Wilmington Painters Weigh In: The Best Paint Colors to Brighten Up Dark Rooms
Some Wilmington residents like their rooms dark; others prefer them bright and airy. If you’re among the latter but your room has low light, you can get the atmosphere you desire by painting the room in the colors listed below.
The Best Paint Colors to Instantly Brighten Up Dark Rooms
The best paint colors to brighten up dark rooms are generally those with high light reflectance values (LRV). LRV refers to the percentage of light a paint color reflects. The scale goes from 0% (black) to 100% (white). Ideally, interior painting projects that aim to brighten a room should use colors with an LRV of 65% or higher. Here are some of your best options.
White
White paint is a popular choice for brightening dark rooms. However, don’t go for the brightest white paint because it can have the opposite effect. Bright or pure white has 100% LRV, reflecting all light. So when there’s not enough light, this paint color can make your space look flat. Consider warm whites instead—whites with warm, sunny undertones or light neutrals that read like a creamy white. Swiss Coffee, Simply White, and Cloud White by Benjamin Moore are great options. You can also try Sherwin-Williams’ Alabaster or Pure White paint.
Light Blue
Light blue shades, like pastel blue or powder blue, also work well in darker rooms. Besides brightening your room, light blue paint can make it look bigger. Blues recede, giving the illusion of opening up a space. In addition, this color adds a touch of personality and quirkiness.
Soft Yellow
Yellow is another great option for brightening up dark rooms. It’s one of the most reflective hues in the color spectrum, with an LRV of up to 90%, depending on the shade. It’s also associated with energy, happiness, and optimism. When painting interior walls, it’s best to use a soft or lighter, more muted yellow color so as not to hurt your eyes. Save the deeper, more saturated yellows for design accents.
Gentle Green
Green is also a popular interior paint color. It’s refreshing and tranquil. Choose softer hues like sage green for darker rooms because they reflect light well. Sage green brings a subtle sense of brightness, and its yellow undertones make a space feel warm and comforting.
Bonus tip: if your room lacks natural light, using the right type of artificial lighting and placing it strategically across your room can help enhance the effect of your chosen paint color.
Choose the Right Sheen
After you’ve found the perfect interior paint colors to brighten up your dark spaces, you will need to choose the level of sheen or finish. Sheen is a measure of how much light bounces off a painted surface. It can range from high gloss and semi-gloss to matte or flat. Paints with higher sheen are more reflective, giving the illusion of more light. The high gloss finish has the highest sheen and reflective properties, which can effectively brighten your room. However, it can also accentuate imperfections on your wall, so it is not always the best option. Matte or flat are not ideal either because they don’t reflect light.
Note that some brands have different names to describe paint sheen. Examples are modern emulsion, dead flat, and estate emulsion. If unsure, always research or ask an expert before committing to a color. That way, you ensure you’re making the right choice for your space.
Test Your Colors
Paint colors can appear dramatically different on your walls than paint swatches at stores because of lighting, surface texture, and many other factors. That’s why we recommend testing paint colors in your room under different lighting to see how they look. Paint stores offer samples or swatches you can bring home. Put them on the walls you will paint and look at them with the lights off and on. Although testing paint colors means more work, it eliminates the stress of wrong choices.
Find the Best Paint Color to Brighten Up Your Dark Room: Book a Color Consultation Today!
Are the seemingly endless paint color options overwhelming? Unsure about what color to get to brighten up your dark room? Anderson Painting experts can help! We offer expert color selection services alongside our professional-grade exterior and interior painting services to help you find the perfect color to create the look you want in your room.
Talk to our skilled Wilmington painters to find the best paint for your space. Call 910-610-5276 or email info@andersonpaintingnc.com.
