Interior decorating is something that almost everybody loves to do; in fact, some have even chosen to do it professionally because they love it so much. Sometimes, however, it seems that there’s only so much that you can do for a room. Some rooms just look dark, gloomy, and small, no matter what you do to them. Of course, this doesn’t have to be the case; there are plenty of painting tips you can use to brighten and open up your living room (or any other room, for that matter).
Making Your Living Room Look Bigger
When a room looks small, it often has little to do with the actual size. Even the smallest of rooms could be opened up with the right painting techniques, furniture arrangements, and lighting. There are many things you can do to produce an optical illusion that could trick the eyes into thinking that a room is bigger than it actually is. For example, brightly-painted walls reflect light more, which makes a space look more “airy” and open; painting the trim and moldings a lighter color than the walls may also make the walls look set further back, creating the illusion of a bigger room.
Good Paint Colors for Darker Rooms
If you struggle with a dark room that doesn’t seem to brighten up no matter what you do, there are a few paint colors you could play with for your walls that could make a difference in the way your room appears to the eye. Brightening up your living room is all about creating illusions with paint, after all. While certain painting techniques may help add to this illusion, the main factor will come down to the color of paint that you choose to use.
When choosing a color for the walls of your living room, it’s often best to use shades that sit on the cool end of the color spectrum. With that said, warmer, pale shades may be better suited for rooms that have little light in them. You might also consider painting the insides of your window frames a crisp white color to help reflect more light into the room. Overall, the color of paint you decide to paint your walls with will depend on how much natural light your living room has access to; one color might look very different from another color when exposed to certain amounts of natural light.
Lavender is a great color that works well in low-light rooms and can have either a grown-up or playful look, depending on which colors you pair it with. Another versatile color with many interpretations is grey as it can be used in many different shades. Pale yellow walls mimic the appearance of natural light, which would definitely help brighten up the room. Warm orange, on the other hand, gives a light, glowing appearance that might remind you of the sun. Otherwise, crisp white walls are always a common go-to choice to help make a room feel especially bright and open.
Marc Poulos began his real estate and financial services career, but he soon realized that his true passion was beautifying homes. He started working with various small craftsman shops before serving an apprenticeship with the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Chicago. His commitment to excellence won him Top Apprentice from Washburne trade school in Chicago – the country’s premier school of its kind.
