How to Brighten A Room With Dark Furniture

Decoration with dark furniture.

It is no secret that brightening up a room can make it feel open and airy. However, you may be working around dark furniture without the option of buying new pieces.  Luckily, you can easily brighten a room with dark furniture.

All you need to do is find a way to make the surrounding area work with your pieces, and with the right accessories and tips, this is sure to be a breeze.

Are you looking for a way to brighten your space without upgrading your pieces? Start by checking out the following decorating ideas with dark furniture.

How to brighten a room with dark furniture.

Seven Ways to Brighten A Room With Dark Furniture

Consider Brighter Walls

Brighter colors can make a room feel bigger, so consider painting the walls in a brighter color. With the dark furniture, brighter walls can create a dramatic effect without causing the room to feel dim and small.

For example, you can pair light or pale green walls with a gray sofa or beige walls with a dark blue sofa. Painting your walls is a great way to brighten a room with dark furniture.

Let In The Natural Light

One of the best ways to brighten a room with dark furniture is to let in the natural light. You want to use windows and ventilators to circulate both the natural light and air around the space to make it feel open and airy.

Pull back the draperies and decorate with mirrors to reflect light around the living room. Even with a dark sofa, natural light can make your space feel bigger and brighter.

Bright room with dark furniture, white wall and sunlight.

Set Your Ambient Lighting

In addition to natural light, you can also use ambient lighting to brighten a room with dark furniture. You want to place your table or floor lamps strategically around the dark furniture to give your pieces life and brighten up your space.

For a bonus tip, keep in mind that lamps create a warmer feel than overhead lighting.

Consider White Area Rugs

When thinking of the floor, a white rug is always a good idea for your space. You can choose a solid-colored or patterned white rug that works in any room of the home.

Dark gray sofa and white pattern area rug in the living room.

For example, use a square rug in the living room or a long, narrow rug in the kitchen. A white rug stands out and brightens up your space, which is why it is one of the best decorating ideas with a black or dark brown couch.

Choose Your Draperies Wisely

Speaking of your draperies, you want to choose your window treatments wisely, especially when you are looking for decorating ideas with dark furniture.

The key is to give your dark pieces life by pairing them with draperies in complementary colors. For example, you can pair your deep blue or purple sofa with orange or yellow draperies for a dramatic but beautiful effect.

Paint The Walls White

If you do not want to paint your walls in a brighter shade, you can always stick with white walls. White walls stay warm for a long time, especially when you pair them with dark wood furniture.

You can also use white walls to reflect natural or artificial lighting, which makes your space feel bigger and brighter. Paint all the walls white or keep some color with a white feature wall.

Be Mindful of Your Ceiling

While you are painting the walls and looking into area rugs, be mindful of your ceiling. It is always fun to paint your ceiling, but you want to avoid painting it in a dark color.

A loft apartment with hanging planters and dark blue sofa set.
Photo Credit; Airbnb

Instead, paint it in a light color, and consider artwork or hanging planters as decor. This way, you are bringing out the contrast, making it easier to brighten a room with dark furniture.

As you can see, there are several decorating ideas with dark furniture. You can paint the walls, add area rugs or let in the natural light. Regardless of which ideas you choose, it is easy to brighten a room with dark furniture.

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