Renovating and decorating your house can be both fun and overwhelming. A lot of times, especially in cities like New York, we get rooms that are just straight up dark. They are lacking in natural light for one reason or another; maybe there is only one tiny window, or maybe it faces a brick wall or into someone else’s home.
Even if it is small, or doesn’t have a great view, make sure your windows let in as much light as possible and clean them well and often! But what else can you do to brighten up a dark room in your home? We’ll discuss some ideas below that we hope will inspire and excite you!
Fresh Flowers
One super quick fix for a dark and drab room is fresh flowers. There is really nothing like a fresh summer flower bouquet to take a room from dreary to dreamy. Work it into your self-care routine to pick up fresh flowers every two weeks. You can look for a sweet little end table to put the flowers on, and start thrifting intricate vases! You can also use an oversized mason jar for a more rustic look.
More Light
Another way to add some brightness is to literally add more light! Tasteful string lights hung around the perimeter of the room right where the wall and ceiling meet creates a gorgeous ambiance that is warm, romantic, and inviting. Take it to the next level by adding a dimmer to the lights so you can ease into it. You will love this vibe so much you might even be tempted to add it to additional rooms in the house.
Besides string lights, think about other decorations that add some light. Everything from bold and overt neon signs to covert and subtle lights on the backs of shelves reflecting onto the wall. Be intentional about light bulbs too! There are so many different options: yellow and white, soft and fluorescent, dim or bright. If you want to be environmentally friendly, look into LED options.
Use Mirrors
Once you have explored and implemented some additional lighting into this room, you can also add a mirror to both make it feel bigger and brighter. All of those lights you put in will appear to double because of the mirror! As with lighting, the mirror options are seemingly endless. It is all going to depend on your taste and style, and of course the size and shape of the room. Less reflective than a mirror, but still important, is the color of the walls. Do not be afraid of bright white walls! Aim your lights at walls or ceilings.
Add more color
The last suggestion we have is to make sure that your room is decorated with light and bright colors. A vibrant area rug can be an excellent place to start. Go for white or light-colored furniture; you can even consider a glass table! Be very intentional about the size of the furniture as well. Do not stuff the room full, instead channel a more minimalist style. Consider furniture that is low to the ground and let the white walls shine. On this note, do not overcrowd the walls with art. You can lean into selecting a few colorful pieces that are bright. And, when it comes to curtains, go for light colors, such as white, beige, or gray.
Once you have spruced up this formerly dark room, there is no doubt you will want to show it off, maybe in a zoom meeting! You will be showered with compliments from your co-workers and soon they will all be asking you for suggestions on how to make their space as sleek and bright as yours.
Thanks for reading and y’all stay dandy.
-Diego
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