There are a lot of homes in the UK that suffer from having unloved and even potentially unused rooms all because they are too dark. This is often the case in inner city terraces where back bedrooms and dining rooms can feel closed in and unwelcoming. Thankfully there are a few simple things that you can do to help transform these rooms and turn them into an enjoyable place to be.

All of these ideas are simple and won’t cost the world so use the steps below to help bring the light into your dark spaces today.

Decorating

Unsurprisingly one of the first steps to help brighten up a room is to decorate the space using light and airy colours. It really is amazing the effect that a lick of paint can have on helping to brighten up a room and make it more inviting. You don’t have to stick with white, as subtle pastel colours also work well and can help transform a room and give it a new lease of life. Natural colours with a hint of colour also work well to make a room feel lighter.

Soft furnishings

Next on the list are your soft furnishings and these can include everything from cushions and throws to curtains and carpets. And while a white carpet might not be the ideal choice for everyone, simply choosing curtains that are plain rather than patterned can really help to brighten a room. Tiebacks also help to maximise natural light from windows helping to brighten up your room.

Furniture

Dark wood furniture may look great but when used in a small or dark room it can be overpowering and make the room feel darker than it is. One simple solution is to grab a tin of paint and use bright colours to inject some colour into your furniture. From dining tables and chairs to kitchen units and beds, it’s amazing what a lick of paint can do to help brighten your room.

Painting furniture can also help to give it a new lease of life and it is far cheaper to paint dark wood kitchen units then to have them replaced.

Lights

Instantly add brightness to a room with the introduction of well-placed lighting. Quick and easy solutions include freestanding lamps, uplighters and desk lamps which can be placed in dark corners of a room to really improve a dark area. The recent surge in popularity of LED lighting means you can get some great solutions that won’t cost the earth to run.

Alternatives to electric lighting include sun pipes which are perfect for rooms with no windows as they capture daylight and send it down a pipe increasing the intensity of the light.

Flooring

Your flooring can play a big part in the darkness of a room, changing floor coverings may not be an option but if you have a bare wood floor then you may want to consider painting your floorboards white to help them reflect light. Also a simple change such as using gloss varnish can make your floors brighter than a standard satin or matt finish.

Windows and doors

For loft rooms and extensions one of the best ways to make your room brighter is with the addition of a roof light. These have the advantage of being able to be opened to let in air as well as helping you get more natural daylight. Where this isn’t an option painting window and doors a light colour can help to make the room seem brighter.

Reflected light is another way to brighten up a ground floor room that overlooks a fence, shed or wall. Simply painting the fence or wall a bright colour will help reflect light into the room and bring a dash of colour.

We hope you’ve enjoyed these tips and we’ll have more great painting and decorating tips for you to enjoy next month.