert glass furniture accessories

A glass or mirrored coffee table, wall decorations or vases can add to the feeling of spaciousness and capture more light. Choose to replace the knobs you have with glass ones.

Step 3. Remove everything unnecessary

Take a minimalist attitude towards décor for any room you want to make it look airy and full of light. Remove trinkets, shelves and collections, choose 1 or 2 vases and unique and important decorations.

• Consider removing coffee tables, display cabinets, TV cabinets, and armchairs as well, if ultimately their primary role is to collect dust. You can hang electronic equipment directly on the walls.

  

Step 4. Choose sheer curtains, not thick fabric

If you need to protect your privacy, you can put opaque transparent panels behind the curtains. A sheer fabric that drapes down will let in more light than a thicker or darker one.