How To Brighten A Dark Room
The sculptural Snake Plant is one of our most popular plants for dimmer spaces. Photo by @saltier
Looking to brighten that dark room in your home?You’ve come to the right place! We work with light-challenged individuals all the time to bring the darkest rooms and corners of their home or office to life. Because let’s be real: as much as we’d love to have big, bright spaces in every area of our home, the reality is that many of us are light-challenged in one way or another! Maybe your new home doesn’t have as many windows as your last, or your trendy office is essentially a concrete cube. Windowless bathroom? Dim hallway? We’ve all been there before.
But low-light rooms can be just as beautiful as their brighter counterparts, if you know how to style them of course! Read our tips on how to either embrace or overcome a room with little to no natural light.
How to brighten your space
Even if you don’t have much natural light to work with you can still create a space that feels light and airy. Here are a few tips and tricks to make your space feel brighter:
Layer whites - white reflects light, making a room feel both lighter and more spacious. Try painting your walls warm shades of white, or the ceiling a bright matte white. Look for lighter pieces of furniture or accents, layering shades of white and beige.
Use mirrors strategically - it’s no secret that mirrors also reflect light. Create a bit more of it with a beautiful mirror you love, placed just so that it reflects any light coming in.
Utilize layered lighting - a single overhead light is not going to cut it for a low-light space. Try creating layered, diffused lighting with various heights and shapes of lamps. And while we’re on the topic, use light lampshades with translucent material (i.e. linen) so that light is gently defused versus blocked.
Streamline the furniture - go for minimal pieces and avoid ornate or chunky furniture. Select pieces that allow light to pass through or under them, like ghost chairs or sofas with a bit of space below them.
Embracing the Darkness
Sometimes the best thing you can do in a dim room is embrace its moodiness:
Use bold colors and patterns - deeply rich and dark hues (and wallpapers!) can be beautiful in already-dark spaces.
Invest in statement lighting - instead of using layered lighting having one or two statement lighting fixtures will create shadows. Shadows can be alluring when styled just right.
Be a maximalist - in a dimly lit space it can be harder for pieces to stand out. Use bold accent items like brass mirrors or lush velvet fabrics that will stand out from their surroundings.
Tips for Using Plants in Low-Light Spaces
Indoor plants do wonders for any space, but maybe even more so for the darker areas of our home. Here are a few of our plant stylists’ tips on decorating low-light areas with houseplants:
Find plants that won’t miss the light - Contrary to what you might think, many plants can do just fine in a low-light setting! Do keep in mind that you will water them very infrequently, and consider using a artificial light source for truly pitch-dark spaces.
Go for brighter foliage - plants with bright green or lighter hues (think the Snake Plant or Little Hope) will pop in darker spaces. Alternatively, go for deeper greens if you’re embracing the moodiness! Plants with dark green foliage like the Zanzibar Gem or Cast Iron will give a more jungle feel.
Invest in statement greenery - when it comes to bringing a dim or dull space to life, a little bit goes a long way with a large floor plant. Invest in just a few plants, at least one that’s large and draws the eye, versus cluttering the spaces with multiple small plants.
The Best Low Light Indoor Plants
Ready to improve your space? Here are some of the best low-light houseplants that can survive and even thrive with minimal natural or artificial light:
Zanzibar Gem - the emerald-green wands of the ZZ Gem as it’s commonly called are nearly indestructible nature. It can withstand low light and neglectful watering habits.
Snake Plant - this large succulent can adapt to just about any environment and also requires little to no maintenance.
Parlor Palm - is a hardy plant that infuses a tropical atmosphere into its surroundings.
Cast Iron - the name says it all: this plant is indestructible and does well in dark, humid, and drafty spaces.
Check out our full collection of low light plants, and give your space the love and attention it deserves!
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