While a low-lit room can feel cosier in the winter months, dark décor combined with a lack of natural light can make you feel a little hemmed in.
Elevating your space with clever brightening techniques can help your home feel more welcoming and lift your mood.
Opt for light homeware
Soft furnishings, such as bedding, cushions, and curtains, in heavy and thick materials, can leave the room feeling lethargic.
Instead, opt for light and airy fabrics in your curtains to create a refreshing flow. Invite the outside in by styling your window with sheer curtains. The voile or chiffon drapery allows light to shine through the fabric and create a glistening effect in your room.
Combine sheet curtains with sturdier drapes to create a layered look. The heavier curtains can be drawn in the evening time to allow you to retain privacy. Use coloured curtains to add a sense of playfulness and character to the room.
Strategically place your mirrors
Mirrors are great for making the room feel bigger, but they can also be used to make the space feel brighter as well. In rooms with windows, hang mirrors opposite the light source so they can reflect the light and open up the room.
Adding mirrors to corners or nooks with no natural light creates the illusion of having a window in the space, making smaller areas feel less claustrophobic.
Positioning accessories such as vases of flowers opposite where the mirror is placed is a good way to satisfy the eye with teases of colour.
Place focus on colour and finish
Using neutral tones and lighter colours in your home furnishings helps brighten your space. Think biscuit beiges and classic whites for your colour and focus on smooth wood and panelling for your finishes.
In the bedroom, streamline your furniture by using fitted wardrobes with a gloss finish to make the most of the space available. Gloss paint, like a mirror, reflects light whereas matt paint absorbs it.
Balance out the neutral colours with colourful soft furnishings or go bold with a patterned feature wall to create a theatrical focal point.
Play with accents of colour
Bright doesn’t have to mean white. Playing with accents of colours instantly brightens up your home but try to opt for timeless designs.
If you are going to paint or wallpaper entire walls go for classic colourways such as light grey, mint green, or taupe. You can play with bolder colours by incorporating them in your accessories.
Smaller items like plant pots and pictures add shade and texture into the room. Whereas larger items like headboards and chairs allow you to add your personality by enhancing the space with fun splashes of patten and colour.
