It doesn’t matter your geographical area or how much your house is worth, nobody wants to spend much time in a very dark and dank living space. If you would like your home to be more livable and more inviting to your guests, you’ll want to bring in lots of light. Listed here are seven smart ways to brighten any room in your home for less than $100.
Easy Ways to Brighten a Room for Under $100
1. Get New Curtains
Replace your dark curtains with lighter and brighter retractable blinds. Retractable blinds have a lot of advantages, including ease of operation as well as the opportunity to maximize the light coming in through your windows. Modern blinds are simple to install and come in a wide array of colors and styles. While price varies, you can expect to spend from $30 to $50 per window.
2. Install Wall Sconces
Add wall sconces in strategic locations around your home. You can use these attractive light fixtures to brighten a dark hallway, add charm to your den or bring more light into your kitchen. You can acquire a basic LED wall sconce for under $50, or a high-end model for $80 or $90.
3. Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
Repaint your dark rooms a lighter color. You will be surprised at just how big a difference a new coat of paint will make. Replacing those dark blues or hunter greens with bright shades of yellow, white and beige can make any space look brighter, lighter and even more inviting. It generally takes two gallons to cover a whole room. If you shop the sales, you will discover quality paint for between $25 and $40 a gallon.
4. Get the Air Moving
Brighten up your rooms with a brand new ceiling fan. Adding overhead lights are a great way to brighten up your room and boost its attractiveness. Adding a ceiling fan can also reduce your energy costs by keeping your home cooler in the summertime, thus decreasing the need for air conditioning. While some ceiling fans will cost more than $100, others can be much less. Compare brands and do the installation yourself to save more money. You will find a basic ceiling fan for less than $50 if you look around.
5. Brighten up Your Cabinets
Use under-cabinet lights to make your kitchen tasks easier. You can find these lights at any hardware store. It’s also possible to purchase battery-operated versions if you don’t have any electrical outlets available. Most under-counter lights cost less than $25.
6. Replace Lighting Fixtures
Use pole lights to brighten up your living room and make the room more versatile. Place a chair under the pole light to create an instantaneous reading nook. If you shop around, you can find a quality pole light for $30 or $40, so go ahead and pick up several.
7. Install Mirrors
Use mirrors to reflect light and make the most of the light that streams into your home. A wall-mounted mirror will reflect light and then make your room look larger. Even a large mirror will cost under $100 – you may even be able to outfit the entire room with mirrors and still not exceed your established budget. You can buy a 2-by-3-foot wall mirror for around $70, well under your $100 budget.
Regardless of where your home is or what kind of home you have, you can create the most of the natural light with a few simple and inexpensive tweaks. Additionally you can add strategically placed artificial light sources to improve the natural light and make your home more inviting to guests and more fun for you and your family.
