Hi friends, and welcome! Today I'm so excited to be part of a summer blogger tour with a talented group of designers, and we're going to share with you our favorite tips for brightening our homes! Whether you're one of my regular readers or you're coming from sweet Janine's blog, The Happy Happy Nester, I'm so glad you're here! Have you ever flipped through a glossy home decor magazine or scrolled through Pinterest or Instagram and wished you could get your home to look as light and bright as what you see in the photos? If you're anything like me and love a light, cheerful home, then these tips for brightening up your space are just for you! Even if you have a dark room you can apply these tips to instantly brighten up your space and make it delightfully Instagram ready!
Lighten the walls
This is one of the easiest, most inexpensive, and probably most important ways to lighten up your space. Light colored paint will instantly brighten up a room. If your walls are painted a darker color, I think you'll be amazed at how a space can be transformed with just a can of paint!
Add Mirrors
Mirrors are a great way to brighten up your space, for a couple of reasons. First of all, they make the room appear larger by giving the illusion of space, and secondly, they reflect light, which instantly brightens up a space, especially if placed across from a window.
Let Some Light In
Make the most of the natural light that you have coming into your home. Avoid heavy window treatments that block light, and instead choose minimal window treatments, like shades, blinds, or sheers. If you are going to use drapes, extend your curtain rods so the drapes stack back more onto the wall, which will make your windows appear larger, thus letting in more light.
Choose Lightly Colored Furniture and Rugs
When searching for furniture choose pieces that are lightly colored instead of dark, heavy pieces. If you have dark wood floors, like I do, then adding lightly colored rugs can go a long way towards brightening up your space. If you're worried about keeping your lightly colored rugs and furniture clean, don't worry, there are definitely some highly cleanable options out there.
Lighten up Your Accessories
For those of you who read the previous tip and said, "No way," this one's for you. If you just can't do light furniture then lighten up what is on and around the furniture. Choose lightly colored accessories and add lightly colored pillows and throws to sofas and chairs.
Limit Dark Colors to Accessories
Now I realize this sounds completely contradictory to the tip above, but stay with me. If you are one of those people who loves light and bright but you're dying to add a little drama, don't fret. You can still have your darks, just use them wisely. Don't get me wrong, color is awesome, but too much of a dark hue can make a room feel a little bit like a cave. For this reason. limit those darker more dramatic colors to decorative accents, like throw pillows and accessories. You could even do an accent wall if you want a little more drama.
Add Plants and Flowers
One of my favorite ways to instantly brighten up and freshen a space is to add a vase of fresh flowers or a nice palmy house plant. If you don't have a green thumb, you can find some beautiful, realistic-looking faux plants and florals out there if you just take the time to look. Seriously, do this and you'll add instant brightness and freshness.
Chalk Paint It
If you have heavy, dark case good or occasional pieces in your home that you feel are dragging your decor down, try giving them new life with chalk paint. It's super easy to use, and the results can be dramatic. You'll feel like you have a whole new piece of furniture while still having money in your pocket to spend on those room brightening accessories!
Clean up the Clutter
You'll be amazed at how much brighter and cleaner your home feels just by doing some de-cluttering. Too much stuff crowds a room and makes it feel cluttered, dark, and small. Simplify it. Choose larger pieces instead of a bunch of small ones, and if you're going to use color and/or pattern, bring it in with a few key pieces, and keep the rest of your objects more neutral.
Add Ambient Lighting
That's right, add a little mood lighting. Lamps help to add beauty and style to a room during the day, and at night they make a room feel welcoming and cozy by adding warm light to the space.
Thanks so much for reading! I hope you've found some great ideas here for brightening up your own home! For even more amazing brightening ideas and tips, head on over to the blog of the oh so talented CC and Mike!
Also, please visit my other friends' blogs for more beautiful home decor photos and home brightening tips!
Summer ~ She Leaves a Little Sparkle
Kathleen ~ Lindsay Hill Interiors
Judy ~ Life is Better at Home
Janine ~ Happy Happy Nester
CC and Mike ~ CC and Mike
Kathleen ~ Faded Charm Living
Kellie ~ Gratefully Vintage
Kristen ~ Studio 7 Interior Design