Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Dark house

10 replies

MattMagnolia · 14/06/2019 19:28

Our small house faces south-east but has very small windows and low ceilings so the rooms are dark.
Walls are all pale neutral colours and I have mirrors opposite each window but they make no difference. We need lights on even in summer.
Suggestions please to light us up.

OP posts:
BubblesBuddy · 14/06/2019 19:34

There’s not much that will help! Open up all the rooms. Put a glass extension on the back. Can you change the windows?

JoJoSM2 · 14/06/2019 21:40

Put bigger windows in. And if it's a listed, period cottage/farmhouse, then unfortunately they can be dark and cold and it's a trade off for living somewhere pretty.

wowfudge · 14/06/2019 22:04

What colour are the internal window frames and sills? It they are not white them painting them white will make a significant difference.

PCohle · 14/06/2019 22:14

As well as light walls make sure your flooring and large pieces of furniture are nice light colours. Masses of dark wood furniture will make a room feel darker. The same goes for e.g. banisters, fireplaces etc. Maybe light rugs if you can't replace the flooring? The same goes for dark works of art on the wall.

Trim trees/hedges etc outside the windows.

Are your window coverings blocking the light? For example, make sure your curtains sit almost totally on the wall when they're drawn so that they aren't blocking the window during the day.

Are the ceilings light? Are their eg dark beams you could paint?

Add lots of lamps, make sure your lightbulbs are bright and a nice 'tone' of white - I like warm bulbs but I know some people think cooler bulbs simulate daylight better. Use your light walls/ceilings to reflect light by having up-lighters or lamps against the wall. Metallic lamps will reflect the light increasing how much light they add.

Convert windows into french doors if possible. (With a Juliet balcony if upstairs).

Consider a skylight where possible. One at the top of the stairs illuminates the whole stairwell and lights the house from the interior. Having a bright hall adds light to every room in the house.

Have a glass front or black door?

PCohle · 14/06/2019 22:15

Sorry, my last house was really gloomy. Clearly I still have a lot of feelings on the subject.

MattMagnolia · 15/06/2019 20:40

Gloomy is the word for the sitting room! Unfortunately it is listed and we can’t do French windows, sky lights or glass extensions. Done all your other suggestions, thanks.

OP posts:
DustyDoorframes · 15/06/2019 20:51

You might be better off going with it, and painting the sitting room dark. You could have a gorgeous dark wood and velvet sofas (or old leather armchairs for a sort of a snug look. You are never going to get airy, so you might as well nail cozy!

Clarabel7 · 15/06/2019 20:58

I've used Dulux 'space & light' paint with great success. I don't know what they put in it but it contains something that REALLY reflects the light. It was almost too in our faces to begin with. The other thing we did was to get custom-cut slithers of mirror that we stuck up with those sticky pads into each side of the window reveal. But using two pads stuck together closer to the window & one nearest the inside of the room. That had the effect of ever-so-subtly angling the light in. Custom cut mirror is cheap as chips, ours cost £15 including polished edges. Other than that, anything that reflects light, gloss paint, shiny floors or mirrored coffee tables etc. On the other side of our room we had bookshelves & had the interior back of those mirrored too. Every bit helps. With the odd chain of fairy lights/candles it has a cozy glow.

KirstyVal · 17/06/2019 09:50

Ooh good job!

Sounds really lovely!

A glass extension / big glazed windows would let in loadsss of light!

Maybe try a different style of window?

You can take a look at the most common styles of windows here: www.doubleglazingontheweb.co.uk/upvc-windows/

Is it a period property? A flush window would look really nice!

BubblesBuddy · 17/06/2019 10:35

Don’t use gloss paint. FandB Eggshell really reflects light in the very pale colours. As do their Matt paints in some colours. The shops play around with them to give you the best combinations.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page