What do you do if you want a bright, cheerful home but your house doesn’t have a lot of natural light? 

Maybe it feels dark because trees or buildings block the natural light. Maybe instead of bright west and south facing windows, you have east and north-facing windows. Maybe you’re dealing with an interior or basement room with no windows. Or maybe, like us, you simply live in a place with lots of cloud cover and short winter days (hello Seattle!) 

No matter the reason, if you’re reading this, you’re probably saying: “Yes! And what can I do about it?” It’s not like you can tear down your neighbor’s house just because they’re blocking your sunshine. Adding windows might be a more expensive fix than you want to take on, especially if you don’t even own the property! And there isn’t much anyone can do about the weather. ⛈

Don’t despair! There is still a LOT you can do!

Three easy ways to brighten up your home!

1) Window Treatments

Wondering how window coverings (like curtains) could improve the light in your home? The trick is to use your window coverings cleverly!

Lots of folks hang their curtain rods so that the curtains cover part of the windows, even when fully open. That means you’re blocking some of the natural light, and also making the window look smaller.

If you hang the rod with the brackets about 10-12″ wider than your window, the curtains won’t block any light when open, and you’ll get the illusion of having a wider window! Yay!

Likewise, if you have Roman shades, if you install them 10-12″ *above* the window, you can lower them and enjoy the color and texture of the fabric without covering the window. Just like with the curtains, the window will look bigger, and you won’t lose any natural light. Wahoo!

If you have blinds, consider the color. If you choose a wood or dark color they will feel heavier and darker in the room. That’s great if you’re trying to make it feel cozy, but if you want to brighten the space, go with light-colored shades for a lighter feel, even matching them to the trim color so they become invisible when not in use. Suddenly your window will seem bigger and brighter, no renovation needed!

2) Reflective Surfaces like Mirrors

Mirrors can do a lot to brighten your space! They reflect light and, if you place them strategically, it can feel like you added a window to a window-less wall! (This is a trick we put to use at our office!)

Even if you’re only reflecting lamp-light, you’ll get more mileage out of whatever light you’re working with. 

And you don’t have to stop with mirrors – other reflective surfaces will also add light to your home! For example, if you’re replacing your kitchen countertops or backsplash, consider shiny finishes instead of matte. Even that small change can make your home feel a little brighter. And of course, lean toward lighter surfaces to reflect the most light. 

3) Lights (Literally!)

It may not be “natural light” – but adding lamps (and being thoughtful about what bulbs you choose) can do a lot to brighten up your space! 

In fact, the easiest way to brighten your home might just be to change your light bulbs! That was one of the first things we did when we moved into our new office and it made SUCH a difference!

To get the brightest bulb possible pay attention to both the ‘lumens’ (the *quantity* of light) and the ‘kelvins’ (the *color temperature* of the light). What to learn more about lumens and kelvins? Check out this blog. 🤓

The next best step is to add *more* light bulbs. Maybe you add more light fixtures, or maybe you just install fixtures that use more bulbs. In our office we have two interior rooms with no windows. We replaced the old single-bulb light fixtures with this a sputnik-style fixture that uses *10* bulbs each! Now we have to wear sunglasses to work in those rooms! 😎 (Kidding, but seriously, it is bright!) 

Another trick is to add lamps or dropped ceiling fixtures that shine light *up* onto the ceiling. The ceiling will be bright instead of shadowed, making the space feel bigger and brighter! (One of the biggest mistakes folks make is to rely on *just* recessed fixtures to light their home!)

Can you see the light?

As you can see, there are lots of ways to improve the brightness in your home, even if you’re short on natural light! And this list is far from exhaustive! 

Want more? Ask about the webinar we offer on creating residential lighting plans (we promise, it’s more straightforward than you think!). 🤓 Planning lighting for a bathroom remodel? Check out this blog on bathroom lighting best-practices.

Looking for personalized help figuring out the best way to brighten up your home? If you’re in the North Seattle area, check out our Quick Action sessions – we can come to your house and give you specific guidance for your home on window treatments, lighting, decor, and more! (Maybe some fresh paint will do the trick? There are so many possibilities!)

Out of the area? We can still give great guidance virtually via Zoom through our Design Helpline sessions!

Hope this helps you find creative ways to make your home feeling happy, light, and bright!

May your home always be happy!