Nothing seems to sap your energy quite like a dark and dingy room, particularly in winter when the night draws in sooner and sunshine seems like a distant memory. A dark room can feel cosy if it’s done right, but oftentimes it just isn’t particularly enjoyable to be in. Thankfully, there are things you can do to brighten up a dark room, that doesn’t involve adding in new windows!
This is a collaborative post.
Lights
This is a really obvious one of course, but looking at the light sources you already have in the room, and seeing how you can best utilise them can be highly beneficial. For example, are you using the best bulbs for the lights you already have? Could you add some lamps in darker spots, or change the type of light shade you have over your main fitting to allow more light to disperse? These E14 LED bulbs are energy-efficient, so you don’t have to feel guilty if you need to have your lights on more than you would like.
Get painting
The colour of your walls could make a really big difference in how dark your room feels. That doesn’t mean you have to paint everything white, but do consider any colours or patterns you choose to ensure that they don’t make the room darker. Giving the ceiling a lick of bright white paint can really open things up too and if you have dark woodwork in the room, you may consider painting it to create a lighter feel. This is a much cheaper option than buying all new furniture, so if you’re at all handy it’s worth a try. You’ll be surprised at the difference it can make.
Utilise mirrors
Mirrors are a fantastic way of opening up a space and making it seem larger and brighter. If you can, try to place wall mirrors opposite windows to capture the natural light, however, that isn’t always possible and any mirrors that you are able to put on the wall is going to brighten up a dark space. Again, choose mirrors that don’t have dark, heavy frames if possible – a thin frame or none at all is the best for making your room seem bigger and brighter.
Choose a light rug
One area people often forget when looking at brightening up a dark room is the floor. The floor of any room really sets a tone for the entire space and although it would be pretty costly to change the entire flooring, or to get a brand new carpet, a light-coloured rug is an affordable alternative and can make a huge difference – just be aware if you have clumsy children!
As you can see, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to transform your room from dark and dingy to light and airy. A few small swaps and additions such as rugs and mirrors can make the world of difference and even in the winter months, your room will feel cosy, not claustrophobic.
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post. This post has been pre-written.
