Home Inspiration Blog 5 ways to make your home feel brighter

You are not logged in. Log in / Register

5 ways to make your home feel brighter

By Daisy Mason

View latest articles

By

We’re a nation obsessed with the weather and our climate doesn’t do much for keeping our homes light and airy. Which is why one of the most common things people talk about on property viewings is how bright a property feels.

Today we share our tips on how to make your home feel brighter by making a few alterations to its interior design, maximising what little sun we get. So if you're wondering, "How can I sell my house?" Our experts are here to help.

1. Light colours create a brighter feel

It goes without saying that white is the best colour for making your home feel brighter and ensuring rooms look bigger than they are, even though white can be a bit plain if not appropriately accessorised.

While feature walls with wallpaper or dark block colours have become popular in many households, this is a big interior design ‘no no’ if your home is on the smaller side.

Feature walls can make a room feel closed in if in a dark shade, or cluttered if there are dense patterns – particularly when heavily furnished.

If you want to opt for something a bit more exciting than brilliant white, bright pastel colours can add personality to a room without being too overbearing – think millennial pink rather than baby pink.

2. Avoid dark furniture in small rooms

Dark coloured furniture can make a room feel dark and small, especially in rooms where space is limited.

Large pieces of furniture are often the culprit, such as dining tables, wardrobes and chest of drawers, which can be overbearing when everything around them is a lighter colour.

Opt for white not black, or light wood over mahogany, to make the room feel brighter. Or perhaps think about upcycling your existing furniture by painting it white.

3. Art in proportion to the size of the space

2018 is the year of gallery art, meaning the bigger the better. However, you definitely need to choose the size of your art carefully to avoid making your rooms look small.

If you’re working with a large space then you’re fine to go for huge pieces in bold designs, but small rooms need to be treated with greater care.

4. Simple window coverings allow in more light

The choice of window coverings can have a huge effect on how bright your rooms appear. While heavy curtains are the best at keeping warmth in rooms, they can also block out much needed light, particularly when they’re a dark colour.

A simple roller blind is the most practical and subtle window covering if you want to allow in as much light as possible during the day – a black out one will ensure that light from street lamps won’t get in at night.

But if you want to go for a more stylish option, opaque plastic film can be applied to the bottom half of a window to give privacy, while still allowing light into the room from the exposed top half. For a softer finish, thin voile curtains over the top can add a homely feel.

5. Distribute lighting around the edge of the room

A single ceiling light doesn’t do much for brightening up a room and hard to reach corners and can be a fairly inefficient source of light.

A simple and cost-effective fix could be to buy a light fitting that has multiple bulbs, which can be angled around the room. Or, a more expensive option is boxed recessed lighting placed around the edge of a room, creating a warm glow along the walls and a more ambient atmosphere throughout.

View all articles or sign up for our monthly newsletter

Home inspiration Property focus

How much is your property worth?

Get your property valued by a local expert

Get a valuation

X

How much is your property worth?

Get your property valued by a local expert

Get a valuation

How much is your property worth?

Get your property valued by a local expert

Get a valuation

Unlock the true value of your home

Lettings & Property Management

Explore news articles, area guides and interior design trends

Setting the standard in estate agency

We combine best-in-class people and technology to set the standard for service in estate agency

Find your nearest office

Our Services

Setting the standard in estate agency

Our services
Find tenants
Property Management
Specialist services
Short lets
Help being a landlord
Help & Guides
Buy to Let Mortgages
Property inspiration
Blog
Interior Design
Local life
Area guides
Schools
Let's get social