Let in the light!
It seems obvious: when a room lacks light, the best is still to invite him to enter by opening the space first… or by avoiding closing it!
The glass roof is now a classic option for letting light circulate. It is true that it adapts to different dimensions and configurations, since it replaces in particular the door or the partition, or is deposited as here on a half-partition.
The claustra is a smart alternative, especially when it comes to clearly separating two spaces – like the kitchen and the dining room – without preventing the light to circulate.
The main source of light is of course the window. To boost the brightness of a poorly exposed room, we therefore work on this key area. For that, we adopt 3 tips, not hesitating to combine them for maximum efficiency:
- Systematically paint the frame in white;
- Declutter the sills and the space in front of the window;
- Opt for curtains in light and clear sheers.
The trick is little known, and yet it is effective: the fact of laying the floorboards in the direction of entry of natural light does indeed boost the brightness!
The mirror remains the essential ally of too dark interiors. To let in the light, it is placed strategically, facing the window. Not only does this increase the natural light, but in addition, it will give depth to the room!
Choose the colors of your interior
To bring light into a room that is too dark, color is your best ally. Avoid muted colors, such as gray or taupe, which do not reflect light, as well as dark colors.
White is the ultimate luminous color. In a dark room, however, it is a matter of choosing it carefully. A shade with cold undertones, and it’s the chilling atmosphere guaranteed! We therefore put on a shade slightly warmed by a hint of warm color, such as yellow.
Pastel colors are the classic alternative to white, since they allow maximum brightness to be retained, while introducing a touch of color into a dark room.
Depending on your tastes and the style of decoration you like, it is permissible to use vibrant colors to bring a little originality to a dark room. The ideal is to play with the accessories and to proceed in small touches.
If the choice of colors is important in a dark room, the attention paid to the finishes is just as important. In the kitchen, we love the glossy or lacquered finish, which makes the light sparkle.
Very trendy, zellige-look tiles are distinguished by their exceptional shine. If it comes in an incredible palette of colors, we of course prefer it in a light shade to illuminate a dark room. This coating is a particularly smart choice in a windowless bathroom.
We lighten the furniture!
Furniture plays a decisive role in a dark room! To bring in the light, we are inspired by the current trend towards minimalism, limiting ourselves to a few elements, chosen with the greatest attention.
In addition to a reduced number of furniture, we of course favor light colors. In terms of small decor, we also show moderation. The good idea: use and abuse frames and glass trinkets!
To bring in the light, priority is given to furniture with an aerial design, like the iconic tulip table.
In a dark room, anything is good to circulate the light. We therefore choose as a priority low furniture, which is literally very small!
If you can’t do without certain large pieces of furniture, use tone-on-tone white to create a subtle trompe-l’oeil effect, and lighten the decor as much as possible.
In the bedroom or in the living room, we fall for the white carpet. Not only does it create a very cocooning atmosphere, but in addition, it effectively contributes to bringing light into a dark room!
Take care of the lighting
When natural light is thin – or even nonexistent, in the case of toilets, hallways or windowless bathrooms – there is only one solution left: work on the lighting!
Rule # 1 in a dark room: light it up in every nook and cranny! To achieve your effect, multiply the light points, varying the types of lighting. Recessed spots are very effective in producing functional lighting, while being overlooked.
Efficient, discreet and economical: LED lighting is a smart solution to bring light into a dark room without cutting the budget or ruining the decor.
The pendant light is one of the essential lighting in the home. In a dark room, we favor an aerial model. If we fall for white or openwork models, brass has the advantage of being trendy and catching the light.
In a dark room benefiting from beautiful volumes, one can be tempted by various suspensions in a row, or fall for the chandelier.
In a badly exposed or windowless bathroom, the mirror with integrated lighting is essential as the most practical option… and the most trendy!