How to brighten up a North facing room (other than lighting/mirrors)?

[Pannacotta]

Our sitting room faces North and is pretty dark during the day - we often need the lights on all day (have lots of table lamps plus floor uplighters). Also have a large mirror facing the French doors. Is there anything else I can do to make it seem ligher/brighter?
(Walls are pale neutral with similar colured large rug over floor boards. Sofas/curtains again similar neutral colours.)
Any ideas please?

[KTWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Is there anything you can change outside to get more light in - e.g. cutting back trees/shrubs, painting any adjacent fences and walls a lighter colour? Is there any scope for putting in another window or skylights?

[Pannacotta]

No unfortunately not. We have a conservatory backing onto the room which cuts down the light even more. No greenery nearby to cut back. SLylights etc no possible either (due to the rooms above)
So the only options are things I can use inside the room, but I've run out of ideas/inspiration...

[alycat]

In my dark (south facing but cottagey windows) rooms I have used a special reflective paint - I was deeply sceptical at first, due to the price, but it has changed the rooms completely!

It is matt - I don't like shiny paint - and comes in limited colours. Not overly washable so only used the white on the ceiling and at one end (opp the bigger window)in DS' room, which has made a big diff.

[Pannacotta]

Alycat that sounds good, who makes it do you remember?

[noddyholder]

Dulux do a paint called light and space and it is very good and really works

[alycat]

Yes Noddy, you are right I used Dulux Light & Space.

White in DS' room and lilac echo (slightly off white hint of lilac) in another bedroom room.

The white is less £££ than the colours, all colours similar to 'hint of'.

I was painting over darker colour (orange) so gave it 3 good coats of Homebase own/specail offer white before doing 2 coats of the reflective paint as too £££ to use to cover it up!

In my old house I used all v.v. expensive (poncey) 'veggie/organic' paints - this house is getting whatever I can afford (sorry planet!)

[margosbeenplayingwithmynoonoo]

alycat - I wish I'd have had the benefit of your advice. I took 5 coats in my hallway - and was expensive

[alycat]

noonoo,

PIA isn't it? My DH thinks I'm nuts painting each room white before I start!

He obviously can't remember how many coats it took to cover the navy bedroom in our old house (8 and I swear I could still see it on a sunny day!)