Updated March 21st, 2025

Have you ever wondered how to brighten up a dark room with no windows? You might think that choosing a lighter paint color is the way to go, and you're not alone in that thinking! But here's a little secret: painting a dark room in the brightest white won't really make it feel lighter or brighter, especially without any natural light around.

Are you curious to know more? Keep reading!

HOW TO BRIGHTEN A DARK ROOM WITH NO WINDOWS

I have 5 tips for you. The last one is key, so make sure to read until the end as I have some favorites for you to shop.

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CONTRAST

Here’s the truth: a dark room painted white will still be dark. So, what can you do? Well, what makes white, white? It’s contrast! White will only stand out as white when there is contrast, so think of dark colors paired with white. It doesn’t have to be white, but I’m using white in this case. Here’s an example.

For our Classic Black and White Project, the primary challenge in this project was creating two black-and-white bathrooms that felt similar yet different. We mixed and matched tiles to give each space its own identity. For the boys' bathroom, we chose a geometric pattern for the floor, while the girls' bathroom floor has a boho-inspired design with softer curves. Notice how the white stands out.

MIRRORS

Mirrors will help lighten and brighten a space. They reflect the amount of light that is in the room. They also help to enlarge a space, which is key to a dark and dismal room.

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METALLICS

Bring in some furnishings and accessories with some shine: gold, silver, bronze, etc. Not everything in the room needs to be metallic. Remember, contrast, even with materials is key.

ART

Go big here. Large pieces of art with color will definitely brighten your room! Everyone loves neutrals, but a plain neutral wall is blah. Put a piece of art on it that says, "Wow!" In our More Fun than Fancy Project, we addressed this by adding wallpaper to this bathroom and art of our client's favorite animal!

LAMPS

This is the big one. You must bring in other sources of light to your space. Recessed ceiling lights just don’t cut it alone. Using a variety of light sources will add layers of light to your room and will brighten your space. This also gives you the option to create certain moods with lamp lighting.

There are a variety of ways to do this. Sconces, table lamps, pendants, and floor lamps just to name a few. Notice at Christmas time when you place your Christmas tree in the corner of the room and the amount of light that gives. Don’t you just love that? Take it away, and you just may realize that you need a lamp in that space for the rest of the year.

Lamps are not only functional, but beautiful accessories too. Look for ones that are substantial and won't tip over easily. I love to add pops of color with lamp bases.

Need help selecting a table lamp for your living room? Then don't miss How to Choose the Perfect Table Lamp for Your Modern Transitional Living Room for my best tips!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today! Don't forget to check out my free resources for your next Interior Design Project here and make sure to pin this article here!