We’ve all found ourselves in a dark place before. Stress, anxiety, grief, and depression are just a few of the culprits that can make life seem a bit dimmer temporarily. While we can’t always control these feelings and the things that cause them to occur, we can adjust the world around us to be more of a day-brightener. We don’t have to physically be in a dark space all the time, and taking actions to brighten up our home can go a long way in creating a more positive life. The best part? It’s fairly easy to accomplish - even if your room doesn’t have windows or they face a shadier direction! Here are a few simple tricks to keep in mind to brighten up your room.

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Color

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One of the best places to start when it comes to brightening a room is color. Lighter colors can change the feel of your room. White is a popular option that many people choose - but there are still dozens of shades to choose from! Really bright colors such as orange that may not work in every space often look great in darker settings - and bring more personality to your dark room. 

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Light-Reflecting 

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You may have limited lightning in your room, but you have many great light-reflecting resources to extend the brightness of your home. The floor is one great opportunity to do so. Light rugs and wood paneling go a long way in extending the reach of light in your room. There is also brightening wallpaper, which uses a metallic finish over a pale background to magnify the precious lighting you do have on hand. Well-place mirrors are another easy and fashionable addition to make your home brighter.

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Layout

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The way your organize your room can make it feel darker or lighter depending on the actions you take. Creating a spacious atmosphere by not putting furniture too close to each other is one way to do so. If you do have windows (even if they face a direction that doesn’t bring in much natural light), make sure that you aren’t blocking the sun with larger furniture. 

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Lighting 

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While this probably isn’t a shocker, how you set up the lighting in your room goes a long way for a brighter experience. There are three areas to focus in: ambient, accent, and task. Your ambient lighting is going to be the more general overhead light source usually, with the other two light sources combining to ensure a bright and pleasant experience is created. The type of light bulb you use also goes a long way in creating a more appealing living space. 

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Cover image from Curtis Adams