Think BIG! Light and Bright!

Think BIG! Bright and light!

Growing up, my Grandpa - the savvy money saving Bohemian, would enjoy his coffee or meals at the kitchen table with the chandelier turned OFF. I would exclaim, “We don’t live in a cave!” upon entering the room and flip the lights on before joining him at the table. Light, whether natural or artificial has an uplifting psychological effect on the psyche. Light brightens moods and makes a room welcome, inviting, and BIGGER than it really is.  The great thing about using light to make your rooms bigger is that there are many ways to put this trick to work!

Windows, Windows, Windows!

Windows are great for letting the natural light in, so throw back the curtains and pull up the blinds! Trust me, you will be amazed at how the mood of the room will change along with your mood. One note about those windows…. Make sure they are clean! What is the point of opening the window treatments if the beautiful light is dampened by the accumulated dirt? So grab the rags, or call a professional service, but it is a chore that must be done! (Stop groaning, it is hard to think above all that noise.)

If it comes down to it– you might evaluate your room and decide installing a larger window or a skylight might be a good option. We recently eliminated some older skylights in our home that were past their prime and leaking. We would have replaced them, but there are not manufacturers that make the size we needed anymore. So, for instance, in the guest bathroom – where one of the skylights were – we are opting to install a larger window and great light fixture in its place. We may entertain a skylight tube in a few years, but for now, this works for our needs.  

Lighting

Speaking of lighting… make sure you have good lighting! This can make all the difference, especially at night. Make sure you have enough lighting sources and that the bulbs are bright enough. With today’s LED lightbulbs, you can have a wide range of lighting color options from warm white to the cool daylight. Plus, since LED lighting is nice on the electric bill, there is no reason to not flip them on while you are enjoying a meal or a morning cup of coffee. Oh, and like windows, dust can accumulate on the light fixture and the bulbs, so … grab those rags again and give them a quick wipe down.

Paint

There are some amazing colors to fill our homes with these days! Darker colors will absorb the light in our rooms, so if you are wanting to make your room appear bigger, opt for a lighter color on the walls. No, you don’t have to stick with white. There are lots of beautiful light colors that serve as a neutral backdrop to your decor. If you really want that pop of color, bring it in with an accent wall or with throw pillows. Remember that bathroom I mentioned earlier? We are eliminating the DUSTY TRAIL paint color (which was a great neutral tan) and going with a new lighter colors on the wall – exact color yet to be determined.

I hope these tricks have shed some light (cheesy pun intended) on the subject of making your rooms appear bigger (and more cheerful and inviting). Next week we will continue to explore ways to make your rooms appear bigger using flooring.

About the Author: Erica Schultes is a REALTOR® with EXIT REALTY MIDWEST located in Spirit Lake, IA and serves the Iowa Great Lakes and surrounding communities. She is dedicated to assisting her clients in all of their Real Estate transactions.