We’ve all found ourselves in a dark place before. Stress, anxiety, grief, and depression are just a few of the culprits that can make life seem a bit dimmer temporarily. While we can’t always control these feelings and the things that cause them to occur, we can adjust the world around us to be more of a day-brightener. We don’t have to physically be in a dark space all the time, and taking actions to brighten up our home can go a long way in creating a more positive life. The best part? It’s fairly easy to accomplish - even if your room doesn’t have windows or they face a shadier direction! Here are a few simple tricks to keep in mind to brighten up your room.
Color
One of the best places to start when it comes to brightening a room is color. Lighter colors can change the feel of your room. White is a popular option that many people choose - but there are still dozens of shades to choose from! Really bright colors such as orange that may not work in every space often look great in darker settings - and bring more personality to your dark room.
Light-Reflecting
You may have limited lightning in your room, but you have many great light-reflecting resources to extend the brightness of your home. The floor is one great opportunity to do so. Light rugs and wood paneling go a long way in extending the reach of light in your room. There is also brightening wallpaper, which uses a metallic finish over a pale background to magnify the precious lighting you do have on hand. Well-place mirrors are another easy and fashionable addition to make your home brighter.
Layout
The way your organize your room can make it feel darker or lighter depending on the actions you take. Creating a spacious atmosphere by not putting furniture too close to each other is one way to do so. If you do have windows (even if they face a direction that doesn’t bring in much natural light), make sure that you aren’t blocking the sun with larger furniture.
Lighting
While this probably isn’t a shocker, how you set up the lighting in your room goes a long way for a brighter experience. There are three areas to focus in: ambient, accent, and task. Your ambient lighting is going to be the more general overhead light source usually, with the other two light sources combining to ensure a bright and pleasant experience is created. The type of light bulb you use also goes a long way in creating a more appealing living space.
Cover image from Curtis Adams
