If a room in the house has a little dim light, there are many tricks you can use to light it up easily. Changing the lights and color will make a substantial difference, and choosing more understated furniture and decor can make the room appear more spacious. If you want to make an even bigger investment, you can add windows and replace the floor to transform your room from a cave to a shelter. Read on to learn how to light up a room.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Give a Touch of Creativity with Lights and Colors
Step 1. Paint the ceiling white
If it is dark in color or has dark wooden beams, it probably creates a dark atmosphere throughout the room. Buy a can or two of white paint and give the ceiling a fresh coat. Brilliant white reflects light instead of absorbing it and you will be amazed at the difference you get.
- If you prefer color rather than plain white, choose a pale yellow, light green, or cream color.
- Even if you don't paint the walls white, just the ceiling, it still makes a big difference.
Step 2. Limit bright colors
It may be tempting to paint the room your brightest and most vibrant color of choice, but it's best to keep the colors bright and bold for the walls you want to stand out or for the upholstery. In a dark room, a dark color is not bright, it only adds a further feeling of oppression to the environment. If you absolutely must use dark blue, green, red, or another deep color, choose only a small wall to paint and use a much more subdued color for the other walls.
- Another way to add some color without darkening the space is to add a stencil along the ceiling to give a more vibrant accent. Buy one or create your own according to the shape you prefer: flowers, leaves and abstract designs are the most common, use a paint of your favorite color to create a beautiful pattern.
- Paint the baseboard and door trim in a contrasting color; this too is another way to add a cheerful touch to the room without making it too dark.
Step 3. Make the most of natural light
If you are working to illuminate a dark room, it probably means that there is not a lot of natural light coming in, but it is important to get the most out of what you have. If the windows are covered with shutters or dark curtains, they effectively prevent the room from being better illuminated. Instead of keeping the blinds closed, try the following:
- Choose airy, light-colored curtains that don't completely block out the light. For example, those in linen or cream colored canvas ensure privacy while allowing the sun to filter into the room.
- If you prefer Venetian blinds, look for them in lightweight fabric that isn't too dull. Avoid wooden or plastic ones because they completely block light from entering.
Step 4. Replace the overhead lights with soft perimeter lights
Too penetrating lighting can make the dark room stand out even more. Instead of flooding the space with fluorescent lighting, carefully choose artificial lighting so that it looks as natural and pleasant as possible.
- Linear light is really great for illuminating a space without creating a heavy atmosphere.
- Use many lamps strategically placed on the floor with light color shades to spread the light throughout the room.
Step 5. Use diffused light
If there is a dark corner in the room or there are no ceiling lights, install more lights aimed at the ceiling and walls. This reflected light provides softer lighting that minimizes dull shadows.
Do not rule out the idea of putting candles to give an extra pleasant source of light. When you want to create a particularly bright and cheerful atmosphere, light a few candles in addition to artificial lighting
Step 6. Add custom lights
If you often practice certain activities in the room, consider adding specific lights to help you with different tasks. Mount some lights under cabinets or on your workbench, or other lamps can be useful on your desk where you sew or at the piano.
Step 7. Use brighter bulbs
Replace the ones you already have with brighter light ones, such as compact fluorescent (CFL) ones, which have lower power but higher light output. Higher wattage does not mean a higher lighting level.
You can also try adding softer light bulbs. Bulbs that are rated "natural light" usually have a light shade similar to that of direct sunlight, and emit a cooler, blue-toned, more vivid light. Bulbs that emit "warm white" light have a lower color temperature, which provides a warmer, yellowish light
Step 8. Maintain a dark and welcoming environment as an alternative
If you can't really do anything to change your dark room, you can always ignore the tips proposed so far to light up the room and choose instead to enhance its natural appearance. Paint in a deep color and use rich heavy decorations to create the feel of an old-fashioned living room. Colors like charcoal and slate blue are common choices for rooms that want to show a stately look.
Method 2 of 3: Care for Accessories and Furniture
Step 1. Evaluate the decorations and accessories present
Look at the paintings, knick-knacks, book collections and other decorations in the room you want to light up. Are they perhaps weighing down the environment more, making the light even dimmer? It may be time to change that old black and white print and go for something more vibrant and bright. If you have piles of books, a collection of antique dolls or an entire wall of dark green plants, it might be time to get rid of those too. If your goal is to make your space bright, you may have to make some tough decisions about what to keep and what to discard.
- Choose your top 10 favorite books and arrange them in an artistic way, rather than keeping the entire collection that occupies an entire wall by obscuring it. The space that was previously occupied by books can now be enlivened with something more cheerful.
- If you like plants, consider getting rid of the large, dark ones and replace them with others with lighter, more vibrant colors. You can put some succulents or a few ferns to give an interesting touch, but filling entire shelves with plants can make the room darker.
Step 2. Add some mirrors
Now that you've freed up some space, try inserting a couple of mirrors. They reflect the light that filters into the room and make it even brighter. Choose mirrors with light-colored frames that give an airy look to the environment.
Hanging mirrors has the advantage of making the room appear larger
Step 3. Replace dark furniture
Do you have high wooden shelves from floor to ceiling that add an even darker atmosphere to the environment? What does that dark cherry wood TV cabinet look like to you, or that large wooden bed with rich dark inlays? Heavy furniture can give even a bright room a somewhat dreary look. If you want to make the environment bright, choose light wood furniture.
- You can also paint or refinish existing furniture to give the room a new, more vibrant look.
- Purchase brightly colored covers for your sofa and chairs.
Step 4. Keep electrical cables hidden
Probably you too, like most people, have a tangle of cables and wires littered on the floor. Black threads can help make the appearance of a room even darker and cluttered. Try to keep them neatly wrapped and tied with a piece of Velcro. You can also secure them against the baseboard with light-colored electrical tape to keep them from getting in the way. You will find that what seems like a trivial change will actually make a big difference.
Step 5. Set up wall shelves
Another trick to making a room appear brighter is to get rid of the furniture as much as possible. Instead of holding bookcases and tables, try attaching light-colored or white-painted wooden shelves to the walls. Use them to store books and some knick-knacks or objects. This eliminates the shadows cast by too many tables and other furniture.
Method 3 of 3: Making Structural Changes
Step 1. Light up the floor
If the floor is dark in color, the simplest remedy to give it some light is to cover it by purchasing a colorful carpet. However, it may be worthwhile in the long run to invest some time and money to put new flooring or refinish the existing one. If you really want to light up the room, consider these options:
- If the hardwood floor is painted, refinish it to expose the light wood underneath. Alternatively, you can also consider painting it a bright color, such as pearl gray.
- The concrete floor is robust and practical and can be painted in many different colors. The finished concrete is polished until it becomes smooth and shiny.
- Brightly colored tiles are a good choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
Step 2. Replace the wooden door with a glass one
Those in glass, whether for indoor or outdoor, offer the opportunity to let more light into the room in question. If you can, consider replacing them with French glass doors. You can also choose to opt for a door with a large window to let in more light. If these solutions are not practical for you, you can just paint them a lighter color to always get a brighter effect.
Step 3. Evaluate if you can remove partitions
The room may feel overwhelming and dark if there is a wall that blocks the passage of light. If possible, consider breaking down the wall to create a larger space. This can usually be done for a wall facing the corridor, for example. If the wall doesn't contain any load-bearing beams that hold up the ceiling, this shouldn't be a problem.
You should hire a construction company to check the room before you decide to tear down the wall on your own. In some cases the wall could play a structural role. In older houses and apartments it is also important to make sure that the wall does not contain lead or asbestos before trying to tear it down
Step 4. Suppose you add windows
This is the last possible solution for a dark room, and it may be easier than you think. Before ruling out the possibility and thinking that it is an impossible undertaking, appoint a competent company that can make an assessment to help you better understand the various options. If you live in a house where you plan to stay for a long time, it could become a useful solution to make your space as bright and cheerful as you wish. Expanding existing windows and doors can also let in more light.
Step 5. Install a skylight or solar tube
Skylights let in natural light and provide plenty of light. Some of these can be installed between the ceiling beams, so the project is relatively inexpensive. Reflective tubes, which require little more than a good-sized hole in the drywall and roof, are another possibility. Some skylights can also be opened to allow ventilation.
Advice
- Some compact fluorescent bulbs on the market recently have a much warmer color and heat up faster than older bulbs. Plus, they use less than half the electricity of an incandescent light bulb for an equivalent amount of light.
- Light up the walls. Illuminated walls don't simply reflect light helping to improve the overall light of a room, they also make you feel more comfortable using the entire space. Dark walls and dark corners tend to misuse spaces. Make your room more spacious, brighter and more welcoming.
- Wash the windows! When they are clean they let in more light.
- Don't completely rule out the dark. Some activities such as sewing, reading or writing require a lot of light, but if you are using the room for an activity that is not particularly eye-straining, you can try using "mood" lighting, accent lighting or even candles. to give a delicate atmosphere to the room.
- When planning the placement of the lights, think about how to use the space and where the shadows will be cast (including yours). Portable lamps are great for experimenting with different solutions until you find the optimal one.
- Lights! Room! Action! By creating contrasts between bright and dark colors, you will increase the interest of a space and add a sophisticated touch to the environment. Illuminate different points of a room: by focusing the light on certain objects, you will give the impression of having increased the level of ambient lighting. Use directional LED lights, choose a 10, 15, 25 or 60 degree optical beam, which matches the distance and size of the object you want to illuminate. The general rule is: place the light above the object and at a distance of 1 meter from it. Adjust or tilt the light to form an angle of 30 ° and choose the optical beam that is best suited to illuminate the specific object (not necessarily in its entirety).
Warnings
- Be careful when installing lamps and working with electricity. Contact an electrician if necessary.
- Use candles safely and never leave them lit without being present.
- Dispose of the fluorescent bulbs properly. These contain mercury, a substance considered toxic to humans and other living organisms. Most home improvement stores will take them back and dispose of them for you. If you break one by accident, be careful while cleaning.
