How to Brighten a Dark Room Using Home Decor & Sheen

Ideas to Brighten a Dark Basement or Room

Do you have a room that feels dead and lifeless? A room with such low energy that it would need nothing short of a cheerleader jumping up and down on the couch to bring it to life?

Well, with a few simple tweaks, you can COMPLETELY CHANGE the energy in your room without needing any mini-skirts or pom-poms (sorry, Tim).

How? With sheen. Not as in ‘Charlie’ but as in the finish of the products in your room and whether they are flat, glossy, matte, shiny, etc…’.

WHAT IS A LOW-ENERGY ROOM?

A low-energy room has little natural lighting and few reflective surfaces (glass, mirrors, sheen).

Low-energy, dark rooms are often basements or family rooms; however, ANY room can be low-energy if there isn’t enough natural light due to small windows, inadequate interior lighting, deck overhangs, or dense landscaping in front of the window—sound familiar?

This being said, even a well-lit room can be low-energy if there isn’t a balance between items that reflect light and those that absorb light.

HOW TO FIX A LOW-ENERGY/DARK ROOM

When you have a lifeless or dark room, the best way to add life is with SHEEN. And for once, I’m not talking about paint color or finish; I’m talking about the finish of your furnishings and accessories.

This next kitchen could have felt heavy and drab. Thanks to the sheen of the countertop, windows, and beautiful crystal pendant light, while the mood is still chill, light is being moved around the room vis reflection.

A dark room needs decorative items and furnishings that are reflective or shiny. Shiny surfaces add energy and life to a space because they reflect any natural or artificial light and throw it back into the room, doubling the effect.

Items without a sheen absorb light and don’t reflect any of it into the space, lowering a room’s energy level.

This next example shows a room with an ABUNDANCE of energy (too much if you ask me)…

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• Shiny finish on wood floor
• Semi-gloss sheen on cabinets
• The sheen of the quartz countertops
• Stainless steel appliances and black cooktop.

My clients hired me to help them choose a new cabinet color. Adding a satin sheen (lower gloss) will help this room breathe a sigh of relief.

HOME DECOR THAT ADDS SHEEN TO A ROOM

While the focus is usually on affordable accessories, you can also use furnishings to add energy to a humdrum space…

• Glass top coffee tables, accent tables, dining tables
• Mirrors
• Artwork with glass (non-canvas)
• Accessories with a medium or high gloss finish (particularly metals)
• Glass-fronted cabinets
• Chrome, polished nickel, brass hardware, and lighting fixture finish
• Shiny fabrics – drapes, toss cushions, etc…
• Some leathers
• And I hate to say it, but the TV—yes, even the finish on the TV is a reflective surface (men worldwide rejoice!).
• While it doesn’t involve ‘sheen,’ lighter colored items will reflect more light into a room than dark colors.
• High contrast can also help but is also not related to sheen unless the items are shiny.

In this next kitchen, the cabinets, backsplash, and countertop have a low sheen. Notice how the clear glass accessories add balance and energy to this beautiful space.

Even the subtle sheen of the dining table and wood accents increase the energy a bit. 

If you’re starting from scratch and renovating/building a home (with a dark room), you can make some smart choices right off the bat that can help balance out the energy of your space. However, these tend to be higher-cost items, so if you aren’t renovating or looking to make some major changes, I’d stick to the list above.

• Semi or high-gloss flooring finish (tile)
• High sheen countertops (Quartz/Granite/Laminate)
• High sheen cabinetry
• Stairwells with glass partitions rather than spindles/railings
• Light or white finishes

While I wouldn’t do ALL of the above, choosing one or two, along with thoughtful decor, can really help a space.

This next entryway is pretty dark, but has some great things going for it…

• The floor has a bit of sheen, as does the trim/stair railing.
• There’s a mirror on the far right
• There’s a window in the door.
• The accent table is glass.

But even with all of this, it’s still not super bright – sure, it has energy, but to take this foyer to the next level, you might…

• Choose a brighter white for the walls.
• Paint the door a punchier color, letting the contrast between the walls/trim and the door add energy.
• Put a larger window in the door, which is doable for the average DIYer.
• Add a more vibrant area rug.

Doing the above means you wouldn’t necessarily need a glass accent table or glass/frame around your art. In fact, you might need to tap things back a bit with more moderate decor, but the overall look will be BRIGHTER!

In this next photo, the countertop, cabinet hardware, and faucet add to the space’s energy, while the dark paint color absorbs light. The energy level would have been too low if we’d done a honed/matte countertop.

This next staircase had the potential to be super dark. We opened up the lower stairwell and chose a glass railing instead of wood or metal spindles (or drywall) to reflect light coming from the upper stairwell…

The chairs and table are low-energy pieces in this next dining room, as well as the area rug and matte finish walls. Notice how the mirror and crystal chandelier add life and energy (and style) to this beautiful room…

KEEPING A DARK ROOM IN BALANCE

Now, just because you need to add sheen to your room doesn’t mean you should go overboard—not EVERYTHING needs to be shiny. Like my Mom says about wine, it’s all in moderation, my dear.

• It’s nice if one main horizontal surface has some sheen. The best choice is usually the coffee table (living room/family room) or the countertops (kitchen). If you have an ottoman, add a tray with a mirrored top or slightly shinier leather.
• If you have an open layout room and your dining table is glass, you might find it too much if your coffee table AND side tables are glass as well – remember…moderation (as I sip my wine through a straw…) In this scenario, I would go for a 60/40 split – 60% flat or matte finish and 40% shiny/glass.
• In a kitchen, a shiny backsplash can make a huge difference regardless of the finish of the countertops.
• Mix solid, low-energy cushions with a few with some sheen or bling.
• Place high-energy/shiny items close to light sources (artificial and natural), and you’ll increase their reflective value.
• Remember that the TV adds energy, so you don’t need to worry as much about your TV stand and its reflective value (overly-glass-clad TV stands aren’t usually super trendy).
• Not all of your artwork needs glass and a frame. Again, try the 60/40 split, which is usually a safe bet in any scenario—60% matte (canvas), 40% shiny.
• When decorating a mantel or bookcase it doesn’t take much to add some visual value. On a mantel, the 60/40 balance is nice (matte/sheen), but on a bookcase, too much sheen can get overwhelming fast. Treat your bookcase on a ‘per-shelf’ basis and try to have 1-2 shiny items per shelf – play around with how these items stagger from shelf to shelf.

In the above photo, the books absorb energy. The glass doors on the cabinets and the mirror add energy back into the space without going too far.

The toss cushion and lampshade in this photo add energy to this quiet corner—even the velvet chair has a subtle sheen!

Even though this next home bar/lounge is meant to be dark and moody, it still needs the yin-yang of energy…

The mirrored backsplash adds a glam touch, and the sheen of the quartz countertops adds energy to this space without affecting its mood.

ON A BOX O’ WINE BUDGET?

Keep it simple…

• Swap out boring lamp bases for ones with a sheen, like glazed clay or porcelain (or clear glass).
• Toss those old toss cushions and find some with some sheen – even a little goes a long way!
• Swap out your old artwork for an oversized mirror (this is ALWAYS a game-changer).
• Add some shiny decorative frames to your mantel or bookcases.
• Add glass tops to your side tables to help reflect the light from your table lamps.
• If you have cabinet or furniture hardware that is a flat/matte finish, swap it out for a polished nickel, chrome, or brass finish.

Well, I hope that’s infused a little energy into your room and your life – Happy Decorating!

READ MORE

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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2017, UPDATED IN 2024