Let's Brighten Up That Dark Room

Everyone that I know has at least one dark and dreary room in their house that could use a bit of love. But as we all know, it can be quite challenging to brighten up those rooms especially if they are say in a basement and dont have large windows or any at all in some cases.

So, without doing any major renovations like adding new windows or increasing the size of existing ones and keeping budget in mind, how can you brighten up that space so it actually starts being used? Well surprisingly, there are a lot of solutions that when combined can make a drastic change. So with only a couple dollars and a little bit of effort, let's see what you can do to get started.

Paint the walls a light colour

When it comes to painting your walls to make a space feel brighter and bigger, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind. One is to use light and bright colors, such as whites, creams, and pastels. You can also experiment with lighter shades of your current wall colour. Testing our different samples might be a good idea before committing because you'll be able to see if the colour that you like is in fact bright enough for the room.

And don't forget about the ceilings or baseboards! Avoid using any beiges and stick to white as much as possible. Older homes may have popcorn ceiling, so another option is to cover that with some drywall and paint the new ceiling white. Although it's a more costly and time consuming fix, it'll really clean up the room and bring it into the 21st century.

Replace old, dark light fixtures with new, brighter ones

You can also use artificial lighting to brighten up a dark room. One of the easiest things you can do is replace old, dark light fixtures with new, brighter ones. Not only will this make the room brighter, but it can also make it feel bigger. Installing additional light fixtures might be a more costly method in the ballpark of $300-500 per light just for the wiring but it will a huge difference if there is a corner or a space missing lighting.

Consider using brighter bulbs than you would normally use to extract more light from each one of your fixtures. You might even want to try using a lamp with a built-in light reflector, as this can help maximize the light output.

So if your home is in need of some new lighting, consider replacing those outdated light fixtures with something brighter and more modern. You'll be surprised at the difference it can make!

Add a few houseplants to purify the air and bring some life into the room.

Adding a few houseplants is a great way to purify the air and bring some life into the room. Some good options include ferns, ivy, and peace lilies. Not only will they make the room look more inviting, but they'll also help to improve the air quality. If you're looking for something a bit more exotic, consider adding some orchids to your home but they require a little more maintenance so they might not be recommended for a newbie. Not only are these plants beautiful to look at, but you'll be surprised at how much they bring to life an otherwise dark space.

Arrange furniture so that it's not blocking any windows or doors

When arranging furniture in a room, it's important to make sure that it doesn't block any windows or doors. A dark room is begging for as much natural light as possible and anything that is blocking that light should be removed or moved. Pretty obvious, right?

Additionally, try to use light-coloured thinner furniture rather than big and bulky pieces. If there's a lot of dark color in the room, it will make it feel even smaller and more cramped.

Avoid using dark colors or patterns when choosing fabrics and furnishings

When it comes to decorating a room, colour and pattern are essential components of creating an inviting atmosphere. Many people choose dark colours or patterns when selecting fabrics and furnishings for their homes (think darker leathers), that can be a huge mistake. In our dark rooms, it will only amplify the feeling of being cramped by making the room seem smaller than it is, which is why it's important to avoid them when possible.

Light colored fabrics and furnishings not only brighten up the space, but they also make the area look larger than it actually is. Whenever you're shopping for items for your home, be sure to examine lighter shades or subtle textures instead of bold prints or deep hues. Doing so will help create an airy environment that feels much more inviting than one filled with darkness.

Hang artwork or photographs on the walls to add visual interest

As a rule of thumb, you want your artwork to be about one-third the size of the room. It should also be hung at eye level for best effect. If you can't decide what to hang, pair two smaller pieces together instead of one large work. Never hang so much art that it overwhelms a room; this will make the space feel cluttered and uncomfortable.

Balance dark colours with light ones, and use medium tones for accent pieces. They will create a visual interest and draw the eye away from the four corners of the room thus making it seem bigger than it is.

Use mirrors to reflect light and create the illusion of more space

Another great way to brighten up a dark room is to add some mirrors. Mirrors reflect light, so they can help make a space feel brighter and more open. If you have a big room, hang a mirror on one wall and leave the rest bare as this will draw the eye away from the corners of the room. Typically you would want to hang this large mirror on an accent wall based on paint colour, wall texture or even something as simple as the wall with the fireplace or TV.

Just be careful not to place them directly opposite a window, as this can create too much glare.

Furnish the room with minimal furniture and choose pieces that have a sleek, streamlined design

In addition to making the room brighter, you might also want to consider making it feel more spacious. One way to do this is to use furniture that has clean lines and simple designs. Additionally, decluttering the space can help make it feel more open and airy.

Conclusion

While these tips might be a good place to start, there are also some other things that you can do like use area rugs to define spaces in a room, keep furniture away from walls to give the room an open feeling and use transparent or translucent materials to let in more light.

If you still have questions or would like any advice, please contact us. But if you want to learn about how ReDeal can help you reach your financial goals easily and quickly, one of our investment specialists will be more than happy to explain how you can start investing in real estate on autopilot.