11 easy ways to quickly brighten your home, Building Design Tips, Online Advice
11 Easy Ways to Quickly Brighten Your Home
12 Apr 2021
It’s common knowledge that the level of light you are exposed to affects your emotional and mental state. For instance, most people feel gloomy if it has been overcast and rainy for days on end without a hint of sunshine. Research shows bright rooms with high levels of light, especially natural light, can inspire, motivate, and make you feel more optimistic. On the other hand, dim rooms with low levels of light can exacerbate negative emotions such as anxiety or depression.
Well, illuminated living spaces feel clean, energizing, and refreshing! Whether you have just bought a new home in need of updating or ready to renovate your current home, we’ve got 11 easy tips that will help brighten your home in no time!
1. Conduct a Thorough Deep Clean
You may be surprised to find cleaning as a tip to brighten your home, but it will offer instant gratification. Scuff marks, handprints, dirt, and dust on the walls and furniture make your home look dirty and dingy. Here’s what your deep clean should include:
- Wipe down the walls
- Remove dust and dirt from baseboard moulding
- Mop hardwood, laminate, and tile
- Use a carpet cleaner to deep clean the carpet and area rugs in your home
- Dust and wipe down all furniture with approved cleaning products (do your best to remove stains from sofas and chairs)
- Clean the inside and outside of all your home’s windows
2. Remove Unnecessary Clutter
A bunch of furniture and décor crammed into one space will make it feel smaller and darker than it has to be. Remove unnecessary items in your home. In this case, less is more!
3. Repaint with Light Colours
The fastest way to brighten a room is to repaint the walls a light colour. White is a good option that will make your home feel fresh. However, understandably, you may not want your entire home white. That’s okay! You have other colours to choose from. Light beiges, blues, and even greys can do the trick too.
4. Opt for Lighter Window Treatments
No matter what colour they are, heavy window treatments block natural light and make a room feel darker than it needs to. Sheer, light-coloured curtains will let in more natural light. Not to mention, the lighter fabric will make the room feel lighter and breezier.
5. Rethink Your Furniture
Furniture plays a pivotal role in how bright and airy your home feels. Here’s what you should take into consideration.
Choose Lighter Colours
There is a definite attraction to darker furniture. It doesn’t show wear as fast and hides stains better, which is a huge plus if you have small children or pets. However, if you plan on replacing your furniture, lighter colours will significantly brighten your home. As with the wall colours, you do not have to get white, but light greys and cream colours are excellent choices to brighten a space. If you do not wish to invest in new furniture at this time, you can purchase covers in a lighter colour or accessorize darker furniture with softer coloured throw pillows or blankets. If you’re brave, you can even refinish existing furniture in a lighter colour!
Consider Size
The size of the furniture should be in proportion with the room. Furniture that is too large for a room will dwarf it, making it feel small, dark, and cramped. The same thing can happen if you stuff too many pieces of furniture into one space. When purchasing furniture, consider the size of the space it will go in. For instance, sleek, minimalist designs are excellent when space is a premium. Instrument’s full line of wardrobes and bedroom sets perfect for small rooms, big rooms, and everything in between. Choosing the appropriate size pieces of furniture will make your home brighter and more open.
Bonus Tip: Investing in furniture that is lower to the ground will give the illusion of a larger and lighter space because over half of your room will essentially be empty! This is a handy tip to keep in your back pocket when decorating any room in your home.
Arrangement Matters
Believe it or not, where you place the furniture in each room matters and affects how much natural light can get in. The first rule is to avoid directly blocking windows with tall pieces of furniture such as chest of drawers or headboards. The second rule is to be cautious about placing large items right beside windows. If the piece is too tall, it blocks light from going in that direction and lighting the room past the furniture piece. As long as the object is lower than the window, it should not cause an issue. Do your best to leave ample space around all windows so that the natural light can illuminate your home in all directions, brightening your home considerably.
6. Supplement with Artificial Lighting
Harnessing as much natural light as possible is the first priority, but you can’t rely on just natural light to fully illuminate your space. If it’s rainy, overcast, or nighttime, you will need to supplement with artificial lighting. Lamps, recessed lighting, ceiling fans with lights, and light bars, are all excellent options. Here’s what you should take into consideration when choosing artificial lighting.
Choose Light Coloured Lamp Shades
Darker coloured lamp shades will not only make the entire room feel darker but block some of the light from coming into the room. On the other hand, lighter coloured shades will brighten the space and allow the lamp’s light to reach a larger area.
Swap Out Light Bulbs
Changing the kind of light bulbs you use can instantly brighten your home. Avoid dim bulbs that give off a yellow glow. Instead, choose bright white LED bulbs that produce a crisp, clean light.
7. Mirrors, Mirrors Everywhere!
You may think of mirrors as only belonging in the bedroom or bathroom but think again! Mirrors allow you to make the most of your natural light by bouncing light around the space. Strategically placed mirrors can make even rooms with little natural sunlight feel much brighter.
Bonus Tip: Metallic décor can work in the same way. Adding metallic elements to your home allows the natural light to bounce off and light up even the darkest spaces. The best part is you are not limited to wall décor. Tables, vases, or even pots can do the trick!
8. Correctly Frame Artwork
This is a minor detail that can make a huge difference. If you have a photo gallery or even a few photos clustered together in a small space, it can look dark and cramped. The way to fix this to leave a decent amount of white matting around the artwork. This will brighten up your space and make it feel less crowded.
9. Use an Accent Rug
If your home has dark laminate or hardwood floors and you do not wish to replace perfectly good flooring, you can opt for a lighter coloured accent rug. You can pick a rug that contains the colours of the existing décor and furniture in the space with a white, beige, or light grey background. This will not only provide the room with character but brighten the area at the same time. You can even add a pop of colour with yellow, teal, or even pastels. Just make sure it will not clash with your existing décor.
10. Decorate with Plants
It is well-known that plants can have a positive effect on your emotional and mental state. This is why you find either natural or artificial plants in offices. A little greenery sprinkled throughout your home will help brighten your space. If you opt for natural, many varieties make great indoor plants, including, birds of paradise and dracaena are great options. If caring for plants doesn’t appeal to you, no worries! Faux plants will have the same effect!
11. Sometimes Negatives are a Positive
Resist the urge to fill every empty space. Negative space is a good thing and will help brighten your home. An open space feels bigger and often is better illuminated. Not to mention it is visually appealing to have a break between displays.
Final Thoughts
The good news is that brightening your home does not have to break the bank. In fact, many of the tips above will not cost you anything but your time. You will be amazed at how the addition of natural and artificial light and lighter-coloured décor will transform your home into a place you never want to leave!
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