Have just purchased a flat that is dark...

Welcome

Buy the Books

*NEW*FREE* Interactive Design Tool

How to Design

Choose a Look

Room by Room

Fixtures and How-to

More Design Info

Designing Your Garden

Chill 'n' Chat

Resources

My Site & Me

Business Stuff

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Have just purchased a flat that is dark...

by jilly
(Port Douglas - Queensland)

I have just purchased a flat that is dark...

It has an outside area off the lounge and a balcony off the bedroom. It is an end villa and dark inside.......

.......how do I make it lighter.

They have put in a weird sort of bubble window into the wall to make it a little lighter.

Upstairs it is all wooden floors, downstairs tiled.....

....lots of palm trees in the complex......

........ does not seem to catch the sun although the pool area is sunny... the position where is has been built is wrong for the light to enter.

What can I do?

Comments for
Have just purchased a flat that is dark...

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Feb 02, 2010
Rating

Don't despair - ideas for bringing light in...
by: Charlotte

Hello Jilly

Your flat sounds like it is in a great location, so its such a shame that it doesn't get much light, and ends up feeling dark and gloomy...

This can be a big challenge in any home, but don't despair, as there are things you can do with interior design to help create a lighter and brighter feel.

Adding extra light through little bubble windows can be very effective, so consider whether it is worthwhile for you to invest in more of these?

Even without this, there are plenty of options...

Windows - are your windows small? If enlarging them is not an option, make sure your window treatments (curtains, blinds, shutters etc) are light in color, simple in style and (most importantly) can be pulled well back from the actual window itself. Curtain rails (or blind tracks etc) can be raised and/or widened to let more light in.

More about window treatments, here...

Make sure any woodwork around the window, including windowsills inside and out, are painted in a pale color, for preference bright white. White will reflect the light back into your home.

Also consider painting outdoor areas nearby (such as off the louge) and balconies, in white or a pale color. If painting is not suitable, how about white gravel? paving? or lots of pale, silvery and white plants and flowers? These will all work to reflect light back into your home.

The lighting in your room is, of course, very important. You might find you need to use lighting even during the daytime. You should have a bright central light (maybe a chandelier, or uplighter), plus additional well-positioned task lighting and ambient lighting, making sure that you keep any dark corners well illuminated.

More information about lighting here...

You can also do a lot with your color scheme. White or pale and cool (blue toned) colors will all work well to refelct light. Take care it doesn't become too 'cool' feeling though, by adding a (very few) accents of warmer or brighter reds, pinks, yellows, greens etc which can really brighten and lighten the whole feel.

Yellow tones, in particular, can really lighten and brighten your home, and give it a very cheery feel. Green (with yellow tones) is another good choice.

cont. on next comment...

Feb 02, 2010
Rating

...Continues from last comment...
by: Charlotte

Continues from the last comment...

Keep furniture and accessories simple and streamlined in style (and preferably pale in tone and color too). Glossy, smooth surfaces and textures help reflect light around better - think glass, mirrored surfaces, chrome and anything glossy.

Of course using large mirrors around your home (especially opposite windows, behind lights and in dark corners) can reflect a lot of light around too.

Any artwork you choose for your home should be pale too, and try to go for glass frames, rather than textured canvases.

Take a look at lots more ideas for dark rooms, here...

Hope these ideas can help your new flat feel a lot lighter, brigher and more like home.

Good luck with your makeover

Best wishes

Charlotte

Return to the main Dark Rooms page

Return to the Home Page

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to How to Design - Stuck for Ideas!

Use the information on this site entirely at your own risk. No responsibility is accepted for any reliance on information contained in this site. Click here for the disclaimer. Your use of this site indicates acceptance of its terms.
© Copyright 2007-2012 Charlotte Brown t/a Charlotte Sneddon
www.interior-design-it-yourself.com All rights reserved

SBI!

Search My Site:

Custom Search

“This practical guide is a must for any DIY decorator!”

Interior Design It Yourself - Volume 1 - Back to Basics - out now

"If you have no idea how to decorate your house or apartment or you're just not sure what you should put in which room...

"...Charlotte shows you, in an easy-to-understand way, how to tackle any project."

says David - New Hampshire, USA

CLICK HERE to order the
Interior Design It Yourself Book

Charlotte - author of the Interior Design It Yourself website and books

AROUND 1 MILLION READERS LAST YEAR (2011)

Read what you say about us:

'I just love your web page it is fantastic for people who don't really have the design skills...'

Elizabeth - Scotland - UK

'You are the first entry on my favorite places. Beautiful work, well (very well) written.'

Shirley - Laurinburg NC - USA

'U can't believe how happy I'm to find such a helpful website! it's over than great, really!!'

Lama - Sydney

'I really appreciate this amazing website & ur helpful tips... you really give us so much attention & I loved your advice...'

Mostafa - Cairo - Egypt

Thank you so much to all my lovely and loyal readers!

OUT NOW - THE INTERIOR DESIGN IT YOURSELF BOOKS

The books teach you how to use professional interior design techniques in your own home...

...to get a home you love, that's also the envy of family and friends!

THE INTERIOR DESIGN IT YOURSELF BOOK LIBRARY

Paperback and E-book versions available

Click here for more info
Interior Design It Yourself
Vol. I: Back to Basics
Available as:
Paperback Book
E-book Version - Save 47%
Bonus Edition E-book - Save 30%
Click here for more info about Vol I
Interior Design It Yourself
Vol. II: Room by Room
LAUNCH DATE: 1st Feb 2012
Available as:
Paperback Book
E-book Version - Save 65%
Click here for more info about Vol. II
Interior Design It Yourself
Vol. III: Styles by Design
NOT YET AVAILABLE - COMING SOON
Click here for more info about Vol. III
Interior Design It Yourself
Perfect Personality Palettes
Available as:
E-book Version - Save 44%
Click here for more info about 'Perfect Personality Palettes'
Interior Design It Yourself
Vol. I Bonus Edition
Available as:
E-book Version - Save 30%
Click here for more info about the Bonus Edition
The Books - Out Now!

Click here for more about the books

You might also like:

How to Design

Color Workshop

Room Layout

Stuck for Ideas?
Ask a Question

Recommended Books

Sign up for my e-zine below to stay updated:

Enter your E-mail Address

Enter your First Name (optional)

Then

Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you Interior Design It Yourself E-zine.

GET THE BOOKS
Paperback and E-book versions available

Click here for more info

Interior Design It Yourself
Vol. I: Back to Basics
Available as:
Paperback Book
E-book Version - Save 47%
Bonus Edition E-book - Save 30%
Click here for more info about Vol I
Interior Design It Yourself
Vol. II: Room by Room
LAUNCH DATE: 1st Feb 2012
Available as:
Paperback Book
E-book Version - Save 65%
Click here for more info about Vol. II
Interior Design It Yourself
Vol. III: Styles by Design
NOT YET AVAILABLE - COMING SOON
Click here for more info about Vol. III
Interior Design It Yourself
Perfect Personality Palettes
Available as:
E-book Version - Save 44%
Click here for more info about 'Perfect Personality Palettes'
Interior Design It Yourself
Vol. I Bonus Edition
Available as:
E-book Version - Save 30%
Click here for more info about the Bonus Edition

The Books - Out Now!

Click here for more about the books

Have just purchased a flat that is dark...

Comments for Have just purchased a flat that is dark...

Comments for
Have just purchased a flat that is dark...