Some folks visit Fairfield Galleries because they’ve just bought a new home and they’re looking forward to making it their own. Others have lived in the same place for years, but have decided it’s time to refresh a room or two. But what do you do when a room seems dark, small, or both? We’re not all drawn toward natural colors and lighter stains like honey pine, or a stark white finish. Luckily, there’s a happy medium between dungeon and hospital chic. And, old wives’ tales to the contrary, your dark furniture has a place in making a living room design look bright and airy.

The Benefits of Dark Furniture

Unless you’re obsessively restoring a home to a point where everything is period correct — which has its place — many of us like to mix and match. And why wouldn’t we? The simple designs and clean lines of Art Deco, Mission, and Shaker can easily coexist alongside the retro-futurism of mid-century modern, the industrial-inspired minimalism of Scandinavian, or even custom wood furniture you’ve conceived yourself. A home in which everything matches can wear on the eyes, but choosing pieces in similar finishes can help keep rooms looking intentional rather than haphazard.

Keeping it Bright with Dark Furniture

Maybe you’re worried your rooms would look smaller and darker because your furniture is dark. They can, but they don’t have to as long as you approach your decor thoughtfully, considering the room as a whole.

Lighten Up!

Maybe it’s not the furniture, but the lack of light, that’s making your room look dark. Make the best use of available light, using sheer curtains to diffuse outdoor light while maintaining privacy. If you want light-blocking curtains for a bedroom or home theater, choose bright colors so that the curtains and valences frame the window nicely even when they’re open.

When that isn’t enough, which is often the case for rooms with northern exposure or with plant growth blocking sunlight, use light fixtures to increase the amount of light in the room. Pro tip: pay more attention to lumens than to watts, since they’re a better indication of light output.

Look Up, Then Look Down

Where the light goes, and how it gets there, is just as important as how a space is lit. A light-colored ceiling won’t only make the room look brighter, it also acts as a reflector and diffuser for light so you can do more with less. Your floors won’t be used for this purpose quite as often, but dark carpeting or hardwood floors can make a room seem darker too, so use area rugs to lighten things up.

Embrace Contrast

Accent walls in bright colors are a great way to provide contrast within a room, and can keep it from appearing too small or too dark. A bold color draws the eye into the room, and can also help to make dark furniture “pop.” But even if an accent wall isn’t right for you, you can still incorporate color to add and enhance light. Throw pillows can provide a great contrast to a dark sofa or chair. A cherished quilt can bring some cheer to a dark sleigh bed or captain’s bed. Table runners can make a dark table stand out, and wall hangings — whether a bit of art or a textured tapestry — can do their part as well.

Mirror, Mirror…

Speaking of wall hangings, don’t neglect mirrors or make the mistake of thinking they’re only for bathrooms. They serve two purposes, lending depth even to small spaces, and providing another surface from which light can reflect and illuminate a room. They’re one of the simplest and least expensive “secret weapons” in the designer’s toolkit.

Reduce Clutter

Size matters for your furniture as well, since too many large pieces will make your room look small and dark. Take advantage of some smaller pieces that are well-placed so that every piece has its place, has room to breathe, and can make a statement. Some spaces can easily accommodate a sectional, a large coffee table, and other pieces; others may require a lighter touch, combining smaller pieces like armchairs and loveseats. Clearing clutter on shelves helps as well, since a less-is-more approach helps furnishings and collectibles alike make a statement without seeming to shout over a din of knickknacks.

Working with Fairfield Galleries

“Wait a minute,” you say. “You really didn’t say much about furniture.” In a way, you’re right. But then again, furniture is just one thing among many that makes a room work, and that makes your house a home. That’s why it’s important to look at the big picture. If you need a helping hand doing that, the friendly and knowledgeable Fort Wayne furniture team at Fairfield Galleries will be happy to assist you just as we’ve done for generations of tri-state customers over the last 70 years. And if you prefer to stay put, we’ll bring our interior design services to you instead. Either way, call today!