Make Any Dark Room Bright With These Paint Color Tips

Do you have a living room, bedroom, or other space in your home that feels uncomfortably dark and gloomy? This is a common problem in homes with limited natural light. Small windows, northern exposures, and obstructions outside can all contribute to dark, shadowy interiors.

While adding more windows or lighting can help, a simple coat of paint in the right color can work wonders at brightening up a dark room. The color reflects light rather than absorbing it, creating an open, airy ambiance. Follow these tips on choosing paint colors to practically illuminate any poorly-lit space.

Reasons Rooms Can Be Dark

There are a few common culprits behind dark, gloomy rooms:

• Limited natural light - Rooms with small windows, northern exposures, or obstructions like trees or buildings outside get very little sunlight.
• Insufficient artificial lighting - Overhead fixtures may be too few, too weak, or poorly placed.
• Wall color absorbs light - Dark paints and woods soak up light rather than reflecting it back.

The lack of sufficient natural and artificial light causes rooms to look shadowy, lifeless, and uninviting. Fortunately, something as simple as swapping out the wall color can dramatically change the brightness and ambiance.

How Light and Color Work

To understand how to brighten a space with paint, it helps to know a little about how light and color interact. Light colors have a higher light reflectance value (LRV) than dark colors. LRV is a measure of how much light a color reflects, on a scale of 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white).

Light paint colors reflect more light, while darker colors absorb light. This makes a major difference in rooms with limited sunlight. For example, a soft white paint color with an LRV of 80 will bounce and spread light around the room. But a deep red paint with an LRV of 5 will absorb light, making the room feel darker.

Color temperature also impacts brightness. Warm paint colors with yellow, peach, or tan undertones tend to reflect more light than cool blues and grays. While you may associate white with pure brightness, stark white paint can sometimes make a dark room feel icy and sterile. Soft off-whites with a hint of warmth create a more inviting luminosity.

Sheen or finish plays a role too. Glossy paints reflect light directly, but they also highlight any imperfections like cracks or bumps on the walls. Matte finishes diffuse light more softly and evenly for a gentler effect.

Tips for Choosing Brightening Paint Colors

Use Light Colors with High LRV

The very simplest advice for brightening a dark room is to opt for light paint colors with a high LRV. An LRV above 64 is a good target. The higher you go, the more illuminating the paint will be.

Look for soft whites, very pale yellows, or light tans and peaches. Avoid darker beiges, which won't have enough reflective power. Don't be afraid to go a few shades lighter than you normally would.

Select Paints with Warm Undertones

While light colors are key, pay attention to the undertones too. Warm yellow, peach, tan, and beige paints tend to make rooms look sunnier and brighter than cool grays or blues, which can read dreary in dark spaces. The warmth bounces back more cheery light.

If choosing a white paint, opt for one with just a hint of yellow rather than a stark bright white. Benjamin Moore's classic Linen White is a perfect example of a warm, welcoming white that opens up a dark room.

Consider Soft Pastel Versions of Bright Colors

While deep, saturated colors can overwhelm a room with limited light, soft pastel versions allow you to add a pop of brightness without going overboard. Pale yellow, peach, sage green, or robin's egg blue add liveliness without the intensity of bold primary colors.

If you want to use a brighter accent color, choose it for just one wall or focal area so the rest of the space stays light and airy.

Use Metallic or Pearlized Finishes

Metallic and pearlized paints offer another way to infuse a subtly reflective, luminous quality. The flecks of mica, pearl, or metallic particles in these finishes bounce light around in interesting ways. Metallic paints create dimension while also brightening.

Avoid high-gloss metallic paints, which could feel overly flashy. Subtle champagne, silver, or bronze metallic paints create a soft glow when used judiciously.

Matte Finishes Diffuse Light

As mentioned earlier, matte or flat paint finishes are usually the best choice for maximum brightness. Matte finishes evenly scatter light particles across the surface, creating a smooth, consistent illuminated effect.

Glossy finishes can direct light in intensely bright hot spots, while also accentuating any imperfections in the walls. Matte paint conceals flaws while providing a diffuse radiance.

Add Visual Interest with Textured Finishes

For a bolder, more dramatic look, consider textured paint finishes like Venetian plaster, metallics, stone accents, or brushed effects. The varied surface catches the light and casts shifting shadows in an engaging way.

Textured paint finishes break up large swaths of solid color, adding eye-catching dimensions that make the room feel more dynamic. Your gaze moves around the tactile, variegated surfaces rather than landing on one flat wall.

Incorporate Cooling Colors Strategically

While warm paint colors tend to brighten best, cool greens and blues can provide an airy, calming effect. Blue-green shades are reminiscent of the sky and sea, creating a soothing ambiance. Using these colors sparingly prevents the depressing gloominess they might cause in large doses.

Try a pale sage green or robin's egg blue accent wall against creams and tans. Or limit the blue-green paint to architectural trim and moldings against warm white walls.

Paint the Ceiling Light

Don't forget to paint the ceiling when brightening a room! A light ceiling color can make a huge difference in creating the perception of airiness and space. Soft white is a safe bet for most rooms.

Use a matte finish on the ceiling to prevent harsh reflections. A high-gloss ceiling risks intense beaming and glare.

Use Interior Paint with Built-In Light Technology

Some cutting-edge interior paints now feature built-in light-reflecting technology. These paints contain microscopically small reflective particles that help bounce and amplify ambient light.

Benjamin Moore's Color Lock paint line includes the Glowing Elements collection. These paints create a luminous quality and subtle glow thanks to light-capturing particles in the formula.

Complementary Design Elements

While paint color has the most dramatic impact on brightening a space, a few complementary design elements can augment the effect:

• Increased lighting - Add more lamps, sconces, and other fixtures to supplement natural light.
• Reflective furnishings - Mirrors, glass surfaces, chrome, and high-gloss pieces bounce light.
• Sheer curtains - Allow light to filter through while providing privacy.
• Avoid heavy window treatments and dark furniture - These soak up light.

With the right paint color and some strategic supplemental choices, you can transform any dark, gloomy space into a bright, cheerful room brimming with light. The color reflections open up the room and lift your spirits.

Don't resign yourself to living with dreary, shadowy spaces in your home. Something as simple as a fresh coat of paint can work magic at letting the light stream in. Follow these tips on choosing brightening paint colors to illuminate any poorly-lit room.

Experiment with light, luminous paint colors to reflect light rather than absorb it. Warm off-whites, pale yellows, soft metallics, and textured finishes all help maximize brightness. Complement your paint colors with increased lighting sources and reflective decor to complete the bright, welcoming ambiance.