Brighten Up Your Cave-Like, Dark Home In Seven Simple Steps

There’s nothing inherently wrong with a dark home. Some people prefer them, but let’s face it – the vast majority of us thrive on natural light. Lighter, brighter homes are more attractive on the market, meaning that they often come with a higher price tag.

But what if you are in the process of buying a new house and all you can find within your budget is a dark living space that resembles a stone-age cave? Fear not, as there are plenty of things you can do with a little patience, renovation, and decorating skills. Let’s take a look at how to brighten up your cave dwelling and bring light into a dark home.

Skylights

First thing’s first, dark homes are usually lacking in light because of the position they are in. And there isn’t much you can do if your home’s windows are facing the wrong way to maximize the light in the daytime – you just won’t get much sun pointing at your home. So consider installing skylights or tubular daylighting devices – also known as TDDs. Either of these options can make a huge difference to the lighting in your home, regardless of whether your windows are in the right place or not.

Go for glass doors

If your budget allows it, glass doors – and even walls – are an excellent idea that can improve your natural lighting by a thousand times. While privacy may be an issue for some of you, there are ways around it – you can get reeded glass or etchings to ensure that people can’t see in, but light can still get through. And don’t forget to do the same on the inside of your home, too. Glass doors running throughout the house can help light reach areas it simply can’t through solid doors and walls.

Upgrade – and upsize – your windows

Many dark homes suffer because of the mere fact of their windows being too small. So, the simple solution is to swap them out and go for larger options. However, be sure to take a look around for the most recommended window replacement installers in your local area, as it can be a tricky job to get right. You’ll need to check for any support issues before going ahead with the job, especially if you are considering increasing the window size by a significant amount.

Go open plan

Dark homes have a tendency to make you feel a little hemmed in, but if you can create a more open space, you will minimize the effect. Open plan living is very popular at the moment, and it can be a great way of opening up the entire house to more natural light. Again, as long as you are careful about structural supports, there are no limits to how many walls you can take down – and it will make a huge difference to your house.

Embrace the darkness

Of course, many of the solutions outlined above can cost you a pretty penny, and take years to complete on the average budget. If this is the case, there are a few short-term solutions you can consider. The first is simple – use brighter colors to decorate the home, but don’t go overboard. Why not try highlighting all those dark nooks and crannies in your house and make them a unique feature? Try using deep and moody colors to create a cozy and safe environment, and rearrange our furniture and pieces so that you actively use the darker corners of relaxing and being peaceful.

Make use of mirrors

Don’t forget, mirrors are excellent reflectors of light, and using a lot of them around the home can help brighten the place up significantly. The larger, the better, too, so consider using a floor length – or wall height – mirror for maximum impact. Mirrors are great for making smaller rooms look bigger, too, so have a play around and see what you can achieve.

Go big on lighting

It goes without saying that you will need a lot of lighting options to brighten up a dark home. But be careful to ensure that you are using light lampshades, and avoid the use of heavy light fixtures. Lots of lamps and a unique chandelier can create a beautiful, relaxing light and there are many new styles of bulbs out there that replicate natural lighting quite well.

OK, so there you have it – a few solutions to brightening up a cave-like, dark house. If you have any more solutions to add, please feel free to add them in the comments section below.