How to Brighten a Room After Painting It Too Dark

Last Updated: September 20, 2022 References

There are many ways to brighten a room after you’ve painted it too dark. Ultimately, though, the steps you take will depend on your budget, your taste, and how much you really want to alter the room. Some things you can do include adding light, changing accessories, and making changes to the furniture you use in the room. In the end, you’ll be able to brighten the room and create a more open and airy feeling.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Adding Light

1
Take down or change curtains. Your first step after painting should be to evaluate the curtains and blinds you have in the room. Curtains, blinds, and other window treatments have the effect of darkening a room. By making small changes, you’ll bring more light into your dark room.
- Remove fabric valances to allow more light in.
- Take down curtains if they’re limiting the light that can come in.
- Replace dark colored blinds with light colored blinds.
- Keep your curtains or blinds open to allow a lot of natural light to enter the room.^{[1]
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2
Install more light fixtures. The simplest way to brighten a dark room is by installing more light fixtures. Placed appropriately, your light fixtures will temper your dark paint and help you create an airy feel.
- Have an electrician install recessed lighting, if you want.
- Use desk or table lamps to add more light.
- Add free standing lights to the darkest areas of your room.^{[2]
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3
Use light to accent dark areas of the room. If you have a part of the room that is particularly dark, like an accent wall, you can focus your light there. This will temper the darkness of that part of the room.
- Place a free-standing light near an accent wall.
- If you have “eyeball” recessed lighting, point it toward the dark area of the room.^{[3]
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4
Use lightbulbs that give off white light. Another way to brighten a room is to control the type of light your light fixtures give off. While traditional incandescent lightbulbs give off a yellow or goldish light, other types of lights spread a brighter and whiter light.
- Use LED light bulbs.
- Pick incandescent or other lights that are labeled “white” or “bright.”
- Choose the brightest bulbs your fixture can safely handle. For example, if the fixture can take a 100- watt bulb, don’t use a 60-watt bulb in it.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Focusing on Furniture

1
Arrange the furniture so the room seems open and airy. While it may not seem like much, by simply arranging your furniture a certain way, you’ll be able to create a more open and airy feel in the room. This is important, as furniture has the largest footprint and therefore exerts the most influence on a room’s character.
- Move furniture away from a dark accent wall.
- Make sure the room is open from the entry way. For example, wherever someone enters the room, they should be able to walk straight into the middle of it, instead of being blocked by a table or couch.
- Don’t cluster too many pieces of furniture in one part of the room. For example, avoid placing an arm chair and side table next to a book case.^{[5]
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2
Swap dark furniture for light furniture. If you have dark furniture in the room, consider switching it out for lighter furniture. The lighter furniture will temper the darkness of the room and create a brighter and more airy feeling.
- If you have dark wood furniture, replace it with white or light wood colored furniture.
- If you can’t swap furniture, consider changing small things. For example, you may be able to get a lighter couch cover for your couch. You might also consider getting a bright accent pillow for the couch.^{[6]
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3
Remove some furniture. You may also be able to remove certain pieces of furniture from the room. By doing this, you’ll open the room up and create a more free and flowing feel.
- Make sure to focus on dark pieces of furniture, if you can.
- Try not to put too many pieces of furniture against your walls. Instead, make sure to keep large sections of wall open.
- If you have a dark part of the room, try to keep dark furniture out of it. For example, if there is a part of the room that is not well-lit, don’t put a dark brown chair there.^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Changing Accessories

1
Remove dark colored accessories. Dark accessories have the effect of intensifying and highlighting dark paint. By getting rid of dark colored accessories, you’ll make a step toward brightening the room.
- Remove accessories that are darker than your wall color.
- If possible, replace dark accessories with lighter ones. For example, if you have a black radio, remove it and use a white or silver one instead.
- Use rugs to brighten the room. For example, if you have dark rugs, remove them or replace them with lighter ones. If you have a dark floor, add a light rug to the room.^{[8]
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2
Declutter the room. By removing clutter or other objects that fill the room, you’ll create the illusion that the room is larger or more spacious. Ultimately, the room will appear lighter, brighter, and more open.
- Make sure you don’t have too many things hanging on your wall. For instance, you shouldn’t group more than 4 or 6 pieces of artwork together. In addition, if your artwork is dark, you should consider removing some of it.
- Use file cabinets, bookshelves, desks, drawers, or other organizers to declutter and organize things in the room. For example, if you have a lot of books stacked throughout the room, place them all on a small bookshelf.
- If you have an excessive number of decorative pieces, decrease the number.
- Clean off coffee tables, other tables, and pieces of furniture of paper and other clutter.^{[9]
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3
Use mirrors or crystals. Depending on the room, you may be able to put up a few mirrors or crystals to lighten and open the room. They will give the appearance that a room is larger and brighter place than it is.
- Crystals will reflect light throughout the room. Consider a crystal vase or a similar accessory.
- Mirrors work well in dressing rooms, bedrooms, foyers, and hallways. For example, position a mirror opposite of a window to reflect light throughout the room.
- In most cases, you’ll only be able to use one mirror per room.
- If you install a framed mirror, make sure the frame is not a dark color.^{[10]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Painting and Remodeling

1
Paint the ceiling. By painting the ceiling bright white, you'll temper the darkness of the walls. Ultimately, painting the ceiling will help complete the transformation you initiated when you painted in the first place.
- Use flat white ceiling paint to paint the ceiling.
- If the ceiling is painted another color, or is bare wood, make sure to prime it before painting it.^{[11]
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2
Use a light or bright color on the room's trim. By repainting the room's trim a bright color, you'll be able to lighten the room up.
- Many people rely on bright white trim paint to lighten up a room.
- depending on the color scheme of the room, you may also be able to use bright blues, greens, or other colors.
- Trim usually includes the baseboard, door and window framing, chair rails, and crown molding.^{[12]
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3
Change windows or doors. You may also be able to substantially brighten the room by changing a window or a door. Ultimately, these changes should focus on bringing more light into the room and making the room appear more open and airy.
- Replace any foggy windows.
- Add a glass door. Clouded glass doors are especially appropriate for master bathrooms.^{[13]
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4
Add an accent wall. One of the easiest ways to brighten a room is with an accent wall. By changing just one of the four walls in a room, you'll add new character and temper the darkness of the other walls.
- Consider repainting one wall a lighter color. For instance, this could work well on a wall with windows or with a door.
- Think about using wallpaper to brighten one wall or a section of wall. For instance, if you have a recessed area in a parlor, foyer, or entertaining area, you could wallpaper it to add some brightness.^{[14]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you lighten a dark painted room?

Juli Roland
Certified Color Specialist
Juli Roland is a Color Specialist and the Founder of PaintColorHelp.com, one of the first companies in Dallas, Texas metro area that provides in-home color consultations and helps clients create paint color schemes. Juli has over 15 years of commercial and residential color consulting experience, including seven years as a custom-matcher in the paint industry. She earned her certification in color strategy from Camp Chroma and is a member of the Inter-Society Color Council. She has a BA in Advertising from Texas Tech University.

Juli Roland

Certified Color Specialist

Expert Answer

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To brighten up your space, do everything you can to bring in more natural light. Remove valances, plantation shutters, and old-fashioned window toppers that only block light without providing any privacy. Instead, opt for shades or roller blinds that can be pulled all the way up, or use drapes on rings that can be easily opened and closed.
Question

How do you make a dark room brighter?

Suzanne Lasky, ASID
Interior Design Consultant
Suzanne Lasky is an Interior Designer and the Founder of S Interior Design, a design consulting company based in Scottsdale, Arizona specializing in new home builds, home remodels, and all related design options for residential and small business clients. Suzanne has over 19 years of interior design and consulting experience. She is an Allied Member of the ASID (American Society of Interior Designers). She earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Indiana University and an AAS in Interior Design from Scottsdale Community College.

Suzanne Lasky, ASID

Interior Design Consultant

Expert Answer

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The best way to lighten up is seriously go high contrast. Go for the white, go for the cream. Go for lighter floor, artwork that has the white screens in it and sparkle, metals are always going to get brightness. Carpeting if you're not changing the flooring, area carpet, furniture, throw pillows. And lighting, the right lighting can make or break a project. Lighting is one of the most commonly overlooked design elements, and it's probably one of the most if not the most important element.
Question

How do you balance a room with dark walls?

Suzanne Lasky, ASID
Interior Design Consultant
Suzanne Lasky is an Interior Designer and the Founder of S Interior Design, a design consulting company based in Scottsdale, Arizona specializing in new home builds, home remodels, and all related design options for residential and small business clients. Suzanne has over 19 years of interior design and consulting experience. She is an Allied Member of the ASID (American Society of Interior Designers). She earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Indiana University and an AAS in Interior Design from Scottsdale Community College.

Suzanne Lasky, ASID

Interior Design Consultant

Expert Answer

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If there's a wall in your home that's too dark, try balancing it out by creating a contrast with lighter floors, countertops, and cabinetry. Hang light-colored and metallic artwork on the walls, and add bright touches like throw rugs and area rugs. You can also install lighting that will really brighten and elevate the room.