Tips On Decorate Darklooking Bedrooms

Chandeliers and light colors help brighten a room.

The hues in a bedroom don't have to be as vivid and bright as those found in a kitchen. The bedroom is a place to rest and shouldn't be overly stimulating, but it shouldn't be dull and dreary. Waking up in a room that's dark and uninteresting is hardly a motivating way to start the day. Inexpensive design fixes can help you transform a cave into a haven.

Color

Darker rooms tend to look small and cramped. To open up a small space, use paint in a lighter cream or pastel color. Make sure that the colors in the walls, floors and fabrics are of the same hue. A monochromatic color scheme will be cleaner and less busy looking than having many competing colors and patterns, and will give your room a more spacious feel. For accent pieces like pillows, throw rugs and frames, you can get more creative with color, using vivid hues that brighten up the bedroom.

Light

Scan the room and determine the corners most in need of brightening. Add a side table and a lamp, or a floor lamp. For ceiling light sources, consider getting bold with a chandelier; more bulbs mean more light. You can also use a spotlight to feature a favorite picture or sculpture, but keep in mind a bright spotlight will also cast dramatic shadows. You don't have to limit yourself to lamps and ceiling fixtures. You can also incorporate accent lighting in cabinets, on pictures and to frame your mirrors.

Curtains

If your bedroom is dark, you want to maximize whatever natural light you have. This means covering the window shades with sheer curtains, in colors that are light and blend with the walls. Stay away from heavy or bulky window treatments, such as bamboo shades. Consider buying curtain rods that extend beyond the width of the window. This way, when you pull the curtains back, they don't even partially obscure the natural light.

Mirrors

Strategic use of mirrors can make a room seem both brighter and more spacious. Mirrors reflect light, so to maximize the brightening effect, place the mirror across from a light source. Use additional brightening elements to further amplify the mirror's lightening effect; choose a mirror that has a white or pastel-colored frame, or one that has accent lights.

Tags: more spacious, natural light