Let There Be Light - How to Brighten Up a Bedroom

Blush Pink Linen Curtains with Sunlight Shining Through

While darkness might be what we crave as we're nodding off, waking up to a light-filled room makes getting out of bed in the morning so much easier. Not only does a bright and airy space feel more inviting, but natural light also increases your body's 'feel-good' serotonin levels, helping to boost your mood and lower stress levels.

What better way to welcome the new season than by pulling back the curtains, opening the windows wide and trying out a few of our favourite bedroom brightening tips.

Use Light Colours and Clever Contrasts

The best way to scatter sunshine throughout your bedroom is to paint the walls a neutral colour, then go one shade lighter on your ceiling to bounce beams around even further. If you find white too stark, a mushroom grey or barely-there duck-egg can also work a treat, just be sure to use a matte variety as gloss paints tend to create glare.

Having a backdrop in a softer shade provides the perfect canvas for playing with fun and vibrant accents. Bedroom accessories in yummy soft colours like pastel pink, mint and baby blue can bring a refreshing sweetness to your decor, while camel tan and rust colours add warmth. Although it might seem counterintuitive, monochrome palettes are a crafty design secret used in Nordic countries to make the most of what little light they have during their long, dark winters. Balance this look successfully by pairing bursts of black or charcoal found in patterned fabrics or framed art, against areas of pure white to make them pop.

Get the Look

Pebble Grey 100% Linen Bed Linen

Add a Little Sparkle

Of course, you don't have to pick up a paintbrush to make your bedroom look bigger and brighter. Using mirrors to reflect light far and wide is one of the oldest tricks in the book and works wonders at creating an illusion of depth in a pocket-sized space. Streamline the passage of light by hanging your primary mirror directly across from the window that lets in the most rays and position any bulky items of furniture perpendicular.

Whether sleek and understated or colourful and eclectic, you're sure to find a mirror that matches your interior aesthetic. Dot about a few to double the amount of sunshine beaming through your bedroom and incorporate different metallic or glass touches for that final shimmering flourish.

Ticking Stripe Grey Bedding in a Light and Airy Bedroom

Dress Your Windows

If heavy curtains and blinds are turning your bedroom into a vampire's lair, swap them for soft, sheer coverings instead. Laid-back linen curtains provide privacy while still allowing natural light to filter through, as well as looking beautiful when your windows are ajar, and a gentle breeze is blowing. Try not to obstruct the top of the window as the rays that shine through here will reach the farthest in a room; this might include taming overshadowing trees, bushes or climbing plants growing in your garden.

Simple as it sounds, giving your windows a good scrub inside and out could be the answer to many of your low-lighting woes. A couple of tablespoons of vinegar diluted in warm water will get them sparkling again, then give them a quick buff with a piece of crumpled up newspaper or, if you’re feeling fancy, a microfiber cloth.

Get the Look

Natural 100% Linen Loop Top Curtain (Single)
Relaxed Denim White Loop Top Curtains (Pair)
Duck Egg 100% Linen Loop Top Curtain (Single)

Brightening your bedroom is all about finding balance. If you’re looking to draw more light into your home, give these tips a try, but remember a few shadows here and there help to create depth, a key component in making a space comfy and cosy.

Lizzy x