Humans feel better and happier in a brightly lit space, so don’t let your dark rooms ruin your mood. There are ways to light up even the darkest of spaces using lighting fixtures, natural light and some smart decor. Here’s how you can bring light to your home and make it cosy and comfy.

Go with mirrors

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This is something interior designers employ quite often, especially if they want to add some extra light to a smaller dark space. They opt for putting up mirrors opposite the window to reflect natural light all over the room. If placing a mirror right in front of your window isn’t possible, you can place them over your mantel, over furniture or against bookshelves. They will catch the light and make your rooms seem bigger at the same time.

Take a look at your ceiling

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Every interior designer knows that white ceilings make the room seem higher, especially if you choose the right shade of white. If you want to brighten up a dark room, make sure to pick the clear, bright white, and stay away from ivory, cream and off-white. A true white is the way to go since it will best reflect the light and give an airy feeling to a dark room.

Be careful with wall colours

Just like with the ceiling, you must be careful with your wall colour as well. You might want to paint your room your favourite colour that’s rich and deep, but try to resist the temptation. It’s best if you save those bold colours for accent walls or trims because if you have a small and dark room, these bold colours will make it look even darker. However, feel free to add some colour to your space with smaller accent walls and opt for lighter colours for the remaining space. If you’re unsure about which colours to pick, you can give wallpapers a shot. They come in all shades and patterns and they are super easy to replace if you don’t like them.

Install good lighting

If your home has dark or wood panelled ceilings, it’s not ideal, but don’t despair. You can install recessed lighting that will break the cave-effect dark ceilings tend to create and brighten up your room without standing out too much. If you want better control over the lighting levels, install dimmers which will allow you to adjust your lighting according to your needs. If possible, try to improve the natural light in your home. It can have a very positive effect on your mood and your perception of space. So, install unique skylights and glass doors that will bring some extra natural light into your home and keep the light flowing from room to room.

Rethink your window treatment

Every well-thought-out space has to have some kind of window treatment, but if you want to take advantage of as much natural light as you can, you should get rid of your heavy and dark drapes. Instead, opt for light and airy cotton curtains that will let the light inside. You can also opt for Venetian blinds or Roman shades.

Bring light to your closet

Most people struggle with lighting up the darkest room in their home – their closet, and often leave it dark and neglected. However, there are so many easy and practical ways you can light this small and dark space. For instance, invest in recessed lighting and a few hanging pendants as general lighting, but also install lighting to your hanging rods. This way, you’ll always get to find everything you need and put together an amazing outfit.

You don’t have to put up with living in a dark space your whole life. You don’t even have to spend a bunch of money on a full remodel of your home. You just need to introduce these tricks and your dark rooms will come to life and be bathed in light.