Florida Homes: Five Tips to Brighten Up A Room

Living in Florida is truly living in paradise! Most days, you have sunny skies – and even when it rains, there’s no guarantee that it’s going to last more than 10 minutes before the sunny skies are back. Florida has temperate climates most of the year, and it’s the perfect place to relax and unwind on the back porch or in the front yard. But what about when you actually spend time inside the home? The Everglades are beautiful to look at, sure, but a jungle right outside the window can definitely give natural light a little trouble getting in. In fact, rooms that are dark can have a negative effect on one’s health. They are also just unpleasant on the eyes! Here are five tips to brighten up a room, no matter how dark it might appear: Grab a can of paint and get going. A simple, clean and invigorating way to rejuvenate a room is by painting it. Of course, paint can help solve a lot more problems than just low lighting, but the type of paint that you choose can go a long way in making a room pleasant to spend time in. Choose a nice pastel, earthy tone such as pale yellow, sky blue, or the 2017 color of the year, greenery! Light, bright color can help give even the darkest room a vibrant, uplifting vibe. Stay clear of bright white, which can seem a little too stark. Go for a lovely tan or beige, instead, if you’re tempted toward a truly neutral tone. Otherwise, playing around with beautiful light shades can really help make a difference in how you view your room. Use light-colored wood to decorate. In rooms that are already heavy with dark or low lighting weighing them down, try using light-colored woods or even painted materials to serve as your furniture. Stay away from dark furniture, which will only make the room look darker. Choose smaller or more petite pieces. On the same note as above, opting for light furniture over dark can make a room seem brighter. Choosing smaller furniture over the larger pieces that can seem to weigh a room down, can have the same effect. Counteract the heaviness of a dark room by selecting light-weight pieces for your furniture. Bring in some greenery. Greenery isn’t just the Pantone color of the year, it is also a great way to create a vibrant space that is a little more full of light! Get real flowers whenever possible, and choose indoor plants that have big, leafy elements. If they can serve as an air purifier, that’s an added bonus! Bringing in a little bit of the outdoors will help to make a space seem larger and a little less closed off, no matter how dark it may be. Give your windows special treatment. When it comes to making a dark space appear brighter, one good way to create the illusion of light is to put airy, light fixtures in your windows. Instead of leaving them open to maximize the minimum light there is, use a bright colored window treatment! It can actually help to give the illusion of light if you use nice, light linens and stay away from heavy drapes. Pro tip: if you do use blinds, be sure that you select wide slats that don’t keep any light out!