How to Brighten a Dark Room in 10 Creative Ways

Figuring out how you can brighten a dark and gloomy room is always a challenge when moving into a new space. This is especially true if your new place is void of large windows to allow natural sunlight in. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to decorate your home or office to transform it into a brighter abode.

Finding the perfect level of lighting can be challenging but fun. It is also fundamental to almost every interior design style out there. Here are some awesome ideas to brighten any dark bedroom, kitchen or living room.

Editor’s note: this blog post has been updated in 2023 to reflect new trends in brightening a room. Originally, there were 8 tips, but now there are 10!

1. Place mirrors near light sources

It’s an age old advice to use mirrors to expand visual space and brighten a dark room. However, to use your mirrors to its fullest potential, make sure to strategically place it near a light source. For example, a giant wall or floor mirror near a window can really amplify natural lighting. The reflection of the landscape from the window off of your mirror adds a lot of bounce lighting while acting as a pseudo-artwork. Moreover, it expands the visual feel of the space, which is perfect for small apartments. Placing table lamps or a floor lamp next to a mirror can also have a similar effect. For the best result, make sure that the lamp emits ambient lighting (as opposed to too much specular lighting) so it’s not too bright when reflected off the mirror.

2. Fairy lights, candles, and other ambient light sources

If you’re looking to add just a touch more light without overdoing the luminosity of your room, you should try to decorate with some long fairy light strings, a group of large candles, orb lights, or other ambient lights. Not only will they offer just the right touch of luminosity, but also add tremendous charm and therapeutic feel. So long as they have a warm, yellow light, they will be perfect for your home. They create an intimate, hygge-like atmosphere that can effortlessly make even the most rugged industrial decor feel chic. Unlike mirrors which can brighten a room only when the sun is out (unless you place the mirror near a lamp source), candles and fairy lights can be turned on whenever. With regards to fairy lights, be aware that it may change the color tone of your room to a slight amber/yellow, so only install if that’s okay.

3. Pick lighter color or transparent furniture

We usually choose our sofas, chairs and tables based on our personal style and what we think goes best together. That said, always consider how your furniture decisions impact the lighting level of your home. A small, dim room? A large, gray or navy sofa is probably not the best idea! A stylish, compact sofa in a lighter color like white, beige, or ivory will make your room look and feel a lot bigger and more spacious. In dark and crammed spaces, avoid dark wood tables, bed frames or TV stands. Instead, consider something like a transparent acrylic coffee table or some other lighter-toned furniture piece. You can still use patterned textiles such as rugs, throw pillows, sofa fabric, and wallpapers – just make sure they’re not too busy.

4. Cover floors with large, bright area rug

Brighten your room by treating your bare floors to a lightly colored rug. Not only will this add some softness and texture to your floors, but it will also make your floor glow. This is especially applicable if your dim space features dark floor boards. When selecting a color for your rug, you can opt for white/ivory, yellow, or some warmer hue combinations. Choosing a large as possible rug is a good idea, especially if your base floor color is dark. This is because a smaller rug, even a lighter-toned one, will really contrast off of the dark floor board and look visually busier.

5. Embrace white walls

Every decor guide you read probably mentions this, but it’s true – white really is the best solution to brighten a dark room. When I say the color white, any variant similar in tone can also work, such as light ivory and beige. White sends light bouncing around your space, reflecting back onto other surfaces and making the space look much bigger than it is.

Feel that white is just too boring? Consider adding ornamental trims on the ceilings for added texture, or paint one side with a refreshing color or apply a wallpaper for some diversity. Of course, along with the white walls, you can hang a giant mirror, tapestry, or some artwork to express yourself.

Of course, if you choose all white in your room, your room might look stale or too bright. This might be something you want to avoid in a bedroom, where you want to easily doze off to sleep. I made a comment in Redfin’s article on bedroom design ideas that you might want to try darker colors through wall paint, furniture, or art to add some color complexity and depth to your bedroom.

6. Deep clean your windows

This is such an obvious but oft-ignored tip. Like wearing glasses with smudges on it, a room with stained windows will feel dirty and limit visibility. Get a proper glass cleaning agent and wipe down your windows – inside and out. You will immediately enjoy the feeling of freshness that comes along with it, and be surprised by how much natural light your room was able to invite.

The most beautiful rooms are often bursting with natural light. Not only can this make the space seem even bigger than it is, it adds complex and dynamic ambience as the day gradually shifts from day to night. So take advantage of whatever windows you are provided, and make sure to deep clean them at least once a year.

7. Opt for light beige/gray curtains

Simplify your window treatments by opting for light curtains on both sides of your windows. You can choose either blackout curtains or light drapes – either way, just make sure the color is some shade of beige or light gray. For blackout curtains, a very light gray like IKEA’s MAJGULL is a great investment (no real blackout curtain will be truly ivory or beige).

8. Pick minimalist, low-to-ground furniture

Stuffing an already-dim room with oversized furniture will cast more shadows, leading to an even darker feeling room. It also creates more visual color higher up in your line of sight. To avoid this, make sure to buy minimalist furniture that lie low to the ground. Set a maximum height for your furniture and make sure that each piece falls below the set height. That means omitting that tall bookcase or wardrobe, no matter how nice it looks. To beautify vertical space, just opt for artwork and wall hangings that can lie flat against the wall.

Leave ample space between furniture pieces – the empty areas will offer itself up to lighting opportunities. This philosophy is core to mid-century modern design and is likely why the style became so popular – it plays so well with lighting!

9. Don’t overdo it with wall art

A common mistake amongst new designers is trying to do too much. This is especially true when it comes to decorative accessories like art. Even if you live in a mansion, as long as a room struggles with lighting, its walls should be as bare as possible so that all the light can be reflected. A single large dark wall art or a collection of photographs can really impede your efforts in brightening the space. For a dimly lit room, pick a maximum of 3 pieces out of either a wall mirror, light tapestry/wall hanging, or a lightly-toned wall art that sets the mood.

10. Aim your lights at the walls or ceiling

Instead of simply aiming your lights every which way, try illuminating the walls or ceiling. This is opposed to a bright light focused on a narrow area on the floor or a soft ambient light that offers minimal luminosity.

You can do this with a wall sconce or torchiere floor lamp. When you wash the walls/ceiling with light, you infuse every corner of the room with a warm glow, making it feel cosy yet spacious. If you plan to install pot lights into your ceiling, always add a few at the very edges so that you can elegantly cast light down the walls.

As you can see, learning how to brighten your dark room can be a challenge, but also fun and creative – you’re not just limited to adding mirrors and white paint to every surface! If you give any of these a try, we would love to see your photos and hear about your results. Join the conversation in the comment section below.