6 Ideas to Make a Dark Room or Basement Look Brighter -

6 Ideas to Brighten Your Dark Space

Almost every home has that one dark, dull, and depressing room. For some, this might be a bedroom; for others, it might be a living room or kitchen. But for most people, it’s a basement or family room. Whatever room you’ve got, I’ve got you covered.

But all is not lost, as there’s so much you can do to make a dark room look lighter and brighter. But first…

WHAT MAKES A ROOM LOOK DARK?

Northern exposure (check out good paint colors here)
Not enough artificial light
Not enough natural light (no matter what the exposure is) due to small windows or no windows
Low ceilings
Heavy drapes
Dark paint colors
Overhangs outside the window, such as decks or soffits
Landscaping that blocks the natural light

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Now, without further ado, let’s check out these tips and ideas…

1. ADD SOME BLING, BABY!

Glass, mirrors, and shiny objects help move light around the room, whether artificial or natural. If you have too many solid surfaces (wood/fabric/draperies/drywall) that absorb light rather than reflect it, the energy in your space will feel heavy and off balance—the same thing will happen if you drink too much wine. Consider adding home decor or even smaller-scale furnishings that increase the reflections in your room.

This next room has several items with sheen, including home decor, a mirror, and the glass on the framed artwork…

ADD EASY SHEEN WITH THE FOLLOWING

Shiny vases – glass, metal, or reflective finish
Home decor in a metal or mirrored finish
Glass table tops (I hope you own shares in Windex)
Framed artwork (not canvas)

Decorating a bookshelf with wee shiny bits via accessories and vases is a great way to add interest and energy to a dark space – make sure each shelf has some visual interest!

Brighten a Low Energy or Dark Basement Room Using SHEEN!

2. USE MIRRORS

Mirrors move light around the room and ‘act’ like windows. Adding a mirror anywhere in a dark room will help the energy flow, so try to place it halfway between your window (if you have one) and the furthest wall. The mirror will grab that natural light and throw it to the room’s far end.

If you can have your mirror reflecting a light, you will double the value of the light you get! This is great for a dark dining room or bedroom with a hanging fixture.

Of course, a powder room will have a mirror, but it shows how it adds personality and energy to a room with no windows at all.

And just so you know, when hanging a mirror (not above a couch or mantle), the mirror’s center should be approximately 58-62″ from the floor.

The Right Height to Hang Artwork & Mirrors

3. BRIGHTEN UP, BUTTERCUP!

Get rid of those valances, heavy dark drapes, and dowdy old linens. Turf that nappy ole rug, remove the sheer curtains, and paint that wood paneling. All of these (and more) will add to a room’s ‘visual weight’ and make it feel darker than it needs to be.

LIGHT FIXTURE SHADES

Your light fixtures shouldn’t have amber or yellowed glass shades in a dark space. White/frosted glass or white fabric shades are best. White shades reflect more light than clear glass ones.

The above light fixtures, with their colored shades, aren’t doing ANYTHING for this dark entryway.

This photo below…MUCH BETTER!

WINDOW VALANCES

Not only are most valances not trendy (there are exceptions), but they block the light in the upper portion of the window and add an ‘eyebrow’ to your window. If not done correctly (i.e., the right fabric, right height), you will only make your room feel heavy and your window looks smaller.

HEAVY, DARK DRAPES

Heavy drapes made of lighter fabric are okay, as I know drapes are great for privacy, insulation, and acoustic value. However, dark and heavy drapes in a dark room only compound the problem.

DARK LINENS

Lighter linens, toss cushions, and throws will add a fresh touch to a dark space.

SHEER CURTAINS

Believe it or not, sheer curtains cut down on the ‘quality’ of light coming into a room. Whenever I do Home Staging, I first say, ‘Open those darn sheers!’ Okay, maybe I say it is nicer than that (but maybe not)...

WOOD PANELLING

If you live in 2024, I’m sure you know that fake wood paneling won’t do your home any favors. And while it is a bit of a project, painting this paneling is a heck of a lot cheaper than re-drywalling and will instantly refresh any dark space.

4. PAINT YOUR DARK ROOM THE RIGHT COLOR

If your dark room is weighing you down, other than lighting (coming up next), paint color is one of the best changes you can make. Colors with lower LRVs can make a dark room look even gloomier, whereas lighter colors (higher LRVs) reflect more light. Improve your lighting and paint color, and your room could have a whole new lease on life!

The 19 Best Light Paint Colors for a Dark Room

This next living room had a heavy, weighted look. While it wasn’t super dark, it had a low-energy, moody look. The wall color also didn’t complement the beautiful dark wood trim and original details…

After, the right paint color brings this room to life!

The Best Paint Colors with Dark Wood Trim

5. MAKE YOUR CEILING LOOK HIGHER

Dark rooms (particularly basements) often have low ceilings, compounding the darkness of the space. Consider painting your walls and ceilings the same light, bright color to give a feeling of height and brightness!

8 IDEAS to Make a Low Ceiling Look Higher

6. LIGHTEN UP…LITERALLY

If your room lacks enough natural or interior lighting, it doesn’t matter what you do—it’s going to look dark. Whether you improve your permanent lighting or add table and floor lamps, maybe it’s time to jack things up a little!

Take a look at your current lighting situation and answer the following questions…

Does each light have the right wattage? Often, you’ll find a 40w in a 60w. Check your lights to make sure the wattage is right.
Are any bulbs burnt out?
Do you have the right Kelvins for how you want your room to look? While at it, you may as well check your bulb’s CRI!
Do you have lampshades that aren’t white, off-white, or cream? Any other shade color will affect the quality of light coming through it.
Do you have wall lights or sconces that only shine light up or down? Wall sconces should have glass or fabric shades that allow the light to go out, not just up or down.
Do any of your lights have amber glass in them? Amber glass casts a warm and often shaded light, which doesn’t favor a dark room.
Have you created a triangle of light? If you were to draw a line between table/floor lamps, would they create a triangle…or a line? Lines aren’t as good as triangles.
Do you have a honkin’ ceiling fan that only takes one bulb? CURSE THESE!
Do you have only track lights? While track lights create nice triangles of light, they also easily create shadows. It’s nice to combine a track light with a ‘general light fixture’ that ‘lights the space’ while using the track light for more ‘task-oriented’ lighting.
Have you figured out how much light my room needs?

With amber shades, lights like this next one cast a murky golden light…

White frosted shades or fabric shades are best—the white of the fabric or glass shades helps reflect the light from your bulbs! Some exposed bulb fixtures look good as well, but no Edison bulbs!