How Can I Brighten Up a Dull Room Using Lighting?

Many customers who visit our showroom ask, “How can I brighten up a dull room using lighting?”

It can sometimes be difficult to know how to make a dark, dreary room brighter when you move into a new place. This is especially true if it lacks any sizable windows to filter in natural light. Fortunately, there are a number of simple methods you can use to decorate your home or office to make it feel lighter.

Finding the ideal lighting for your spaces can be both tricky and rewarding, and is an integral part of good interior design.

Here are some fantastic suggestions for bringing light into a dark kitchen, living room, or bedroom.

The right lighting can instantly brighten up dark rooms

Lighting is one of the best ways to elevate a room, but it's often overlooked during the planning stages of a home refurbishment. However, if you take the time to research it properly, dark spaces can be instantly brightened up with the right type of illumination.

If you’re starting a design project from scratch, lighting should be one of the first things you consider. Why? Because a well-lit space will make you feel comfortable and relaxed, set the tone, create an ambience and provide you with visual interest. Conversely, an unlit space will leave you feeling uneasy and stressed out.

Getting the balance of lighting right is also an important factor and in order to do so, you need to consider the different options available:

• Ambient lighting in the form of pendants or chandeliers is the most common way to provide general illumination. You can also use these types of lights to create a focal point in your room. In order to do this, find a fitting that grabs your attention and infuses your living space with refinement and style. One of our personal favourites is the Greyson suspension lamp by Eichholtz.
• Task lighting is used to provide a more concentrated light that will help you focus while doing activities like reading, sewing, cooking and working. For this, use an elegant floor lamp, under-cabinet lighting or a striking table lamp that will illuminate your desk. We love the fun, modern features of the Gador lamp from FCI London’s custom collection.
• Accent lighting will help you to highlight bespoke décor elements in your home like architectural features or original artworks. Wall sconces are an ideal way of doing this.

Once you’ve ascertained what you need where you can let your creative juices flow and turn your room into a beautifully lit masterpiece. For some great ideas, take a look at our interior design project portfolio - we’ve worked on some gorgeous spaces over the last 40 years that are sure to inspire!

Add floor lamps to create a cosy reading nook

Floor lamps are the perfect way to make your space feel warm, inviting and productive and are fantastic if you need to fill empty spaces.

Used widely by our own professional interior designers to create height and visual interest in a room, they also provide excellent task lighting for cosy reading nooks, allowing you to snuggle up on a quality sofa or armchair and enjoy a good book.

If you’re looking for something sleek, we recommend the Karibu floor lamp by Cattelan Italia. Not only will it provide ample light, but it will also inject an industrial element into a contemporary living area.

Hang pendant lights to add interest and style

Pendant lights are a lovely way to brighten up any room, but they can also be used to add a lot of interest and style. It's easy to hang them in groups or use them as part of a larger lighting scheme.

Pendant lights come in all shapes and sizes, which means finding one to fit your room perfectly is a fairly easy process. They're also great for adding drama, or creating a spectacular focal point, especially if you invest in an eye-catching chandelier.

If you decide to go this route, we suggest you take a look at the Venezia range from our custom collection - with its classic profile and modern touches, it’s sure to add some pizzazz to your aesthetics.

Install a skylight or window seat for natural light

If you’re looking for a way to incorporate more natural light into your home, consider installing a skylight or, to add a little charm, build a window seat in your study or bedroom

Skylights come in many different styles and shapes so you can choose one that fits in with the overall design of your home. Here are some of their benefits:

• They increase the amount of natural light in your room reducing the need for extra artificial lighting and thereby decreasing your carbon footprint.
• They increase the value of your home, making it a more attractive prospect for future buyers.
• They enliven your living areas by making your room feel happy and inviting.
• Natural light is good for you, so allowing it in via a skylight will enhance your general health and well-being.
• They combat mildew and mould, especially if installed in bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes.

Use mirrors to reflect light around the room

Mirrors are another excellent way of infusing a room with light. Not only will they make your room look bigger, but they are also a great design feature and, if chosen correctly, can create a massive statement in any space.

Use them above a fireplace, stand them in the corner of a small bedroom or hang one in your dining room to accentuate a stunning lighting feature.

At FCI London, we have a fabulous range to choose from, so whether you're looking for something classy and classic or would like to give your room a modern twist, you’re sure to find one you absolutely love.

Choose the right light bulb to enhance your lighting

Once you have all your lighting options in place, it’s important to choose the right light bulb, and as there are so many on the market, this can sometimes be a little daunting.

Here are 3 popular options:

• Halogen bulbs are the most traditional and least expensive of all bulb types. However, they are not long-lasting so need to be replaced frequently.
• LEDs (light-emitting diodes) have a lower operating cost and a longer lifespan making them an excellent green alternative.
• Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are more energy-efficient than LEDs because they emit less heat, making them another good choice.

Aside from longevity, efficiency and environmental sustainability, your decision over which light bulb to use will partly depend on where it will be placed.

Our advice: choose brighter lighting in areas where you need to work, like the kitchen or study, and softer, warmer lighting in spaces that promote relaxation, like the bedroom and living room.

In conclusion

Bespoke lighting is a fabulous way to brighten up a dark room and infuse your spaces with both elegance and bags of personality. So if you’re looking for some gorgeous options, get in touch with us today.

Not only do we have a dazzling range to browse through, but our expert design team is on hand to give you priceless advice and guide you through your choices. Pop into our showroom and we’ll give you a guided tour - we’re open seven days a week.