Whether it’s a lack of natural lighting, an unfortunate (and non-negotiable) paint color, or an abundance of heavy furniture, dark rooms can present a serious design challenge. While adding in a skylight may not always be an option, we love the idea of bringing in a light, bright piece of art to add a breath of fresh air into a room that feels a little stifling. Our go-to pieces are ones with lots of whites and creams, or cheerful prints that will add a dose of sunshine when natural light may be scarce. To help out anyone struggling with a dark room, we rounded up our 10 favorite prints to brighten up your space, from snowy birch trees to sunny beaches. Keep reading to see how to lighten up…
1. Byron Bay Sunbathers
We’ve detailed all the reasons we love Australia before, but the wide expanses of beach are near the top of our list. Byron Bay in particular is home to some stunning light sand beaches that make the perfect accent piece on a dark wall. Consider us sold.
2. White Umbrellas, Eleuthera
It’s easy for a dark room to feel like it was made for winter… no matter what the weather outside is actually like. Shake off the gloom with this beachy seaside print and bring summer indoors (anytime of the year).
3. White Cabanas, Italy
Clean lines, bright white cabanas, and a pop of color in the middle—this fresh print will make you want to book a trip to the Italian coast ASAP… and will bring some much-needed light into a dark space.
4. Rainbow Lifeguard Stand, Venice Beach
Add a dose of rainbow to your walls with this playful beach print. We love the way the light sand, clear turquoise waters, and multicolored lifeguard stand pack a punch, making this an easy way to inject some color into a room that feels somber.
5. The Queen B
This print is pure sunshine… and if you’re a Beyoncé fan, you’ll smile every time you walk into the room. If that doesn’t add some light in, we don’t know what will!
6. Man in Red Shorts, Bora Bora
Clear blue waters as far as the eye can see… We don’t know about you, but to us, that sounds like a pretty good way to make a small, dark room feel instantly more expansive (and make us want to dive right into this inviting print!).
7. Psarou Beach, Mykonos
You can almost feel the balmy Mediterranean air wafting out of this Greek Isles print, and we couldn’t love the light, bright lines of the beach club loungers and textured umbrellas more. Add this print to your wall for an instant does of island charm.
8. Snowy Birch Trees
Embrace the clean, wintery lines of this snowy landscape and add a hint of crisp white color into the room. The bare trees make this print feel almost abstract, so it can fit perfectly into the space year-round.
9. Multicolor Umbrellas, Italy
We want to walk right down this path stretching out across the sand, and that makes this piece perfect for a dark, closed in room. The slight optical illusion will make the space feel instantly bigger and the bright, punchy colors will lift the darkness.
10. The Pink Lounger, Hawaii
Stretch out and relax in this peaceful Hawaiian morning. The simplicity of the scene puts the focus on the soft, light colors and the wide-open sea.
Do you have any tricks to lighten up a dark room?
Find more of ours right here on the Tips & Tricks page!
Xx Team GM
Photos: Gray Malin