Certain areas of our home tend to get less natural light. This can make them feel quite gloomy. However, there are ways to brighten these spaces up. Below are just some of the rooms that can typically feel gloomy and what you can do to make them feel brighter.
Hallway
Hallways tend to have few windows and so can get quite dark. One way to let more sunlight in could be to choose a glass front door. These doors can act as windows by helping to let light pour in.
Another option is to add more artificial light. An overhead multi-arm light fixture or chandelier could bring a sparkle to your hallway and brighten up all the corners.
Painting your hallway a bright color like yellow or white can also have an impact. This can be quite an awkward space to paint, so you may want to look into painting companies to decorate it for you. That said, some people may feel comfortable tackling it themselves.
Bathroom
Bathrooms tend to have few windows too in order to maintain privacy. Artificial lighting is often the only way to brighten up these spaces. A practical and safe option is spot lighting – consider installing spotlights across your ceiling.
White is the best color for a bathroom because not only does it make it feel brighter but also cleaner. Avoid dark colors in a bathroom as these will make it feel much gloomier and potentially dingier.
Use a large mirror in your bathroom to help reflect light. To provide more light while showering, opt for a glass door or transparent shower curtain opposed to an opaque shower curtain.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically designed to keep light out to encourage a good night’s sleep. But in the morning, you may want to encourage more light in to help you feel more awake. Remote control shutters can be operated from your bed to help you wake up.
Avoid using harsh artificial lights in your bedroom. It is better to choose lamps and sconces that produce a warm glow as these are more relaxing.
When choosing a color scheme for your bedroom, consider something cool and relaxing, but also light in tone to prevent your bedroom feeling gloomy. For example, a baby blue could be better than a dark blue. Pastel pink, light gray and cream are other good options.
Kitchen
Closed-off kitchens with few windows can also sometimes feel gloomy. There are a few different ways to let more natural light into a kitchen, but it depends very much on the location of your kitchen and layout. For example, some kitchens jut out from the rest of the house and have no room above them – installing a skylight may be possible to let more light in.
Additional artificial lighting can also help to brighten up a gloomy kitchen. Track lighting is a popular option in kitchens that can brighten up all the corners of the room. You could also consider installing lights beneath kitchen cabinets to help illuminate the counter.
As with other rooms, a bright color scheme can also make this room feel less gloomy. You can also consider reflective surfaces such as polished stone countertops or gloss paint cabinets to help reflect light.
Attic
Some attics don’t have any windows and can get quite gloomy as a result. This may not matter if you only use your attic for storage, but if you want to convert it into a bedroom, you may want to consider ways of adding more light. Skylights are often the perfect solution for attics – these windows let light in from above and rarely require planning permission.
You can also light up your attic with artificial lighting. As some attics can be quite large, consider installing multiple overhead lights instead of relying on a single overhead bulb.
Consider painting your attic a bright color to help reflect light. Some attics may not have any plaster and so you may have to apply this before adding any paint.
Conclusion
brightening up dark areas of your home doesn’t have to be a challenge. Simple changes like adding more artificial lighting, choosing light-reflective colors, and incorporating glass elements can make a huge difference. Whether installing a glass door in your hallway, opting for spotlights in the bathroom, using remote-control shutters in the bedroom, adding track lighting in the kitchen, or even installing skylights in the attic, these adjustments can transform your home’s mood and atmosphere. You can turn any gloomy space into a welcoming, well-lit part of your home with the right approach.
