How can I lighten a dark room.

[lizwizz]

We moved into a modern house which we viewed in the summer.The dining room only has one small window facing a brick wall and its really dark. How can I lighten it up short of having the window enlarged? The wallpaper is quite a pale shade already.

[noxlumos]

Large mirror facing the window or light reflectant wallpaper is all I can think of, the mirro idea and the walpaper work but to what degree depends exactly how dark it is in there.

[snook]

Perhaps you could make one wall a mural. That would open up; the room and give the irmpression it was bigger and lighter. don�t know if you�re at all artistic, but you could take a look at these and at least consider having a go: murals

You'll find lots more to look at if you seach using Google Images.

[parkesquay]

Assuming that the brick wall is not painted you could paint it white and use an elongated mirror(as per previous idea) to reflect light. What colour is the rest of the room; e.g. are the walls and ceiling white? Wall paper is not a great reflector of light so it might pay to get rid of it. On the other hand if you don't want to paint the brick wall then paper it. Just thoughts.

[parkesquay]

I suppose that the obvious answer is to put more light in the room. e.g. halogens in the ceiling; extra wall lights or good corner lighting.

[lady_p_gold]

I have the same problem and I have got a couple of lamps with 'simulated daylight bulbs' , it is not ideal but better than nothing .. and I have a halogen uplighter.

[smurfchops]

White paint and furniture is quite fashionable at the moment, shabby chic and all that. If you have dark wood furniture and it could do with a revamp - paint it white and you could distress it to look up to the minute with some sandpaper on the edges afterwards. White walls should help too. Keep it as light as possible, and of course as mentioned mirrors, big windows, lighting, etc all help and a light colour carpet if possible.