21 Ways to Brighten Up Your Living Room

A lighter, brighter color scheme brings affordable elegance to your home.

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September 21, 2020

By: Felicia Feaster

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Bring In the Bling

A polished coffee table like this one both reflects light and doubles the impact of the accessories atop it. Even better: Glass and metallic pieces complement any and all color schemes.

Wash the Walls

The gradual accumulation of particulates like dust and soot that makes a space look subtly dingy doesn't catch the eye at first, but is it noticeable when you rearrange framed art and discover a pale silhouette on the surface beneath it. Head off the heartbreak of learning your walls are grimy by making a point of dusting and washing them once a year.

From: Corine Maggio

Tidy Up

The key to enjoying the effect of a pale area rug like this one is, of course, being able to see it in the first place. Corralling clutter and relocating or getting rid of extraneous furniture is important in all spaces, but it's especially crucial in smaller and darker spaces.

Give the Mantel a Makeunder

Pursuing a sense of lightness doesn't have to mean getting rid of handsome, dark tones like the wood on the ceiling and above the hearth in this historic home. It does mean paring those heavier pieces back to their most essential elements. In this case, a simple shelf adorns the fireplace beautifully.

From: McEnearney Associates, Inc. and Luxury Portfolio International®

Choose Accessories Wisely

Keeping a space light when deploying bold, attention-grabbing pieces like these green chairs is all about giving the eye a chance to rest. In this case, a light occasional table with a gleaming top and a glass lamp offer a casual and concealed space between two commanding seats.

Repaint Furniture

Chairs with a darker finish would have felt far too heavy and traditional for this eclectic space. With a fresh coat of white paint, the chairs complement the gleaming walls and hearth beautifully.

From: Bria Hammel Interiors

Add Brightness With a White Rug

Don't let pets and the fear of accidents deter you from the power move of accenting your living room with a white area rug. Modern materials are up to the task of withstanding stains, and there's nothing like a pale textile on the floor to make your space feel both bright and cozy.

From: Heidi Caillier

Wash the Windows

Need a bit of motivation to have a go at your windows? Dirt and other substances don't just prevent sunlight from streaming in and making your home feel fresh, they can also etch glass, making depressing debris permanent.

Experiment With Acrylic

If you associate acrylic furniture with retro Hollywood and space age '60s decor, it's high time to give it another look. Pieces like this light as air coffee table, look right at home in traditional and transitional spaces, and they take up zero visual space.

From: Baird & Warner and Luxury Portfolio International®

Trade In Textiles

An ample white sofa (or an ample sofa with a white slipcover) will perk up a gloomy space, to be sure. Consider how bright this space feels, despite deep hued rugs and toss pillows. If you're not ready to commit to a massive white piece, take a cue from this California home and drape armchairs in pale sheepskins.

From: Natalie Myers

Incorporate Metallic Elements

You don't need to have a heavy hand with gold and silver to brighten your space with gleaming details. Consider the subtle touches on these accent pillows and the chaise's legs, which add subtle dimension to the room.

From: Anissa Swanzy

Go All In on the Walls

Want to instantly add brightness to a room? Painting your walls and built-ins white is a sure way, and instantly makes any colorful accessories in the room pop. With a white backdrop, you don't need to go for intense colors. On trend leather and natural woods are a great way to add interest.

From: Melissa Reynolds

Accentuate Artwork With Generous Mats

There's quite a lot going on in this gallery space, but groupings that could feel exhausting are easy on the eye, because they share broad white matting.

Keep Furniture Low to the Ground

An already large room, like this one, looks even bigger and brighter because two-thirds of it are virtually empty. You can borrow this trick in a space of any size. Choose low, expansive pieces that give the upper reaches of the living room a sense of openness.

Mix It Up

Neutrals and darker colors are great backdrops and offer contrast to a lighter color scheme. Darker colors add variety and offer a nice foundation, as with this warm velvet sofa and dark leather chairs accented by white walls and rug.

From: Halstead Real Estate and Luxury Portfolio International®

Minimize Window Treatments

If your living room boasts large windows with a bit of architectural interest like these, try leaving them unadorned. Forgoing curtains can mean sacrificing a bit of privacy, but dramatic sun and shadow, like this, is well worth a bit of additional interaction with the neighbors.

From: Andreas Charalambous

Make the Most of Mirrors

Enhance the airy feel of a space like this one — or bring a sense of breeziness to a room with a smaller footprint — by deploying a massive mirror. If you're lucky enough to have a window in your living room, position the mirror to catch the light to double the exposure.

From: Alana Frailey

Whitewash Brickwork

A weekend’s worth of effort can turn an oppressively outdated wall or hearth into a fresh-faced focal point. Whitewashing is a beginner-friendly DIY: imperfection is part of its charm, and project supplies are both inexpensive and easy to source from your local hardware store.

From: Caroline Kopp

Accessorize Strategically

Adding just a few brighter accessories like gold and ice blue pillows, cream chairs and a white rug significantly lightens this room up. Going for a fresh, lighter look in your living room? Pay attention to wall color, curtains and rugs, and mix neutrals and darks with brighter colors.

Freshen Up Your Library

Want to breathe some new life into your bookshelf? Copy this designer trick and face the books' spines inward.

Choose a Lighter Lamp Shade

Consider swapping out darker lamp shades for lighter ones to bring an airiness into your living room. The pretty glass and gold detail on this lamp also adds to the room's light and bright, glam edge.