How to lighten a dark room

Genine from Capalaba writes:

Help! My lounge feels so dark – what can I do to lighten and brighten it?

Jane says:

If walking into your family room feels something like entering a cave, you may like to lighten things up a bit. Thankfully, there are several quick and inexpensive ways to bring in some light and give your home a fresh, bright appearance.

The most obvious way to brighten up your home is with windows. If you have them, don’t keep them covered. Unless you need window coverings for the sake of privacy, open them up and let the sun shine in. If you have rooms with inadequate windows, consider installing an additional one. A large window can totally transform a space usually for between $1000 and $2000. Where privacy is an issue, consider a skylight that lets in light without allowing nosy neighbours to peek in.

After the sun goes down, you will need to add some artificial light regardless of how many windows you have. Use lighting fixtures creatively so that you can brighten a room, set the mood and tie it all into your interior design. You shouldn’t limit yourself to a single ceiling light. Consider how lamps, sconces, or recessed lighting may work within your existing home design.

Another way to lighten a room is with paint colour. You may love the dark paint on your walls, but this much deeper hue is difficult to lighten up with furniture and accessories. Keep your colour scheme light by lightening the walls with a lighter shade or adding the dark tone that you love in smaller doses. A lighter paint colour will make a room look larger and brighter, even in the same amount of lighting.

In the same way, dark flooring can make a room feel dark and dreary. If you’re replacing flooring, consider a lighter coloured material. For an easier fix, spread around some bright or light coloured rugs.

To give the light that you have a boost, use reflective surfaces to magnify it. Hang mirrors, choose a glass table or creatively use metallic accessories to allow your room’s light to bounce around a bit. You may be surprised to see how much of a difference a small touch like this can make in the lightening of your room.

Finally, consider what is viewed from your room even if it is not within it. Do your windows open to overgrown landscaping or the side of your neighbour’s home? If the view is darkening the room, consider some creative ways to change it. Keep your trees and bushes trimmed so that they don’t block windows, and let in the sun. If you have a blocked view anyway, consider planting bright coloured plants that can be seen in the window, or placing other light-hued objects which will reflect natural into the room.

Jane Eyles-Bennett is the founder of Hotspace Consultants and has more than 20 years of interior design and renovation experience. 

Send your renovation questions to Jane at scoop@brisbanetimes.com.au