27 Aug 2019

 01. TRY A MIRROR

This might seem obvious, but reflection is key when working with darker rooms. Place mirrors directly opposite windows; you’ll achieve an even brighter outcome if the outlook is a green one. If there are no windows, place mirrors opposite pieces of art, sculptural ornaments or additional sources of artificial light like a table or floor lamp. This clever placement allows you to enjoy the most visually appealing details of your room, twice.

 

 

02. USE REFLECTIVE FINISHES


Often I come across sites that are flooded with natural light but seem to remain gloomy. Long rectilinear rooms are even harder to get right, even if windows are in abundance, as the light needs to travel further.
For walls that receive the most natural light, reflective finishes such as Marmarino plaster can help refract light incredibly successfully. This wall finish can be tinted to provide a huge spectrum of colours, and the endless ways to apply it provide myriad textures, all the way from stucco to concrete.

 

 

03. GO DARK TO HIGHLIGHT WHITE

It sounds crazy, but this new combination of warm greys, bright whites and striking blacks were designed to break up the boxy volumes of the living space and chase away the depressing grey shadows created by too much white.
The strength of the black features, provided a crisp and dramatic contrast to other white walls. It took some time to convince the client that going darker would in fact make the space feel brighter, but the result achieved just that.

 

 

04. GET YOUR LIGHTING RIGHT

Steer clear of bright white overhead lighting and opt for a combination of soft diffuse lighting like table lamps, floor lamps, picture lights and custom LED strip lighting. Dimmer switches are a real game changer as well, allowing you to change the mood of your room in seconds.
So the next time you decide to repaint your dark white room a brighter white, ask yourself, will it actually help? More than likely, your dark space is ‘dark’ for reasons beyond paint. Declutter, consider your furniture choices – choose a glass table over a dark wenge wooden table – and ask for help when the fan deck just gets too much. There’s nothing worse than sitting in a dark room.

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