Lamp in dark room
How to Brighten a Dark Room: You Need Floor Lamps!
Lighting
When you sell your house what’s the first thing a realtor does when they show it to a buyer? They turn on EVERY light. Most of our homes look too dark. Everyone wants a light, bright feeling home but not every room has large windows. Floor lamps can brighten up a dark room and make a small room look larger.
See the best floor lamps updated for 2022 below.
Floor lamps allow you to get tons of light without adding overhead lights (which are expensive). There are so many pictures in magazines of these beautiful bright rooms with giant windows. But let’s be honest, the room looks amazing because of the architecture which you can’t duplicate. Great lighting is one of the most important design elements in every room.
If your living space is someplace where you can’t add windows or add/replace lights that are hard-wired, floor lamps are your new best friend. They can brighten up a room without a big price tag.
They can also make a really big statement about your style because they are BIG. Choose one that complements your unique design. Their large size often means they hold multiple bulbs or higher wattage bulbs. Floor lamps can really bring plenty of light to every room.
What’s the best place to Use a Floor Lamp?
Floor lamps work in so many spots (read more about how to style floor lamps here) all over your home. You can’t put them out in the middle of a room, but they work tucked in these spaces:
- Next to a sofa or chair
- Standing alone in a dark corner
- Next to a bed or beside a small nightstand (if you don’t have room for a table lamp)
- Beside a desk
A well-lit room should have three light sources, not including the natural light from a window. Most rooms have some type of overhead lighting, source number one. To make a room look warm and inviting you need two more. Take a look at your room and see where the dark spots are. If you can’t count three light sources, you need a floor lamp.
See this example – it’s a dining room with no recessed lights. It looks light in the morning, but at night you need all the bulbs you can get. There’s a chandelier, a table lamp and a floor lamp. Read more about finding the budget friendly chandeliers here.
How to Brighten A Dark Room on a Budget
Floor lamps come in all styles and budgets. I stick to handful of sources for lighting to avoid spending hours of time online shopping. My favorite floor lamps are from Ballard Designs (especially on sale), Pottery Barn, IKEA (for the biggest bargains, but not the most light) Target, Etsy, and Amazon.
See the three tips for getting a floor lamp with lots of light.
Statement Floor Lamps
If you are looking for a floor lamp that makes a statement, take a look at these. They do a lot more than just provide light. These lights are large and more like a piece of art than a lamp. They can be the focal point of a room.
I choose every product I review. I may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of the product links, See the full disclosure.
- Arc Lamps on ETSY – This lamp comes in silver and black. It has a dimmer and comes with the shade. It’s a bargain.
- Tripod Retro Floor Lamp on ETSY – check out this sellers full line of lamps. They have many contemporary lights. This one adds warm light when it’s on.
- Curvilinear mid-century lamp from West Elm
- Asymmetric Ceramic Floor lamp from West Elm
Arc Floor Lamps
This style of floor lamp is a great option over a chair, couch or in a reading nook. These lamps are large enough that they can add height to small spaces and act like a sculptural element in the room. They can also meet your lighting needs at a desk or a home office that requires light for a specific task.
- IKEA Ranarp Floor lamp – I love the affordable price on Ikea Light fixtures but you have to be sure that they take standard incandescent bulbs. Some Ikea lighting is only made to work with the bulbs they sell.
- Cantilever Drop Pendant Floor Lamp from Target (less than $100)
- Overarching Floor Lamp from West Elm – Comes in three finishes, antique brass, bronze and nickel. Wait for a sale on this one.
- Target Arc Floor Lamp (less than $100)- A simple modern floor lamp.
- Easton Iron floor lamp – wait for a sale on this one. Comes in two finishes, antique brass or bronze.
- James Floor Lamp from Ballard Designs – This lamp has a very heavy metal base. It is a really warm light.
Pillar Floor Lamps
These lamps are a bit more bare bones, they are basically just like table lamps with a longer base. This type of floor light may not make as much of a statement, but can still add lots of light to a room and can often hold a higher wattage bulb than a table lamp.
- Britech Jacob reading and floor lamp – This lamp comes in multiple finishes, black brass and sating. It has enough bulbs that it is great for bringing lots of light (and won’t use much energy if you use LED bulbs). It feels almost like a standing chandelier.
- Britech Mid Century Floor lamp – This lamp has tons of style at a great price.
- Kayne Floor Lamp from Lamps Plus
- Weston Window Pane Floor Lamp from Target – This lamp also comes in a desk top version and three finishes, black, nickel and brass.
- Wood Floor Lamp from Ballard Designs – This is a very traditional style of lamp. It comes in two finishes, black and natural.
- Ambiore Floor Lamp – What’s different about this lamp is that the shade is adjustable. You can use it with the shade straight light a regular lamp or tilt it. It comes in black with a gold shade interior.
Tripod Floor lamps
Tripod floor lamps have a bit more heft to them than the single pillar lamps so they can take up more space in your room. These examples all have a drum shade, but there are options with a cone shaped-shade.
They tend to have a more modern look to them and fit right into mid-century modern decor. Tripod lamps are more expensive than other styles of floor lamps. Look for these if you have a budget of more than $100 (with the exception of these affordable floor lamps below).
- Wood and Brass Tripod Lamp from Target – This lamp can fit into so many different style rooms. I hope you go to Target’s web site and scroll through the photos for this lamp, you will want to buy it and it’s priced very reasonably. Lamps Plus has an almost identical lamp that is twice as much. It also comes in a nickel finish. PS this is not a sponsored post.
- Black Tripod – This one has an unusual black shade, which looks cool but will reduce the light output.
- LEPOWER Wood Tripod Floor lamp – This lamp is a real bargain and comes in two wood finishes.
Torchiere Floor Lamps
A torchiere lamp is not meant for lighting specific areas. The light is aimed at the ceiling so they can light up an entire living area because the light reflects off the ceiling. They are inexpensive.
If you need lots of light, especially if you have high ceilings they can be great. Here are a few budget-friendly modern torchieres. If you can find one with two lights in one fixture, those are the best choice.
- Britech Torchiere light – This one comes in three finishes, brass, black and silver.
- Britech Sky Dome light – This one comes in black and silver. It’s like two lamps for the price of one. You get general room light and task lighting.
- CB2 Modern Black Marble – This torchiere floor lamp has two lights in one and it also comes in brass.
- Rosella Torchiere – This minimalist design comes in brushed steel and antique brass.
Conclusion
Look around your room and see if a floor lamp would be the answer to brighten up your space. Do you have three light sources in every room? If not, try adding one floor lamp and see what a difference it makes. You can read more about how to style a floor lamp. I hope this helps you the next time you need a light bulb. learn more lamps and lighting,
When you go to purchase a lamp be sure that the shade is included in the price. Sometimes shades are sold separately and they can be hard to match in scale if you don’t buy with the lamp. If you have a favorite floor lamp, share it in the comments.
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Get The MOST Light From These Floor Lamps For Your Dark Room
Lighting
Do you have one room in your home or apartment that is always dark? Most houses, especially older ones don’t have enough ambient lighting. There is sometimes a lack of overhead lighting and not enough plugs. Try using one of these four tips for a light source in a dark room using floor lamps.
First, choose a standing floor lamp that uses more than one bulb. Second, go for floor lamps that accept high wattage bulbs. Third, get a floor lamp that bounces light off the ceiling or other reflective surfaces. Fourth, choose the right type of lampshade. If possible, avoid lamps with dark shades, directed spotlights or task lamps, which are not as good lighting a whole room. I’ll explain more about each of these below and give some of my favorites that meet some, or all of these criteria.
Best Multi-Bulb Floor Lamps
If you choose a floor lamp that takes 2-3 bulbs, it’s a great choice and gives plenty of light. It’s almost a substitute for overhead lights. Think of it like a tall lamp or an overhead light on a stick. These are going to be more expensive, but you get a lot more light.
Watch out for multi-light fixtures that only take a candelabra bulb (the kind with the skinny neck). Candelabra bulbs DON’T have high wattage, 15 to 40 watts, which is not a lot of light for a dark space. Many multi-bulb fixtures only take a fluorescent bulb, which gives off very blue light.
I choose every product I review. I may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of the product links, at no extra cost to you. This income supports this site. See the full disclosure.
- This three arm lamp from Pottery Barn takes 3 – 100 watt bulbs and it has light-colored lamp shade. That’s tons of light. It is an excellent choice for providing plenty of light to any living space. A similar lamp at Target costs much less and while it’s a good floor lamp, the total wattage of all bulbs has to be below 100. It comes with 800 LUMEN LED bulbs (which is equal to a 60 watt bulb). This is an example of how you have to check the details.
- This multi-bulb lamp from West Elm only holds a 40-watt bulb, but it has 5 lights.
- This brass floor lamp takes TWO 100 watt bulbs and has a nice modern design.
- Bronze arc floor lamp also takes two 100 watt bulbs.
Best Lamps That Bounce Light Off Ceiling
If you want to get more light into a room, bouncing it off the ceiling or any reflective surface, is a great way to do that. The light shines out the top of the lamp. This is not my favorite style of lamp, but it serves a purpose. This has the bonus of spreading the light around the room more than standard lamps, that just lights the immediate area around it.
- This brass torchiere holds a 150-watt bulb.
- This iron torchiere also holds a 150-watt bulb and has a pretty glass shade. You don’t have to use an Edison-type bulb.
- This black torchiere is simple and basic, which is what I like about it. It could blend into any room and it holds 150-watt bulb.
- This modern floor lamp takes two 75-watt bulbs. One shines out the top and one out the bottom.
Why Spot Lights Aren’t As Good For Dark Rooms
There are lots of spotlights out there with multiple bulbs, but generally these types of lamps are really meant for task lighting. For example, you shine the spot down on a reading nook. They may not be the right floor lamp as they don’t light up an entire room, but are designed to provide light for a specific task.
Here are a few examples, of what I mean by a spotlight.
- This cute nickel spotlight has three lights, but they are all very directed. The large spot takes 100 watts, which is pretty good.
- Brass multi-light floor lamp. This one is better for lighting tasks.
I hope these rules give you a few key things to look for if you are looking for lighting options for a dark room. Maximum wattage is king! If you’re using LED bulbs, that is Lumens instead of watts.
learn more lamps and lighting, check out these posts that cover all the details to make sure you get the right lamp for your space. Want to learn more about regular incandescent bulbs vs LEDs?
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Lighting in a dark room . Electric couple
In a dark, dark room... This situation from a children's horror story, unfortunately, is often found in life. The reasons why the sun does not look into the room can be different: the north side of the house, hiding the light of a neighboring high-rise building or a forest area. In any case, living in such a room is uncomfortable - drowsiness increases, fatigue, depression. The easiest way, of course, is to add lighting. The idea is good, but this is not the place to start.
Increased lighting in the dark room
Interior decoration of the room, in which the sun is a rare guest, should be bright. Shouldn't fall into extremes and turn the living room into a branch of the hospital operating room, making walls, floor and ceiling are white. The walls can be decorated in bluish or pearl gray tones, but such colors are considered "cold", and the room will cause a feeling of coolness and detachment. If you want to make dark bright and cozy room, use shades of yellow, beige, peach or green.
The ceiling is still better leave white or sky blue - this will further expand the visual room volume. Do not get carried away with various stucco decorations and niches. Such architectural delights will make a light-poor room look like gothic dungeon filled with mysterious shadows and twilight. An interesting option is to decorate one of the walls with a bold painting in the form of an open a sunny window or a light-filled landscape. The floor can be arranged in pastel shades by choosing a floor covering a few shades darker wall decoration. The mosaic version or beautiful will look extraordinary patterned imitation tiles.
The right choice of interior
Furnishing with heavy pot-bellied chests of drawers and deep chairs covered with covers categorically not suitable for rooms with a lack of natural light. Excess textiles: capes, blankets, bedspreads with tassels, heavy curtains and lambrequins - should be avoided, and on the windows limited to light tulle curtains. You need to get by with a minimum of furniture and place it away from the center rooms, freeing up space. Furniture is also preferred light shades. All kinds of transparent glass or mirror are welcome. inserts in which light will be crushed and refracted, this will give the room additional volume, and the furniture will not look bulky and awkward. Not worth it clutter the room with an abundance of trinkets and souvenirs, as well as hang them on On the walls are large paintings in heavy dark frames.
Art lovers can advise to do with a few small canvases, made in light, cheerful manner, and frames are preferable to choose silver and golden hues or white with gilding elements. Very nice and stylish decorations in the form of crystals, mirror compositions will look, crystal pendants, white sea shells, small gilded figurines. All shiny surfaces, chrome, nickel or gold plated elements of the decor in a dark room will look very advantageous. They are perfectly reflect the light, adding a festive splendor to the room.
Additional lighting in darkroom
To darkroom lighting should not be approached on the principle of "the more the better". Maximum effect will be achieved by placing lamps around the perimeter of the room so that they evenly illuminated the walls and the rest of the space. One big and very a bright chandelier in the center of the ceiling is likely to create sharp shadow contrasts in corners of the room. The most rational option is a combined multi-stage lighting, when different groups of lamps and backlights can be switched on different times of the day, achieving interesting lighting solutions. If in a dark room nevertheless, it is planned to start plants, especially flowering ones, for their normal development will definitely need additional lamps.
Recently very spot lighting is popular, it is suitable for tension or hanging ceiling. Spotlights have a miniature size, fit into any interior. Given the general concept of design, you can pick up point lamps with crystal, with glass and even with LED backlighting.
Room lighting plants
The main things you don't need do in a poorly lit room - put the plants on the windowsill. window and the space in front of it should be as free as possible. A large number of plants with dark and large leaves, lush bushes or thick vines will turn room in the dense jungle. Plants are best to choose small-leaved, variegated or blooming with white or yellow-orange flowers. Highly one white orchid with large exotic flowers will look spectacular on high stems.
Room lamps plants need to choose special ones that can fully satisfy plant with the right spectrum of light. Depending on the characteristics of the plant, LED lamps, fluorescent lamps or HPS may be suitable. Need It should be noted that DNAT is practically not used in room conditions, since emits a lot of heat and is characterized by an unpleasant light for the eyes.
Many room lovers plants prefer inexpensive CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps). They are sold in any store, affordable. Having created the right combination of cold and warm color temperature lamps can get decent results.
A legend in indoor plant lighting - OSRAM FLUORA fluorescent lamp. This lamp is designed specifically to illuminate plants, its irradiation fully satisfies the plant in the required spectrum of blue and red colors. Serves up to 20,000 hours!
With the help of a successful and competent arranged lighting in a dark room, you can achieve fantastic results. But even in this matter it is worth observing the measure, since an excess of light just as harmful to the human body as its deficiency. It creates excessive emotional and psychological stress, and also tires the eyesight. Take a look at your dark room in a new way. So that, on the advice of the sage Confucius, not engage in a fruitless search for a black cat in it, with the help of simple, but effective techniques can add light, sun and joy to it.
How to brighten a dark room: the most effective methods
Contents:
- Light finishes
- Rejection of doors and partitions
- The right approach to decorating windows
- Interior items for a dark room
-
- Light furniture with glossy finish
- Mirror surfaces and shiny decor
- Textile
- Bright lighting in the room
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- Application of multilevel lighting
- How to place fixtures
A room with little natural light can be brightened up with the right furniture and accessories. To make a dark room brighter, you need to properly organize the interior and think over the lighting scenarios in advance. Consider effective methods for creating a cozy atmosphere in a dark room.
Light finish
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The best solution for poorly lit rooms is a light color finish. Dark accents at the same time will help emphasize the overall concept of interior design.
In a white room, use warm colors and add some dark accents
In this case, a white base is not the best solution. Then the room will look too cold and boring. The right solution is to use several warm shades in alliance with white. A combination of white with blue, yellow or olive color will be harmonious. Bright and juicy details perfectly complement the pastel palette.
Light finish in the interior of the bedroom
Refusal of doors and partitions
The apartment will look more spacious and brighter if the rooms smoothly transition from one to another. The main obstacle to such perception are interior doors. It is recommended to decorate the doorway with an arch that looks more attractive than an empty rectangle.
To make the room more spacious and lighter, it is better to refuse doors and partitions
As an option, you can consider folding screens made of fabric, which are easily removed if necessary.
Partitions that let in light can be used in the interior
There is another option for decorating a room. If it is not possible to refuse interior doors, then models with glass should be used.
Without doors, the room will appear larger and brighter
It is not recommended to use massive partitions and blind doors that do not let in light. Such doors clutter up the space.
Combined living room and kitchen interior
The right approach to window decoration
Heavy curtains often impair lighting in a dark room. You can completely abandon the curtains, but in this case the room becomes not very comfortable.
Roman blinds and transparent tulle can be used in the interior
Designers offer several ways to solve this problem:
- Usage of conventional curtain and tulle sets. During the daytime, you can open the curtains to let light into the room. In this case, you should choose transparent curtains and light-colored curtains.
- Roller blinds are popular and are perfect for modern interiors. With their help, you can adjust the level of lighting in the room.
- Often in dark rooms, blinds are used to decorate a window opening. They are compact and easy to use.
It is possible not to decorate the windows with curtains to make the room brighter
Multi-layer curtain sets, lambrequins and a large amount of decor on the curtains are out of place in dark rooms.
Blinds allow more sunlight to enter the room
Dark room furnishings
The overall impression of the interior is influenced not only by the basic palette and decor of window openings. It is also important to consider other interior details.
White furniture in the kitchen will make the cooking area brighter
Light furniture with a glossy surface
Glossy facades reflect light, increasing illumination. This should be taken into account when choosing furniture for a dark room.
White interior details and furniture will brighten the room
Light wood furniture with a pronounced texture will help create a cozy and bright space.
Glass tables and glossy interior items will shine and reflect light
The ideal solution for a room where there is not enough natural light is furniture with light frames and glossy facades with glass or mirror inserts. It is very good if the fittings also shine, reflecting the light.
Glass coffee table 9009 can be placed in a small dark living room1
If the style of the interior allows, you can purchase a couple of items made of transparent plastic. Tall transparent pieces of furniture look elegant.
When looking for upholstered furniture, it is recommended to pay attention to light upholstery in warm shades. Peach, vanilla, beige, light shades of yellow and green, powdery or ivory are perfect.
Upholstered furniture in the living room should be in light colors
One of the important design rules: the smaller the room, the less furniture should be in it.
White linens and light furniture in the bedroom interior
Mirror surfaces and shiny decor
Mirrors reflect light and brighten the room. This technique must be taken into account when planning the design of a dark room.
Large floor mirror brightens up the room
The use of a mirror surface will be effective if placed against a window or lighting fixture. In this case, the rays of light will be evenly distributed throughout the room, enlivening the interior.
Glossy countertop and wall mirror will add more light to the room
In addition to mirrors, chrome and polished metal surfaces, crystal and ceramic tiles have a similar property.
A small mirror can be hung over the fireplace in the living room
Textile
It is necessary to take into account the degree of illumination of the room when choosing textiles. It is recommended to opt for light-colored blankets, curtains, rugs and pillows.
Light-coloured linens will make the bedroom cozier. It can be flowers, geometric ornaments, various inscriptions, images of animals or birds.
Light curtains should be used in a dark room
Bright lighting in the room
You can improve the lighting of a room with the correct placement of light fixtures. The recommendations of professionals will help to avoid common mistakes when developing a luminaire layout.
Hanging lamp can be placed above the dining area
Application of multilevel lighting
This type of lighting is ideal for dark rooms. In such rooms, one light source is clearly not enough. For this reason, it is necessary to take care of several different types of lighting fixtures.
For lighting, you can use the central chandelier and additional lamps and fixtures
Designer tips for creating multi-level lighting:
- Ceiling chandeliers and spotlights provide general lighting.
- Local lighting is created in certain areas of the room using sconces, floor lamps, wall and table lamps.
- Additional illumination of individual objects or areas will help draw attention to decor items.
In the living room you can install a floor lamp and a table lamp as additional lighting
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When creating a lighting scheme, it is important to consider the area of the room. Light should cover the entire room, leaving no dark corners. Often in spacious rooms, the central chandelier is duplicated with spotlights placed around the perimeter of the ceiling. This avoids shadows in the far corners of the room.
Small floor lamps can be placed in the corners of the room
The type of lamps must also be taken into account. Experts advise LED or fluorescent lamps with a bright but diffused luminous flux.
Lamps can be placed on the bedside tables as an additional light source
The temperature of the light must also be taken into account. It can be cold, warm or neutral. The most natural is warm light, perfect for a child's room, living room, hallway or bedroom. Neutral light is universal in use, and cold light will effectively emphasize light finishes in the interior.
With the help of a floor lamp, you can select a seating area in a bedroom or living room
Do not get carried away with cold light, it goes into a blue tint, so it is not very comfortable for the eyes when you stay in such a room for a long time.
Original chandelier in the hallway interior
How to place lamps
Lighting fixtures included in the category of general lighting are placed on the ceiling. These are not only chandeliers, but also various designer lamps. They create a uniform light without glare and shadows. Devices are placed in the center of the ceiling or in a symmetrical pattern.
Built-in spotlights in the interior of the living room
Local lighting is used for a separate functional area: by the sofa or chair, desktop or in the recreation area. The lamp can be hung on the wall, placed on a pedestal or table.
You can put a floor lamp near the lounge chair
Pendant lamps in original lampshades will help provide light to a dining table or bar counter. An excellent solution would be a floor lamp that can not only give high-quality light, but also make the atmosphere in the room more comfortable. Often a floor lamp successfully replaces the central chandelier.
For additional lighting, you can hang a lamp above the dining table.
Decorative lighting is worked out last. It can be niches, glazed cabinets, shelves. The most commonly used LED strip. With the help of decorative lighting, steps and podiums in a house or apartment are distinguished, making it more convenient to use dressing rooms and large wardrobes. LEDs are safe because they do not heat up during operation.
Illuminated decor can be hung above the sofa in the living room
LED strips can be plain or multi-colored, consisting of diodes of different colors. Such decorative lighting draws attention to individual interior or architectural elements.
A small table lamp can be placed near the bed
Similar lamps can be hung above the long table to brighten the room
Work lighting should be the brightest and most comfortable for the eyes.