How to Brighten Up Your Home 

How to Brighten Up Your Home 

These last few weeks of winter can be daunting! While winter brings early sunsets and dark mornings, you can choose to make the most of the season by enhancing the brightness of your home. Use these simple tips to offset winter’s limited daylight and create a warm and delightful retreat. It’ll be spring before you know it!

 

COLOR

• Paint ceilings white.

• Brighten wall colors - To select wall colors, flip over a paint chip to find the light reflectance value (LRV), which ranges from 0 (white) to 100 (black), with the sweet spot tending to fall at around 62 LRV. As long as the walls feel bright, the room will feel bright.

LAMPS

• Swap Light Bulbs- Check to see what type of light bulbs you’re using. There’s quite a bit of difference between cool white and warm white.

• White lamp shade reflects light vs. absorbing it.

Furnishings & Decor

• A surprising way to brighten your home is to clean and declutter rooms. Taking out unnecessary furniture will create open space that feels brighter, homier, as well as cleaner. 

• Rearrange furniture to give your space a new fresh feeling. 

•  Another surprising way to brighten your decor is to add plants and greenery. They may not be a light color but they do lighten your spirit, creating warmth and comfort.

MIRRORS

• One of the easiest ways to magnify the benefits of natural light is to strategically place mirrors around your home where natural light can bounce off of them.

• The best place to put mirrors is on east and west facing walls within range of sunlight from your windows because the sunlight will be lighting up the mirror for a good portion of the day, bouncing light into the room. 

• Another option is to hang them directly opposite a window so the natural light is indirectly reflected throughout the room. It’s like adding another window.

ADDITIONAL LIGHTING TIPS

• Can lights disperse light throughout the space and eliminate shadows.

• Add a dimmer switch! Creates ambiance and warmth while allowing for different levels of lights.

• Spotlights on art or specific design elements in a room also bring in light and interest.

 

Do you have any tips on how to brighten up your home this winter?