10 ways to brighten a dark room

Our homes are a place to relax and recharge. In the Winter time, we spend more time at home, and therefore it should feel comforting and cosy.

A dark house or apartment can bring your mood down very easily and can even make you feel tired and lazy. We have gathered 10 tips to help brighten up your home.

To brighten up your dark room you need lots of light. The best light is the natural light you get through a window. To make that possible choose light curtains or transparent blinds instead of heavy curtains or dark blinds.

Place a nice full body mirror across from a window. Not only does this create an illusion of a bigger room. It also reflects light from the window.

Dark colours make a room seem smaller because they do not reflect the light. Choose a light colour such as white to reflect the little light you have and widen up your room upwards. If white is not the colour for you, you can choose any other light colour for example pastel shades to create a warmer atmosphere.

Only have the furniture you actually need and uses. Too much furniture will swallow too much of the light so don't overcrowd our home with unnecessary furniture. Also, choose minimalistic furniture in lighter colours instead of solid wood furniture to create space for light between the furniture and the floor.

Not only is it important to get the most out of the little light you have, but you also want to create a cosy atmosphere. To create this, choose not just plain white but also warmer colours such as pastels.

Use dark and striking colours in smaller decorative items such as pillows, throws or images. Not only does it increase the level of cosines, but they also help to let the lighter colours shine even brighter.

Don’t overdo it with the number of dark decorations. As with the furniture, too much decoration can swallow the light.

As with the ceiling and walls, dark colours on the floor swallow the light you want to preserve. Choose a bright colour for your floor. If you do not want to change the entire floor, choose a big and light-coloured rug. A bonus is that this will also increase the level of cosines.

Multiple sources of light such as string lights, candles, table lamps, and floor lamps accentuate the room and make the room seem larger and wider. They also minimize large and harsh shadows from the ceiling light.

A messy and cluttered home quickly becomes overwhelming and not welcoming. Read our tips to keep your rooms tidy.

By placing an eye-catching lamp or piece of furniture in each room you create an optical distraction for your small and darker rooms. A big painting, a nice armchair or an elegant ceiling lamp will catch the eye and no one will notice the missing light.