---
title: "10 Classic Ways to Brighten a Dark Room"
date: "2014-11-07"
modified: "2020-11-19"
authors:
  - name: "Jennifer Noonan"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/jennifer-noonan/"
url: "https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/10-classic-ways-to-brighten-a-dark-room-48160/"
categories:
  - "Home Safety"
  - "Interior"
  - "Lighting & Electrical"
  - "Paints & Finishes"
tags:
  - "clips"
  - "decor"
  - "lighting"
  - "paint"
  - "remodeling"
  - "windows"
---

# 10 Classic Ways to Brighten a Dark Room

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/brighten_-_cover.jpg>)

### Lighten & Brighten

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/6827cc768066124a6df5ed1a2bbc55e5.jpg>)
*shutterstock.com&#160;*

A dark room can feel drab and uninviting. Use a few [simple techniques](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-paint-colors-for-low-light-rooms/>), and paint, fixtures, and accessories, to brighten a dim space and bring it fresh charm.

### Paint the Ceiling White

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/0e3c8fad8ef97c45bb90b281d67f4af9.jpg>)
*Zillow Digs home in Cupertino, CA*

A dark [ceiling](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/ceiling-paint-color-trends/>) can loom above a room and make it feel small. To immediately brighten the space, give the ceiling a fresh coat of white paint. Heavy wooden beams can darken a room. Paint them as well, and they’ll all but disappear.

### Limit Dark Colors to Accents

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/76524cb71fc087363e37e596d5dd0563.jpg>)
*Zillow Digs home in Studio City, CA*

Color is a wonderful design tool. But too much of a dark hue can make a room feel closed in. If your room suffers from darkness, limit saturated colors to a single wall, or [accents](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/accent-wall-colors/>), and paint the other walls something light and bright.

### Lighten Your Window Treatments

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/d525e904ac9abc15faa1730d239ffbf2.jpg>)
*shutterstock.com&#160;*

Make the most of the natural light that you have. Avoid heavy draperies and [window treatments](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-dress-a-window-without-curtains/>) that block natural light. Instead, choose minimal options, like blinds and roman shades that don't take up space on your wall. An opaque treatment will give you privacy while still letting light into the room.

### Minimize Furniture

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/e50b4a222c20feab9ddf8baa5439f6eb.jpg>)
*shutterstock.com*

Heavy, cumbersome furniture overwhelms a room, making it feel dark. Swap overstuffed and clunky pieces for those with smooth, sleek lines and light legs. Solid, lighter colors instead of bold, dark prints, also keep the room feeling light.

### Lighten Dark Floors

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/ba9dbd779540b808be4e6a8216cd05af.jpg>)
*Zillow Digs home in Sacramento, CA*

Lighten up what’s underfoot. If you can’t [refinish](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-refinish-hardwood-floors/>) or replace a dark floor, cover it with a light-toned area rug, and you’ll bring instant brightness to the area.

### Diffuse Lighting

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/00d82a969e1f07641e895b67d36b1c27.jpg>)
*shutterstock.com&#160;*

Use walls and ceilings as reflectors to help maximize your light. Place [lamps](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/home-office-lighting-tips/>) and light fixtures so that they shine onto other surfaces, and up the ambient light in the room.

### Use Brighter Lightbulbs

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/f2d5b7f52eebe6452bdfda1c47df09c6.jpg>)
*shutterstock.com&#160;*

Lumens, not watts, is the unit of measure that counts. Swap your [light bulbs](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/types-of-light-bulbs/>) for some with higher lumens, and you’ll up the intensity of light in the room. CFLs and LEDs give you a higher light output for the amount of energy they consume, so you can be more energy efficient at the same time.

### Add a Mirror

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/af7b61f2ea7cddb558005a33705f9f02.jpg>)
*Zillow Digs home in Sacramento, CA*

Strategically place a [mirror](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/decorating-with-mirrors/>) or two in a dark room, and it will reflect light, making it feel brighter—and bigger. Large mirrors with slimmer frames are best because they bring in light while feeling less clunky and intrusive.

### Lighten Up on Accessories and Art

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bda461b4ad82c73e45b24aff279b1bc5.jpg>)
*Zillow Digs home in Katy, TX*

Take a look at all your “stuff.” Too much junk crowds a room and makes it feel dark and small. Reduce it all. [Minimize books](<https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/dos-and-don-ts-of-arranging-a-bookshelf-47771/>) and tchotchkes, and keep art and accessories that are bright and light with clean lines.

### Swap In a Glass Door

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/85c00a2f8d01bdda47c38f505d730b14.jpg>)
*shutterstock.com&#160;*

If you can make more permanent changes to your space, swap a solid door out for a glass one. If it’s an [exterior door](<https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/10-welcoming-front-door-paint-colors-46830/>), it will increase the natural light in the room. If it’s an internal door, it will make the room feel more open and bright.

## Author
A confessed DIY junkie, Jennifer Noonan writes about home improvement, gardening, and all things do-it-yourself. The recipient of degrees in International Relations and Library & Information Science from Syracuse University, Noonan has worked in media and related fields for over 15 years, including her time at [MTV Networks](<https://www.paramount.com/about/brands/mtv>), where she served as Manager of Digital Programming at [Nickelodeon](<https://www.nickelodeon.com>). Today, Noonan lives in Delaware with her husband and daughters, where she is ardently teaching the next generation how to use power tools.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-noonan-ab62a05/>)