Guest Blogger: 5 Quick and Easy Ways to Brighten Up Your Bedroom

Guest Blogger #869, Entry #2111, February 16, 2013

While you might like the idea of a dark and cozy boudoir for your romantic encounters, the truth is that decorating your bedroom in dark hues and heavy fabrics can make it feel a bit claustrophobic, especially if you don’t happen to live in a mansion that provides you with ample square footage to counteract the shrinking effect of your decor. Or maybe your room just feels a little dark and dingy because you haven’t spruced it up in a few years. While a deep cleaning might do you some good, chances are you’ll have to do a few upgrades in order to achieve the light, bright, and airy bedroom you’ve got your heart set on. So here are just a few tips and tricks that will soon have your space feeling a lot more open and inviting.

Tips to brighten your bedroom

Image via: Schippmann Design

Sheers.

While your dusty old drapes and blinds can certainly provide you with privacy you want, they might not be the best options when it comes to letting the sunshine in. They can actually make your space dark and gloomy, especially if you can only open them a crack so as not to give your neighbors a show. Luckily, it’s easy to add a set of sheer panels that will allow you to fling the curtains wide or draw the blinds up, letting in plenty of daylight while still providing you with a privacy screen. And when you want additional coverage you’ll have it.

Mirrors.

There’s not much you can do if your bedroom simply doesn’t get a lot of daylight due to its position in the house or the shade of neighboring buildings. But rather than shelling out major money to install a skylight in order to get the natural light you’re looking for, you might consider what a few well-placed mirrors can do for you. The addition of mirrors to your home can not only help to give the impression of larger rooms, but they can also be used to bounce light when you place them strategically throughout your space. You can use them to amplify whatever light does come into your bedroom, or you can bounce light from brighter rooms down the hall and into your sleeping space. And often, you can find them on the cheap at garage sales.

Paint.

One of the best ways to make a room lighter and brighter is with a fresh coat of paint. White is certainly an option, although it doesn’t provide much personality. You might also consider pastels, which can give you a hint of color without dragging the walls down on top of you like darker or more saturated shades. And you can always paint the ceiling white to make the room look bigger. As a side note, consider carefully the sheen of the paint, as well as the color. A satin finish will bounce a little light without adding the high glare of a gloss. And it’s easier to clean than a matte finish.

Bring in natural light to your bedroom

Accessories.

If you’re working with a dark or neutral palette but you haven’t got the cash on hand to replace all of your furniture and linens, you can still brighten up the space with a few accessories. You might start by purchasing a couple of flat sheets on the cheap in a white or bright hue and sewing them together to create a new duvet that hides your dark comforter. From there you can decorate with pops of color in the form of throw pillows, vases, photo frames, and other small accessories to create a room design that is altogether more lighthearted.

Lighting.

Poor or limited lighting options can make your space feel dull and drab. So think about adding a larger overhead fixture with more bulbs (or if you happen to have a ceiling fan you can find suitable options at www.theceilingfansite.com). Then add plenty of other options like floor and table lamps or even wall sconces for ambient light. This will definitely help to brighten your bedroom without the major cost of, say, installing recessed lighting.

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