Size, obstructions, and lack of windows can make a room feel dark, gloomy, and uninviting. To compensate, structural changes are not always an option. So aside from illuminating every corner, can you make a room feel lighter and brighter? With a few simple techniques, accessories, and paint, you bet you can!

Lighten up the ceiling. If the ceiling is painted anything but crisp white, or it has dark wood beams, the room can feel smaller and darker. Painting it a fresh white will instantly brighten things up.

Stick to light, monochromatic colors. Dark hues can make a room feel overwhelming and closed in, especially if it lacks natural light. Instead, save the saturated colors to accents and keep wall color and furnishings light.

Let the light in. No matter how many windows a room has, dark, heavy window coverings will make it feel dim. Avoid blocking natural light; instead, choose opaque window coverings that add privacy and still let the light in.  

Scale back the furniture. Large, dark, and heavy furniture can overwhelm even the largest of spaces. If your goal is to brighten things up, choose lighter tones and smaller scale pieces.

Lighten the flooring. If replacing dark tile or hardwood flooring isn’t an option, lighten things up with a cheerful-looking area rug.  

Be smart with lighting. Layer in ambient lighting and position lamps and fixtures so they shine onto other surfaces.

Up the lumens. Swap out traditional lightbulbs for energy-efficient LEDs with higher lumens for a higher light output from lamps and fixtures.

Bounce light around. Place a mirror across a window or other light source to reflect light and make the space feel bigger and brighter. And, just like furniture pieces, slimmer framed mirrors will remove some of the bulk of more ornate-styled frames.  

Check your “stuff”. Overloaded bookshelves, countless decorative accessories, and dark, overwhelming wall art crowds a room and makes it feel smaller. Pare back on the “stuff” to reveal a little empty space. 

Add a glass door. If possible, swap out the solid door for glass to increase light from an adjacent room or outdoors. Add a light roman shade for privacy when needed.

No matter which room in your home could benefit from a fresh, new lighting scheme, Excel Electric can design and install exactly what the room needs, and you want. We’ll give you options to weigh and a guaranteed price quote before starting the job. Call us today for a free lighting proposal.