When you walk in your living room, does it feel like you've entered a cave — or does your space welcome you with cheery light? If your daily homecoming leaves you feeling down, it's time for some remodeling. You can brighten up a dark space easily. It all starts with the right window coverings and an appropriate palette. Even if you rent, you can make your abode lighter and more welcoming — and boost your mood as a result.
Words: Kate Harveston
1. Rethink Your Blackout Curtains
The easiest way to let more light into your home? Liberate your windows from heavy coverings! If you're an urban dweller who uses blackout curtains to block flashing neon lights, tie them back during the day. Did your apartment come with blinds? Dust them off and roll them up.
If you have the money to invest, eschew coverings altogether and opt for window film. Different types of film will give you various results — security film is the thickest type, while the solar film can cut your heating and AC bills significantly.
2. Pick a Light-Coloured Palette
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Your paint choices can make your room feel both brighter and cooler if you opt for light colors. You don't have to stick to eggshell — a gentle sky blue or lavender makes a relaxing bedroom scheme. Unless you're entirely into a goth phase, swipe left on black and blood-red hues.
3. Consider Wood or Tile
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Yes, a plush purple rug feels heavenly on cold tootsies. However, thick, dark carpeting can give your home a melancholy air. If you have the option to upgrade, remember that wood or tile can give the illusion of more light. Why? Shiny surfaces reflect beams, either from lamps or the sun. Additionally, you'll feel better nearly instantly if you suffer from allergies once you ditch the wall-to-wall. Carpeting traps dirt and pet dander, leading to serious cases of the sniffles.
4. Add a Bright Focal Point
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Opting for a bright and airy colour scheme doesn't mean sticking to neutral tones entirely. Go ahead and brighten up your living room with a striking teal rug under the coffee table. Center a bright red abstract painting over your couch. You want to draw people to areas of interest with your choices. A bright couch invites people to sit. LED lights or one of the other colourful options described in this post could point people to your bar area. You get the idea. In addition, a single splash of a vivid hue lends contrast, making small spaces seem roomier. Creating the illusion of a bigger area instantly makes the atmosphere feel more welcoming. Add some — not too many — pendant hanging lights to increase this effect even at nighttime.
5. Use Mirrors Strategically
You can nearly double the illusion of light in your space by hanging a mirror on the opposite wall from a sunny window. Even if you're not facing the outdoors, you can enjoy the vista. You can also use mirrors to reflect the illumination from chandeliers and other light fixtures to brighten your space when evening falls.
6. Declutter Your Space
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Finally, the more objects litter your visual field, the harder your eyes have to work to focus. This issue can make you feel tired even in well-lit rooms. To make your home feel brighter, give it a good housecleaning. Sort knickknacks and other items into three piles — to keep, to sell/donate and to discard. You might need to dedicate a few hours on a Saturday afternoon to tackle this chore, but once you do, you should feel less stressed overall.
Let the Sun Shine in and Greet It With a Grin
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Spending too much time in a dismal space can lead to mental health woes. If you want to improve your mood, make your living space lighter! Did you know that depression and anxiety are the two most prevalent mental health disorders in the United States? Adding light to your space has been shown to help alleviate anxiety and depression. Once you let the sunshine in, you may reap the potential benefits of decreased depression and anxiety. So, give your space a boost with a little more light!