Dark houses can feel like caves, pulling down your mood and making you feel trapped indoors. It's most obvious right now in winter as all too often it’s pouring with rain and the sky is overcast, restricting the natural light.
I definitely know how depressing a dark house feels. My former home was of a reasonable size but the decades-old décor when we moved in made it feel claustrophic all year round; the living room and hallway floors were black slate and the rooms dark gray carpet; the walls were wallpapered in dark green and cream patterns and the forest green curtains were heavy and thick. (I know right?!) While there is nothing wrong with using dark paint or flooring in your house it’s important to consider design, layout and styling so you come home to a light and relaxing space.
Fortunately there are some easy style changes you can make right away and on a budget. Natural light is your first and best option; making the best use of your windows will make an immediate significant difference. Start by walking around your rooms and taking note of your window locations and placement.
ON A BUDGET
1. Remove obstructions to natural light
Where have you placed your furniture? Large items such as bookcases and cabinets should be placed against walls perpendicular to your windows to take advantage of daylight. Heavy curtains should be replaced with translucent shades or venetian blinds to let light in while still blocking heat in summer.
Use a light curtain
2. Use reflection
To make the best use of natural light think about adding mirrors on parallel walls to windows to reflect light around the room. Large mirrors can create the effect of an additional window in the space and there are a variety of design choices available such as venetian, sunburst or antique mirrors to suit your tastes. Not everyone is comfortable with mirrors though, which is fair enough – I don’t always want to be confronted with my ugly mug first thing in the morning. Instead you can use other reflective surfaces such as glass or mirrored coffee tables, metallic furniture or benchtops, and even decorative items like vases.
Use mirrors, ornaments and reflective decorations. Image from Home Adore
3. Light coloured décor
You don’t have to have everything in white to lighten a room – in fact this would be uber boring! If your room favours darker colours, balance it out with light coloured furniture (cream, tan, light blue), cushions, decorations or rugs. In a dark bedroom why not add light bedding and throw pillows. It’s all about balance!
From Remodelista
4. Clean and declutter
The more you have in a room the more light is obscured, the more shadows are cast and the more claustrophic it feels. Think about minimising your furniture and keeping decorative items to a few statement pieces. And keep it clean! Natural light is best utilised if surfaces and windows are cleaned, and besides, a room with laundry cleared away and tables tidied FEELS more open and light.
RENOVATING TIPS
Got more time and budget? Making changes to your home can make a huge difference to lightening your rooms and increase the value of your property.
5. Add lighting
Adding skylights and tubular daylighting devices to your roof will add a soft glow of natural lighting to your rooms, and are particularly of value when you have limited windows. Obviously additional light fixtures in your ceiling help but also think about adding indirect lighting around cabinets, purchasing feature lamps and placing directional lighting towards dark corners. If you have a few dark corners in your kitchen, add some statement accent kitchen lighting and make it a feature.
6. Get painting
Lighter colours do make the room feel more open and reflect light. Refresh old and greyed white walls with a new layer of paint and consider lighter shades for your darker walls. Painting your ceiling a lighter shade than your walls will make the room seem to open up and give the illusion of more space. For painting and decorating help, check out our local specialists.
7. Think about flooring
As I said before, it’s all about balance. It’s fine to favour darker paint shades – they can make a room warm and cosy, for one - but think about complimenting it with lighter flooring choices such as light timber panels. Rip up and replace old, stained and dark carpet as this makes the room dank and confining. Talk to your local flooring services about options.
Use a light floor to balance the walls. Pic from madaboutthehouse.com
8. Make use of doors and increase windows
Windows are absolutely crucial, so make sure you have factored them in sufficiently to any new home build. Limiting them, for instance only having a small window over the kitchen sink, will have an instant ‘cave’ effect. When you’re planning your build or renovation, remember even in rooms that need privacy (bathroom, bedroom) you can place them high and install etched, frosted or reeded glass.
Glass doors make the room seem larger
Solid doors both internally and externally immediately block light from other rooms or outdoors. On your front door how about adding some glass panels? Frosted glass provides privacy while allowing for light. For internal spaces French doors or glass doors open up rooms and allow natural light to permeate throughout the house.
- Em from the Look Local WA team
