Some rooms just do not get much natural light. North facing windows, rooms blocked by trees or nearby buildings, and spaces with small windows all tend to feel dark and closed in. The right window coverings can help a dark room feel brighter and more open, making the most of the light the room does get. The goal is to maximize the natural light coming in while keeping the room functional, which comes down to a few smart choices at the window.
Here is a look at the best window coverings for a dark room and how to brighten up a space that lacks natural light.
Why Some Rooms Stay Dark
A room can stay dark for a few reasons. North facing windows get less direct sun than south facing ones. Trees, fences, and nearby buildings block the light before it reaches the window. Small windows let in less light than large ones. And dark walls or furnishings absorb what light does come in, making the room feel even dimmer.
For a dark room, the window covering should work to keep as much light coming in as possible rather than blocking it. This is the opposite of what you want in a bright room, where you often need to cut the sun. In a dark room, every bit of natural light matters, so the coverings should let the light through while still giving the privacy and function the room needs. Choosing coverings with this goal in mind is the key to brightening a dark space.
Light Filtering Shades
Light filtering shades are a strong choice for dark rooms, since they let daylight through while giving some privacy. The fabric spreads the light that comes in, which helps brighten the room without blocking the window. For a room that lacks light, a light filtering shade makes the most of what reaches the window while keeping the room usable.
Choosing a light colored fabric adds to the effect, since light colors reflect light rather than absorb it. A light filtering shade in white or cream brightens a dark room more than a dark fabric would. For a room that needs all the light it can get, a light filtering shade in a light color keeps the daylight coming in while still softening it and giving privacy. This makes light filtering shades a reliable pick for a dim space.
Sheer Coverings for Maximum Light
Sheer coverings let in the most light while still offering a little privacy, which suits a dark room well. Sheer shades and sheer curtains allow daylight to pass through freely, brightening the room while softening the view in from outside during the day. For a room that struggles for light, sheers let the most daylight in of any covering.
Sheers work well on their own in a dark room where privacy is less of a concern, or paired with a heavier layer you can close when you need full privacy. The combination gives you maximum light during the day and privacy when you want it. For a dark room where brightness is the priority, sheer coverings bring in the most light while keeping the window from feeling bare. They are one of the best ways to brighten a dim space.
Light Colors Brighten the Room
The color of the covering matters a great deal in a dark room. Light colored coverings, in white, cream, and soft neutrals, reflect light and keep a room feeling brighter and more open. Dark coverings absorb light and make a dim room feel even darker, so light colors are the better choice for a room that lacks natural light.
Matching the coverings to light walls adds to the brightening effect, since the whole room reflects more light. A light colored covering keeps the eye moving around the room rather than stopping at a dark window, which makes the space feel more open. For a dark room, choosing coverings in light, reflective colors is one of the simpler ways to make the space feel brighter. The light color works with the natural light to lift the whole room.
Coverings That Pull Fully Out of the Way
In a dark room, a covering that pulls fully out of the way during the day lets in the most light. Roller shades roll up nearly out of sight at the top of the window, leaving the glass clear. Blinds raise fully to uncover the window. Coverings that clear the window completely let in all the available light when you want it.
This matters more in a dark room than a bright one, since you want to uncover the window fully during the day to catch every bit of light. Coverings that stack up and block part of the window even when open, or that cannot pull fully clear, cut into the light a dark room needs. Choosing coverings that clear the window completely lets a dark room make the most of the daylight.
Hanging Coverings to Maximize Light
How you hang the coverings also affects how much light a dark room gets. Mounting coverings outside the window frame, extending them past the glass on each side, lets the covering pull completely clear of the window when open. This uncovers the full window and lets in the most light, since no part of the covering blocks the glass.
Hanging coverings high, above the window frame, also helps, since it lets the covering lift fully above the glass. For a dark room, mounting the coverings to clear the window as much as possible when open maximizes the light. A proper measure and install sets the coverings up to clear the window and bring in the most light.
Getting the Setup Right
Brightening a dark room with coverings works best when they fit and mount correctly. Coverings fit to clear the window when open, hung to uncover as much glass as possible, let in the most light. A proper measure and install sets this up, making sure the coverings pull fully clear and bring in all the available daylight.
Getting the fit and mount right is part of making the most of a dark room’s light. Coverings that fit poorly or block part of the window even when open cut into the light the room needs. For a dark room, setting up the coverings to maximize the light is what helps the space feel brighter and more open. With the right coverings, colors, and setup, even a room that lacks natural light can feel brighter and more welcoming.
Brightening Your Dark Room
The best coverings for a dark room make the most of the light the room gets rather than blocking it. Light filtering shades let daylight through while giving privacy, sheer coverings bring in the most light, and light colored coverings reflect light to brighten the room. Coverings that pull fully out of the way, hung to clear the window, let in all the available daylight during the day.
Get the fit and mount right so the coverings clear the window and maximize the light, and choose light colors that reflect rather than absorb it. When you set up the coverings to bring in as much natural light as possible, even a dark, dim room can feel brighter and more open, making the most of the light the space has to work with.
