Making your home feel light and airy is not as difficult as you might think. And, you don’t have to do major renovations to make your home feel brighter. Use some of these clever decorating tips from the experts to help your home feel brighter and lighter in no time.
Watch the colour scheme
Dull, dark wall colours can make rooms feel closed in and dingy. Instead, opt for lighter colours on your walls and your furniture. When choosing your indoor colour scheme, stick to a three-colour palette. This gives your home a more cohesive look and makes it look less cluttered.
The same goes for furniture. If you have a lot of dark pieces of furniture, consider giving them a spruce up with some light-coloured paint. For dark couches that you don’t want to replace, brighten them up with a white or cream throw rug and some bright coloured cushions.
Although white walls might sound a little boring, you’ll be amazed at how much brighter your rooms will feel if you add a fresh coat of white paint to the walls. Remember that there are many variations of white so if you find Dulux Bright White a little intimidating, look for something with undertones of rose, cream or green.
And if dark floors are getting you down, lighten the mood with a light rug.
Remove the clutter and use open shelving
It goes without saying that clutter makes your home feel cramped and uninviting. Clutter can even mess with your general wellbeing. So have a good clean-up and get rid of those items that you never use.
Then, add some extra storage to give your home a cleaner feel overall. Consider open shelving instead of heavy closed cupboards. Open shelves instantly create a feeling of space and give you the opportunity to display all your treasured belongings. (Don’t go overboard with open shelving, though. It is harder to keep open shelves clean, tidy and looking good unless you curate what’s on those shelves and dust frequently.)
Create negative space
Remember the value of empty space. Having space around your furniture allows for better flow while space around your wall art helps to make the room feel larger and instantly brightens up your interior.
Consider these further ideas for brightening up your home.
Inspirational ideas to make your home feel bright and airy
- Freshen window coverings. Do you have heavy, dark drapes on your windows? Swap them for lighter, sheer curtains or replace them with blinds or shutters that let lots of natural light in. You’ll be surprised at the difference this makes.
- Reflect the light. A clever decorating tip from the experts is to use large mirrors around your home to bounce light through the room. We’ve even seen mirrored window surrounds in a dark south-facing room to capture every bit of available light. When you’re choosing décor pieces like vases, go for glass or metals that will also reflect light.
- Add greenery. Bringing plants inside your home instantly lifts the feel of your indoor spaces. Make sure you choose suitable plants for your indoor environment and place them near windows and in front of the mirrors you’ve just installed. Not only do plants create a more inviting space but also, they help to keep the air clean.
- Light dark corners. Overhead lights can often make the light in a room appear artificial and create shadows. Instead, add lamps to dark corners to create a comforting glow. For key key areas in your home such as the kitchen, bathroom and study nook, consider adding some task lighting. Motion-sensor LED strip lights also work wonders in dark areas like your under-the-sink cupboards or over key work areas.
Need more ideas to help your Swan Hill home feel airier?
We’re full of great ideas on how to instantly brighten up your home without breaking the budget. So, why not give us a call on 03 5032 2507. We’re here to help.
