Lightening up a dark room

Up lights can do a lot for a dark space

If you are like most homeowners you have at least one “problem” room in your home. Dark spaces can feel dank, depressing and usually wont be used as much. To brighten up these dark rooms there are a few tricks that can be utilized to maximize low light areas.

1. Paint the ceiling in a semi gloss paint- If it is popcorn, you may want to consider scraping it. Before you do, read: Popcorn ceiling removal.
   
2. Paint walls in a semi gloss- Keep in mind that your walls need to be in pretty good shape as with all reflective paints, they will also highlight marks, dings, and scrapes that a matte paint can conceal.
   
3. Use “up lights”- Up-lights are cylindrical lightening fixtures that sit on the floor and cast a light upwards into the room. When you paint your ceiling in a semi gloss paint, the ceiling will reflect off of the up lights and back down into the room creating more light overall.
   
4. Place mirrors strategically- Mirrors do well to reflect any light source in the room provided you place them where they can reflect the most light. That means trying out different spots in the room, and in some cases placing a mirror opposite of a window, light or doorway.
   
5. Use a monochromatic design scheme- While a monochromatic design scheme can't place light into the room, lighter neutral shades give the room a lighter feel and can keep the room from feeling darker.
   
6. Use fabrics with a sheen- There are a lot of fabrics out there that cast a sheen, they usually make for great pillow covers,drapes and furniture covers. When it comes to a dark room you have to seize all ideas available to brighten the space up.
   
7. Windows- Adding a window to a room can do a lot to brighten it up, however, if you don't have that in your budget, simply use a faux mirror window like the one shown in the Amazon link below.
8. Metallics- Metallics have a reflective surface and here again, will aid in having light bounce around a space. Using metallic lamp bases, picture frames, vases, and other accessories will all help in chasing darkness from a room. When using metallics in conjunction with the other suggestions listed here, you will increase the light in a dark space dramatically. Reflective wall art done in chromes and silvers can do so much to add more light where there was none, give it a try.
   
   
   

Monochromatic ideas for your home

Look how beautiful Monochromatic can be....

All Pier 1 Imports  images provided via written permission to Dawn Gagnon by Pier 1 Imports

This area rug provides beautiful texture and interest and can wake up any Monochromatic scheme.

Crafted in India, this Ivory Rose Rug is crafted of wool and has been hand-tufted. With a textured finish, this rug is found exclusively at Pier 1. 

Product specs:

Color: Beige, Ivory

Size: 72"W x 108"H

Hand-tufted

Exclusively Pier 1 Imports 

On sale now at Pier 1 for $499.99

How about a touch of shabby chic inpiration for a Monochromatic look?

                                                                       

                                                                 

Rosette Hayward Lamp        

                    

This lamp serves double duty in the Monochromatic design, as it adds sparkle and interest with its lovely metallic curvy base, and texture with the application of these soft white flowers around the shade. These features are what we look for in the design world to wake up a calm pallet and make it anything but boring. This lamp is on sale at  Pier 1 for $79.99

Reflect your good taste with this Pearl and gold round mirror

                                                                  

Pearl and gold round mirror

Do you see where all of these items are well suited together? Well they all have common traits that make them work beautifully together. Oh and mix those metallics. This mirror has gold and silver so it works perfectly with the other selections in this post and allows you to mix your metallic finishes for more flexibility.  

Product specs:          

Gold/ivory/silver               

31.50" Dia x 1"D              

Engineered wood, capiz shell, mirror, glass               

Exclusively Pier 1 Imports               

                                                                Price: $179.95 Get it here

Keeping it floral and posh with the Ruffles Pillow 

Ruffles Pillow
Adding yet again more movement and texture in the room will keep the soft and comforting Monochromatic design interesting and lively. This Ruffled Pillow is just the right accessory for any bed, chair or couch. Check it out here








Take a load off and relax in style

Gillian Chair
Here again we see that with just the right amount of pattern and texture we can create interest and design while keeping in sync with our Monochromatic design. This chair is a perfect marriage of texture, pattern and a soft color pallet. It is currently offered at Pier 1 Imports for $ 379.95 and boasts a silver and platinum color pallet. Perfect with all of the items listed in this article.
See it here

Monochromatic design: making it sparkle

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

If you are the type that will be reluctant to try a monochromatic design scheme because you think it is boring, take heed, there's great ways to make this soothing design aesthetic pop. When we think of monochromatic, we think of bland colors, similar shades and lackluster appeal. However, this is far from it once you understand the ways to make a monochromatic design wake up. Here are the key ways to make this design aesthetic work for you, without being boring.

1. Add plenty of interest to the room with texture. 
Textures add a lot of interest to design because they force the eye to stop and take in the subtle change in the color scheme. Texture in accessories can make the room feel more dimensional. Texture in patterns and fabrics can give off a subtle color change through the shadows created and this adds interest to the room without veering off the soft color scheme. Adding texture can be as easy as adding textured drapes, pillows, woven patterns and embossed wallpaper.




                                            
2. Add shine with metal accessories
When pressed to create a monochromatic design scheme that comes alive, it is important to recognize how important metallic accessories are in creating the sparkle that doesn't compete with the colors in the room but illuminates and reflects them. Warm metallic accessories like bronzes,golds, and copper will work wonderfully with creams, and beige,and warm pastels. Cool metallic accessories like silver, chrome, nickle will work great with whites, grays, and   soft cool pastels.                                                                            

Image via Wikipedia 3. Get sparkle from glass and lighting
Keeping a monochromatic design scheme simple doesn't mean leaving out all the details that make a room sparkle, in fact these details become more important since they serve more function. To wake up a room where color is simple, try incorporating sparkle through lighting. Crystal chandeliers often add not only sparkle to a room, and visual interest, but refract light and create more detail.








4. Using shapes, lines and curves
To continue to make soothing monochromatic design visually stunning the use of
interesting shapes in the room should be explored. Curvy headboards, or sharp angles that are repeated through the design will pull the room together and keep the eye traveling along the rooms space.

 

 

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