Some parts of our home are less well-lit than others. Bringing some much needed light to these spaces can help to make them feel cheerier. Adding light can even make some small rooms feel more spacious. Below are some of the rooms that are typically dimly-lit, along with a few ways in which you can brighten them up.
Basement
Because basements are underground, it’s typically much harder to get natural light into these spaces. As a result, they are often the darkest room in the house. However, your basement doesn’t have to feel like a cave. If you can’t add any more windows, consider increasing the amount of artificial lighting used in this room. If you don’t want to wire in lots of individual lights, choose bulbs with a high lumen rating. If your basement has a low ceiling, consider recessed lights - you can’t hit your head on these lights and they will make the room feel more spacious. Paint this space white to help brighten it up.
Hallway
A bright hallway can be more inviting for you and your guests. Because hallways are often in the centre of a home, they typically have few windows. However you may still be able to find ways to let in more natural light such as installing a front door with glass panels, sidelights next to the door or a skylight above the stairs. If adding windows isn’t an option, consider using artificial lighting. A multi-arm chandelier hanging over a staircase could be a stunning feature that helps disperse light all around the room - and it could be cheaper than wiring in multiple lights around the hallway. Painting this room a light colour can also help to brighten it up.
Bathroom
Some bathrooms have few windows and so can feel quite gloomy. It could be worth looking into a window installation service near you and fitting a new window or a larger window to brighten this space up. Artificial lighting can also be used to illuminate a bathroom and could be necessary if it’s an internal en-suite with no windows. You can also use large mirrors to help reflect light. If you place a mirror opposite a window, consider adding back lighting to the mirror so that your face isn’t cast in a shadow.
Kitchen
The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home. It’s important that this space is well-lit in order to feel welcoming. Good lighting is also important for tasks like preparing food and washing dishes. There are several ways to brighten up this space. If your kitchen has no room above it, you may be able to add a window in the ceiling to help sunlight pour in from above. Adding artificial lights under cabinets can meanwhile help brighten up countertops. Track lighting may also be able to brighten up all the corners - this involves attaching multiple lights facing in different directions to a single track along the ceiling. Such lighting can be cheaper to install than multiple recessed lights.
Attic
If you want to turn your attic into a usable living space, you’ll need to provide plenty of lighting. Most attics have little to no lighting at all, however they’re one of the easiest rooms to light up. Because the roof is directly above, you have the option to add skylights. Bay windows may meanwhile be possible to install in the sides of your loft - which could let in light and add more height. Alternatively, artificial lighting is always an option.
Our Style Guide
