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September 4, 2020  ·  3 min read

5 Tips To Brighten Up A Dark Bedroom

Home Blog 5 Tips To Brighten Up A Dark Bedroom

Dark bedrooms are optimal for a great night’s rest. We get deeper, uninterrupted sleep and in turn feel more rested come morning. But when your bedroom is also dark day in day out, your place of comfort and relaxation can seem a bit dreary. It can feel like you’re living in a stuffy cave. Figuring out how to change this can be quite a challenge since most causes like having too few windows or windows shaded by structures can’t easily be fixed without renovations. And as we know, these can be quite expensive and inconvenient.

Fortunately, there is a way to transform your little batcave. With a few tricks, you can get rid of that extra bedroom gloom you don’t need.

The cozy room features warm lighting and casual decor.

Opt for Sheer Window Coverings

Your bedroom is already as dark as it is without you having to shut out any sliver of natural light that might otherwise bless your room with a little brightness. That’s why there’s no place for any heavy draperies or window coverings in any dim bedroom. Opt for sheer draperies instead. Layer them with a blind to be lowered for privacy. It’s better to stick with lighter drapery colors as well to provide a little more contrast to the room.

Choose the Right Wall Color

If you want to repaint to hopefully make your room a little brighter, your mind might immediately fly to whites and light neutrals. After all, we were told that white and light colors help make a room seem bigger and brighter. It’s true but it only works in a room with enough light for the colors to reflect. In dim rooms, the colors won’t have enough light to bounce around. They’ll look gray and defeat your purpose of using them in the first place.

A stylish living room with a couch, coffee table, and a floor-to-ceiling window offering a view of the city skyline.

Instead of those, try out more richly saturated mid-tone colors. Deeper colors and hues absorb shadows and don’t rely on reflected light to look amazing. These add color and warmth to your bedroom and create a relaxing atmosphere. Some great choices include cool, deep hues of blue, gray, and green. Incorporating these colors can also enhance the overall aesthetic of your space, making it feel more cohesive. Additionally, if you want to create a sophisticated look, consider monochrome room design tips that focus on various shades of a single color family. This approach can unify the elements in your bedroom while still maintaining a rich and inviting atmosphere.

Bring in Your Own Light

Instead of breaking down your walls for another or a bigger window, one of the best things you can do to brighten your room is to bring in your own light. You can even create a warmer and more relaxing atmosphere with a few good ambient light sources. But remember, one won’t be enough. Just one lamp would create long shadows that would leave most of your room still dark and make it a tad creepy. Two or three light sources is ideal. And instead of focusing your light in one corner of the room, aim it at the walls or ceiling. This will illuminate the room a lot better and make it seem a lot more spacious and cozy.

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Add a Mirror to the Decor

There’s a reason people love mirrors. It’s not only for checking yourself out but also for reflecting whatever light there is in a room. No matter how dim a room, a good-sized mirror can help brighten it a little bit even with the tiniest bit of light. If you have one, hang it across your window for it to get the most natural light to bounce around.

Add Contrast with Accessories and Bedding

Creating contrast helps greatly in brightening up a room. It also keeps things way more interesting. If you’ve painted your walls with mid-tone colors, opt for furniture with a medium finish. Then, choose a brighter or lighter color for your beddings and accessories. This will pull together everything and also keep your stuff from blending in and disappearing in the dark.

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