How to brighten a bedroom: 13 smart styling tricks

Brightening a dark bedroom seems like a straightforward task on the face of it but doing it well requires a little more thought and sophistication. Interior designers have known this for years, using a number of different techniques and strategies to brighten a space, some of which may surprise you.

One of the simplest ways to brighten a dark bedroom is to choose a light colour scheme for the space. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to adopt completely white walls which can be a bit stark for some. Neutral colours, such as off-whites, creams, soft greys and pale pastels are perfect alternatives to consider. Light colours like this reflect more light into the room, making it feel spacious, airy and bright.

You may not realise it but your current drapes may actually be contributing to the feeling of a dark bedroom, especially if they are heavy and strong in tone. Sheer curtains are a great substitute for these as they are often lightly coloured and are also designed to allow natural light to filter through. This is a quick win and possibly a timely one if a change of curtains is long overdue in any case.

Lighting obviously plays a crucial role in how bright a room is but the solution is about more than just swapping out your bulbs for more powerful options. You should instead think about light coverage and whether you have the right light fixtures in the right places. This might mean adding a new bedside light, a floor lamp for a dark corner, or wall lights to complement your overhead fixtures. It's a very careful and strategic process that shouldn't be taken for granted.

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Colour choice is important when it comes to furniture with lighter shades, as already discussed, being the better option for a brighter ambience. However, this is not the only factor to consider. The size, form and placement of furniture play a critical role too. Large furniture items with heavy, solid bases that are too close to windows will block the natural sunlight in a space as opposed to smaller, lighter furnishings with legs. The latter will be much better at working with light in a room, letting more of it pass through to grace the space.

The brightness of a room is just as much about mood and ambience as it is about light. This tip speaks to that idea with the inclusion of potted plants which brings an element of nature into the space. Nature is relaxing and calming but also vibrant and pot plants are a great way to capture these feelings and sentiments, brightening up your bedroom in the process.

Mirrors are great for grooming and dressing but are also a handy means to brighten a dark room when used in the right way. Hanging mirrors can be placed on walls that get natural sunlight during the day, reflecting light coming in like another light source. Freestanding mirrors can be positioned with even more flexibility — an excellent alternative if you don't have a wall that receives direct sunlight.

Related article: Where to place a mirror in a room — 9 tips for maximum impact

The saying "less is more" rings true to so many things in life and the same is the case on this subject. A clutter-free room can instantly make a space feel more spacious and open, especially if you're removing objects that are blocking light. Removing excessive decorations will allow the eye to relax a bit and let light fill the space with greater ease. Sometimes this involves nothing more than a quick tidy for instant impact.

If minimalism isn't your thing then you still have options to brighten up your dark bedroom. Items of decor with glossy surfaces can reflect light beautifully when thoughtfully placed in a space. Glass sculptures, ceramic vases, and objects with metallic accents are all great examples of things that can catch the light and add poppy highlights. This will not only make your room feel brighter but give it more depth and dynamism too.

Related article: 9 brilliant accent furniture ideas to refresh your space

As discussed earlier, brightness is a feeling as much as it is a lighting effect and art speaks more to our feelings than just about anything else we know. Finding a piece of art that evokes uplifting emotions is an excellent way to brighten a space. What this is, specifically, will be different to each and every individual. It could be a landscape painting, a wildlife illustration, a brightly coloured abstract work — any number of artistic forms, so long as it is positively meaningful to you. Choosing a sleek frame, as opposed to a heavy dark one is another great tip to combine with this.

Changing your sheets and bedroom linen always seems like a chore but it could be the thing that transforms your dark room into something brighter. In the average-sized bedroom, a bed dominates the space, more so than we might realise. With so much surface area available, choosing light coloured bedding can instantly brighten a large section of the room. Sheets with soft patterns also work in this way while adding a bit of visual interest too.

Floating shelves are a great asset for keeping a bedroom tidy and organised. They can also eliminate the need for freestanding storage, allowing more floor space and the feeling of spaciousness as a result. As we've already established, brightness and spaciousness go hand-in-hand which makes this a great trick to try. It represents the best of functionality and aesthetics combined.

The importance of light colours in a room cannot be understated and while we've talked about the walls and furnishings, your floors absolutely cannot be forgotten. Flooring has tactile importance with respect to comfort but also draws the eye in a big way. Light coloured carpets and light stained wooden floors (picking two examples), naturally create a brighter ambience. If changing the flooring completely is too drastic a change to make, then consider a soft shade floor rug to balance the colour scheme out.

An accent wall is a great interior design trick to create a strong focal point and if your objective is to make a dark room feel brighter it can be a great strategy to help you achieve that goal as well. It's an excellent ploy that can be realised in a number of different ways. You can choose a solid bright colour for your accent wall in a room that otherwise has dark walls. You can use brightly patterned wallpaper for something more expressive. You can also look at wall decals and murals of the peel-on variety, which can be very quick to put in place and very impactful.

Related article: 8 exquisite wallpaper designs for inspired spaces

As you can see, there are some simple but smart ways to brighten your bedroom, transforming it from the dark space it once was. Whether it's changing your colour scheme, your lighting fixtures or even your bedsheets, you now have plenty of options to reflect on before deciding which is the best for you.