How can I brighten my living room after an extension?

[YourElatedReader]

We had a rear extension done and behold, the living room has gone dark. If it is sunny outside it is fine, but if it's overcast it stays dark most of the day. We have a side window that brings some of the light, and above that window is a skylight that also contributes. I have tried a mirror and it doesn't work because it's flat and doesn't reflect anything. We can't add a window on the sides of the living room because it's exterior and will destroy the house shape and it's complex.

Personally I'd embrace the dark cosy feel; decorate in warm colours and go with it. The extension looks lovely and fresh and light and bright so that can be your light area

Mirror on the wall the ladders are up against.

Change the lighting in the living room to something like LED up lighting - use stand alone lamps rather than uplight to the ceiling from the main light.

Make it a warm room with good lighting. Bold colours would work well, make it look like a snug.

Yes, as above you could have it as a cosy snug. But if you are hankering after more light, would a sun tunnel from the roof be an option? If there's a built-in wardrobe in the room above, it could go through there.

Or a convex mirror, on the wall to the right of the window to catch the light from the window and skylight and bounce it in.

Or a "natural light" like this (rather expensive but you might be able to find a cheaper version!)

https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/technology-articles/inventions-1/artificial-light-like-natural-light-0654654/

Would you say a large freestanding mirror with around a 30-45 degree tilt angle be alright? Placing it against the wall where the ladders are?

Yeah I could, but I feel sad that the room has gone dark because before the extension, this was the room everyone used to chill in. Had the TV and everything in there. TV will eventually come back once the work is finished completely but this lighting problem is giving me massive stress. I want the most natural light possible.

Yeah I could, but I feel sad that the room has gone dark because before the extension, this was the room everyone used to chill in. Had the TV and everything in there. TV will eventually come back once the work is finished completely but this lighting problem is giving me massive stress. I want the most natural light possible.

Not sure what you mean by adding windows into the alcove will change the shape of the house? That's exactly what we have done.

No, a sun tunnel won't be viable from the roof because the room above has the window placed there.

I’d lose much more of the wall between the two spaces. It’s blocking a lot of light.

What about putting some glass brick things somewhere in place of solid wall? I've not explained this well but I'll find a pic

Like this. I had a poorly lit lounge in a flat once that had a wall like this to let more natural light in.

I'll ask the builder and see if it's possible and how much it's cost. So you reckon I should widen the entire passageway or just widen the bit that has the window only and leave the rest the size it is now?

I’d also embrace the dark and cosy especyif you have another sitting room? Would love to see what’s down the hall 😊

I doubt you’d be able to widen the opening now as the lintel will probably be sitting on those sections.

Op is that a new corridor that has been created from the original back sitting room to the extension or is there another way to access the extension. Do you have a floor plan of the whole ground floor so we can better understand the configuration and options for furniture placement? A glass door between your sitting room and any front room might bring some light in but you may have to look at layering artificial light with down lighters and wall lights

Can you put a window in the wall where the ladders are? The light will probably shine through directly into your room. The side window is never going to give enough natural light where you want it.