With spring in the air many people are looking to incorporate some of that bright spring sunshine into their living space. Lightening up a dark living room doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive! Just mix and match some of these beginner and advanced tips to brighten up your existing living room without overspending!
1, Choose light or transparent furniture
It’s surely no surprise that filling up a room with only dark furniture will cause it to look dim. When trying to brighten up a room it’s important to incorporate some furniture that’s light in tone or even transparent. Many people are scared of white or lighter colored furniture since it’s easier to stain, but light-colored furniture is a necessary evil when trying to brighten a room and the pay-off is worth it!
One easy change is to choose a coffee table made of glass or another transparent material. A transparent coffee table will allow light to flow through it and instantly brighten up any room. If you need a little inspiration, check out Overstock! Not only do they have a fabulous style guide, but with this great Overstock promotional code you can even score your new furniture at an unbeatable price!
2, Limit dark colors to accent pieces
When trying to lighten up your living room you might be tempted to go all out on bright colors. But every room needs a bit of play between dark and light colors to add warmth and depth. Introducing a few dark, or even black pieces, to a room will make the existing area around them look brighter. If you have a light-colored couch, throw on some darker colored pillows. If your walls are already white, try some paintings or art work with some deeper color tones.
3, Embrace white walls
Nothing will brighten up a space more than white walls. If you’re not ready to commit entirely to white, consider painting only the ceiling white. A white ceiling will give the illusion of a large room even in a small space.
It’s not as easy as just grabbing any old white though. In fact, most people that don’t like white walls actually have a problem with the subtle undertones found in almost any white color, according to Laura McGarity, interior designer and assistant professor at the University of Louisville.
To help choose the proper white tone, McGarity suggests figuring out the leading color in your space, like the blue from your couch, and then choosing a complementary white color based on that color. To find it, just head to your local paint store and find the paint swatch that contains your blue. The complementary white will be at the top of the paint swatch!
4, Use mirrors strategically
Mirrors are your best friend when trying to lighten up your living room. In fact, mirrors reflect so much light it’s practically like adding another window to your space! By strategically placing a mirror across from a window, you can instantly double the amount of light in any room. Mirrors reflect light and bounce it around the room making it appear brighter. Large mirrors provide an added bonus as well – they actually make the room look bigger!
5, Lighten up dark floors
Dark wood floors have become a contemporary design staple for many homes but they can cause a room to look dark, especially in small spaces. If you need to lighten up a space, it’s best to choose light-wood floors to help reflect natural light. Of course, completely redoing your living floors isn’t feasible for many people. One quick fix is to choose a light-colored area rug to cover up some of your preexisting dark floors. Be sure to choose a rug that has white or light-colored tones to help reflect light. It doesn’t hurt that lighter colors help hide dirt as well!
6. Maximize light
Proper lighting is about more than just design, it can actually affect your mood and physical well being. It’s so important in fact that having the correct amount of visible light can actually help reduce symptoms of depression! A floor lamp is an easy way to add an extra light source to any room. You can even shop for a floor lamp that has a cool industrial or architectural design to add a bit of flair to your living room.
Major renovations can be costly, time-consuming and never-ending! By incorporating some or all of these great tips into your living room you can brighten it up without any expensive renovations!
