How To Brighten Your Home Cheaply

Written by Posted On Friday, 16 March 2018 14:31

Light and airy spaces in homes are all the rage right now. Unfortunately, many homes built a few decades ago incorporated dark colors and heavy woods into the décor. There are plenty of ways you can add some natural light into your home—without break your budget or busting down any walls.

1. Update Your Cabinets

Old cabinets can be the kiss of death when it comes to keeping your home light and fresh. Unfortunately, the style in the 1970s and 1980s was dark wood. If your cabinets are dark, they’re going to make your entire kitchen dark too.

Lighten up your cabinets by replace just the doors—or removing the doors altogether. It’s fashionable to have open cabinets in kitchens these days. If you have a little extra room in your budget, you can always have your cabinets painted. To find a professional cabinet painter, simple Google, “cabinet painting near me,” to find the best options.

 

2. Paint Your Walls

Just as dark cabinets can ruin a room, dark walls can also make spaces look even darker. If your home has small rooms, try to keep your walls a neutral color to keep the space looking light. If you want a little bit of color in your room, you can always paint one statement wall. Yet, you’ll want to choose the color for your statement wall carefully.

You’ll also want to banish busy wallpaper from your home. Any unnecessary dark colors can create even darker corners in rooms.

3. Add Some Lighting Fixtures

Another cheap way to add a little light into your home is to add lighting fixtures. Natural light is always best in homes. Yet, lighting fixtures can also create the illusion of natural light. Try to incorporate chandeliers, sconces, floor lamps and table lamps into your rooms. Chandeliers and sconces in particular can add light that bounces off every surface.

Position your laps near mirrors for an added lighting effect. The light will bounce off the mirrors and give the illusion that the mirror is actually a window to the outside world.

 

4. Switch Out Your Textiles

Just as dark walls and cabinets can make your room look darker, dark textiles can make even naturally light rooms appear dark. Try to find textiles in light and neutral colors. Add a white throw rug to the floor to lighten up the entire space. Switch out your dark drapes from some light and airy curtains. Add a sheepskin to the back of a sofa to brighten up a dark corner.

You can even add throw pillows and blankets to your furniture to make it appear light. Just try to keep the colors neutral to ensure your room becomes lighter with their addition—and not even darker than when you started.

 

5. Add Some Art to Your Walls

The right art can make your room look lighter too. Try to buy pieces that are equally light in color and in stature. If you buy a giant piece of art for a small wall, it might overpower the space and darken the room even further.

Choose pieces in neutral colors to make your room look so airy it could fly away. You could even choose mirrors that double as art work to make the light bounce off of surfaces even more.

6. Get Rid of Your Furniture

As much as it may pain you to admit, not every piece of furniture you own should have a place in your home. Adding too much furniture to a space can make the space appear darker and smaller than it is.

Try to remove some of your furniture to lighten up the space. Take stock of all of your furniture. Does every piece have a function? Try to remove at least three pieces from each room. Lighten up your remaining furniture by painting it neutral colors or adding reflective surfaces, such as mirrors.

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Carol Evenson

Carol is a home renovation specialist with a background in organization and sales. She assists realtors with business management and growth.

https://twitter.com/cmill_com

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