Many homeowners are often searching for a way to brighten a room in their home, but sometimes you want to do just the opposite. Maybe you are going for a different vibe in that room that requires it to be a little darker, or maybe you are having trouble sleeping because the room is too bright. Whatever the reason, there are a few simple methods you can try to darken any room that won’t break your budget.
Change the Bulbs
The first thing you can try is changing the bulbs in that room. Bulbs are given a wattage rating, with brighter bulbs having higher wattages. A very simple solution is to grab a bulb that is a lower wattage and install it either in your lamps or overhead lights. If you’re not sure what wattage to get, try grabbing a few different kinds and test them out, or use this guide. You can also get bulbs of different colors if you want to give the room an entirely different look.
Add a Dimmer Switch
Another solution is to install a dimmer switch in that room. A dimmer switch replaces your regular light switch but allows you to dim the lights rather than turn them off completely. With a dimmer switch, you can have a soft light in your room, without it going completely dark. This is great for bedrooms in the evening when you want to wind down or in the kitchen around dinner time. Adding a dimmer switch isn’t too complicated, but it does require that you work with your home’s electricity. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re better off letting a professional handle this so that you don’t end up injuring yourself.
Change the Curtains or Blinds
Your windows play a big role in determining how much light there is in a room. If you want to make a room darker, you may need to replace your current curtains or blinds. You can start by simply going for a darker color. White blinds will let in more light than dark blue ones, even if they are both closed. You can also consider switching to a different material – thicker materials will block out more light. If you want to block out the most light possible, consider going with blackout curtains. These are great if you need a dark room during the day, or if there is a bright light outside your window at night.
Repaint the Room
Your room’s color will also play a role in how bright or dark it seems. Brighter colors reflect more light, making the room seem brighter. Therefore, if you want the room to be darker, you should paint it a darker color. You can go with a darker shade of your current color, or choose something completely different. Painting the room is something that takes a decent amount of time, but it’s relatively affordable. If it’s been a while since you’ve painted the room, this can be a great way to not only give it a fresh look but make it darker at the same time.
Change the Décor
The decorations you have in your room are also afactor. For example, if your room has a large mirror on the wall, this will reflect more light. Or if you have bookcases and desks that are painted white, this will make the room seem brighter. Changing the décor may not make a huge difference in the end, but they certainly add to the mood of a room. If you dim the lights and paint the walls a darker color, but keep all the décor lighter, it will negate some of their effects. Consider swapping out some of your pieces for darker ones and see if it makes a difference.
Remove Electronics
Finally, you should look at removing some electronics from your room. Things like digital clocks, TV screens, and computers can all give off a small amount of light, even if they are off. A small amount of light is very noticeable when you are trying to have the room completely dark, so even a small dresser alarm clock will make a difference. Consider switching to models that don’t emit as much light, or cover up the light with a piece of tape. Electronic lights are one of the leading causes of poor sleep, so look to remove this from your bedroom especially if you can.
Decide How Dark You Want to Go
The options above will all help your room darker, but you’ll have to decide how dark you want to go. If you just want to dim things a little, you likely don’t need to add in blackout curtains or repaint the walls. On the other hand, if you want it as dark as possible, you’ll need to make more drastic changes. Think about what it is you’re after, then go through the options above to see which steps work best for you.
