Here are 10 ideas, of varying scales, to consider on your mission to make the most of your dark living room.
Bring the outside in
Enlarging the window, no matter what its orientation, will maximise the amount of light that enters the room. From the most dramatic solution of replacing the wall with full-length glazed doors, to easier tricks, such as lowering the height of the windowsill, increasing the area of glass will enhance the flow of both light and space in the room.
The materials and colours you choose for your outside space can also play a significant part in your mission to increase light in your living space. For instance, the white furniture and fencing and the tall mirror in this courtyard garden all help to boost the light.
Borrow light
Avoid the dreaded “inner room” when adding a rear extension by emphatically linking the existing back room with the new. Roof lights in the extension can bounce light directly back into the space, creating a sociable area with muted but pleasant light.
Glazed double doors to the front room would boost the effect, allowing the middle room to borrow light from two sides.
Keep it simple
Choose simple pieces of furniture to keep the room light in both look and feel. Space and light are inextricably linked: the better each flows, the more airy the room will seem.
Open up from above
In the case of a top-floor space or a room in a single-storey property, strategically placed roof windows will bring in good-quality light and, hopefully, plenty of sunshine.
Dress your windows with care
Keep window frames and window dressings light to ensure maximum quantities of light enter the room at source. Roller blinds offer a simple and effective window covering solution for any dark room: use pull-up blinds for privacy if needed.
When adding curtains for texture or warmth, position the tracks so the curtains sit fully clear of the window when drawn back.
Max out on white
For the most seriously light-challenged room, the more white you can add – to all surfaces and finishes – the better. Choose wall colours from the array of warm, off-white paint shades available to keep it cosy (cool or brilliant white can make a dark space feel dingier).
Consider the room a light-reflecting blank canvas: add colour to taste with cushions, rugs and accessories.
Sacrifice a solid wall
Where space and light are limited, combining adjacent spaces, such as a front living room and entrance hall, can yield dramatic results. A more low-key solution is to swap the solid door between the hall and living room for a clear or frosted glass one.
Come to an arrangement
The way in which you arrange furniture in a room is key to optimising the flow of light and space. Try to position large pieces away from the window so light isn’t blocked. Even if the furniture wouldn’t obstruct any part of the window, by sitting it underneath your main light source, it will generally be in shadow, and the effect of this – especially with major pieces of furniture – is not insignificant.
Accessorise reflectively
Choose pieces that will shine out. A single white cushion on a dark sofa in a dark room, for instance, will reflect light, so maximise this effect with pale and light-reflecting pieces. Cushions, rugs, throws, art and furniture can all be essential elements in your battle to brighten your living room.
Polish up
Polished surfaces also reflect light brilliantly. An oversized mirror will work hard in a dark room, amplifying the sense of both space and light, but other shiny surfaces, such as a glossy coffee table, will also help. And polished windows are a must!
Source: Houzz
