Lighten Up: Cost-Effective Ways to Brighten a Dark Room

Have a light-challenged room that you’d like to make more airy and uplifting? You’ve come to the right place

Using mirrors to reflect light is an age-old interior designer trick, and can be used to brighten a room and create an illusion of enhanced space. Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

Bright rooms with a wealth of natural light have a host of benefits: They’re healthier, happier, will make you more productive, and—best of all—they feel more spacious, making the overall house seem larger.

You’ve probably heard the old adage, “A gallon of paint is the most inexpensive way to transform a room”—and it’s true here, as well. White paint on the walls, ceiling, or floor can enlarge the smallest room. Warm whites perk up a space, yet keep it cozy, while cool whites are serene and calming.

But you can start even simpler, with many simple and inexpensive do-it-yourself tricks that offer highly effective results.

Every room should have three sources of light, and you may be surprised to learn that natural light isn't counted on this list.NataliaLavrivNedashkivska/Shutterstock

Mirror, Mirror

Using mirrors to reflect any natural light that enters a room is an age-old interior designer trick. Even a decorative framed mirror can make a significant difference, but if you really want impact, think wall mirrors. Whichever option suits your décor, remember the bigger the better—within the parameters of good taste, of course. The key is to position the mirrors opposite where the natural light is entering the room. If you can’t position the mirror directly across from a natural light source, position it next to it.

If there’s no natural light available, or you want to lighten a particularly dark corner or space, place a mirror to reflect the ceiling light, side table lamp, floor lamp, desk light, or other light source. It’s all about maximizing the available illumination to not only brighten the room, but to also create the illusion of enhanced space. You can add mirrors just about anywhere: behind display shelves, inset in a bookcase, or—depending on your style—you may even want to consider a mirrored coffee or end table.

Lighter-colored highlights such as pale rugs, pastel artwork, and white bookcases can brighten up a room. Artazum/Shutterstock

Bright Ideas

Every room should have three sources of light, and you may be surprised to learn that natural light isn’t counted on this list. This rule of three is particularly important for interior rooms and basements.

Proper room illumination should include overhead lighting, preferably fixtures that are semi-flush, pendant, or chandelier—something that casts light around the room, not just downward.

Then there are table and floor lamps, which can be placed where you need them. As they’re at eye level, they’re the most flattering light source.

You may want to also consider perimeter lighting for dark walls and corners, and hidden lighting under cabinets, in bookshelves, and elsewhere to highlight, brighten, and add style. Even candles can come into play. All of these add up to a room to suit many moods, depending on the lights you have on.

Check your current fixtures; they may be able to take a higher-wattage bulb than the one currently being used. Voilà—a cheap and easy upgrade. When picking new bulbs, remember that while cool light is bright, depending on the room you may want to opt for warm tones that are still uplifting, yet cozier. Installing a dimmer allows you a variety of light levels.

Décor 101

You can’t go wrong with replacing heavy dark pieces with bright new ones. Or, can you? Before you simply ditch that dark couch and heavy curtains for light-colored options, here are a few things to consider.

Replacing a tall dark bookcase or china cabinet in a dining room with a low, wide white bookcase has been proven to open up a space while still providing significant storage. Another trick is to choose furniture with six to 10 inches of space beneath it to allow light to pass under and around it.

Consider skipping the drapery and going with venetian blinds that direct sunlight upward. Pale-colored rugs open up a dark wood floor, while pastel artwork breaks up a dark wall. But keep things simple; go for one large print, as a collage wall casts more shadows.

Homeowners with a larger budget can add skylights to windowless or dark rooms for illumination that is architecturally spectacular. Artazum/Shutterstock

Big Plans

If the budget allows, don’t just change outdated windows—upsize them to larger models. One homeowner took the opportunity to turn a living room picture window into French Doors to the backyard, allowing easier access and increased illumination. They added to the property value, and the new technology made the home more energy-efficient. Replacing solid interior doors with French doors allows light to flow from room to room. Another family knocked out a wall to a tiny interior bedroom that was used mostly for storage, opening it up to windows of the adjacent space, to create a great room for entertaining.

Got a dark stairwell or windowless bathroom? Give it new life with a skylight. For those who don’t have much space, tubular skylights allow for minimal roof and ceiling penetration with maximum results. The results are architecturally spectacular, yet relatively easy to achieve.

Choose an overhead lighting fixture that casts light around the room, not just downward. Olga Prava/Shutterstock

Little Changes, Big Results

Inspired to get started but don’t have much time or budget? Consider these quick fixes.

Quality & Clarity

White lamp shades of thin linen diffuse the light without dimming it, unlike shades in amber and yellow which block the glow. Opt for white frosted or clear glass bulb covers on ceiling fan lights for the best diffusion.

Simple Step

Dirty windows keep the sun out and the gloom in. Whether it’s the first thing you do (it really should be) or the last, don’t forget to clean those panes of glass in order to get the full effect of your time, effort, and expense. Happily, the change is instantaneous.

Look Outside

Trim back or relocate trees, bushes, ivy, and other landscaping that’s blocking the sunlight from reaching your windows. Paint the underside of your house eaves with a white, glossy, or even lightly metallic finish to send more natural light into your home.