“I love my new home, but one of the rooms always seems a bit dingy. How can I make it feel lighter?”
Small windows, low ceilings, awkward angles – all of these can conspire to make a room feel darker than you would like. But choosing the right Coral & Dulux paint colours can have an instant positive effect on a room’s brightness.
Interior designer Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors shows you how to use colour to lighten up even the dingiest of spaces
1) Keep things cool
Cooler Coral & Dulux colours help walls to recede, making the room feel more spacious and light. Go for pale shades of grey and blue for maximum lightening effect.
A sunny hue can brighten and warm a dark, dingy space: don’t be afraid to use light terracotta or yellows
2) Inject a bit of sunshine
If it’s warmth you’re after, don’t be afraid to use light terracotta or yellows – a sunny hue can brighten and warm a dark, dingy space. Just be careful not to clutter the room with brown furniture so the home decor doesn’t become overpowering.
Paint architraves, skirting boards and any other mouldings in light, reflective Coral & Dulux colours, perhaps in a subtly contrasting tone to the colour on the walls.
3) Paint your ceilings pale
The aim is to make the room appear larger and lighter, so avoid any dark colour on the ceiling. White is always a safe choice, but you could also go for pale tones of other Coral & Dulux paint colours, from greens to golds.
Opting for a Coral & Dulux paint with a glossy finish is a great way to reflect light back into the space – plaster pinks work particularly well
4) Reflect the light you have
In dark rooms you have to make the most of the little light you get. Opting for a paint with a glossy finish is a great way to reflect light back into the space, making it feel brighter. Plaster pinks work particularly well for this.
5) Don’t forget the detail
Paint architraves, skirting boards and any other mouldings in light, reflective Coral & Dulux colours, perhaps in a subtly contrasting tone to the colour on the walls. This will give some structure to the room without detracting from its brightness.
Top tip
Shed some light on stubborn dark corners with a combination of light-painted or mirrored furniture and carefully placed lamps.
