Ideas for Decorating a Dark Dining Room

A dining room with low lighting might be fine in a restaurant, but at home it should be light and bright, at least during daylight hours. However, not every space has a south-facing window or plenty of natural sunlight. Decorating a naturally dim space can be a bit challenging. Some houses have overhangs while others have windowless adjoining rooms that are as dimly lit as a cave. Consider these creative ideas for decorating a dark dining room, and try various options for lightening the design while maintaining the style of the space.

Begin with a Light Crisp Wall Color

A dark space will be even darker if the walls are painted in a bold color. Begin with a light fresh wall color instead of something bold when decorating a dark dining room. Opt for white or something with a white base with just a touch of tint. It will reflect available light and make the dining room appear naturally brighter. It will visually broaden the space as well.

Enhance or Expand Existing Lighting

A change in wall color can significantly help when decorating a dark dining room, but this is not the complete answer. Consider enhancing or expanding existing lighting. Visit your local home improvement store to view the latest and greatest options for lighting. A wattage upgrade or a lampshade and/or globe change can make a tremendous difference.

Use Lightweight Drapery to Frame Windows

When decorating a dark dining room, remove heavy drapery and light-blocking shades. Choose lightweight sheers and/or directional blinds instead. Matchstick bamboo blinds or Roman shades without liners are also an excellent choice for a dark space. They beautifully decorate windows but without blocking valuable light. The choice will depend upon your decorating style and privacy needs.

Consider Decorating a Bare Wall with a Big Beautiful Mirror

Mirrors are a valuable decorating tool. Not only are they beautiful when framed and beveled, but they are also very beneficial when mounted in a dark dining room or any other dim location. They will increase the amount of light within the dark space using reflective properties.

When decorating a dark dining room, hang a big beautiful mirror in a style of your choice directly across from a window or an artificial source of light. It will immediately lighten and brighten the dark dining room while adding beauty and timeless style to an otherwise inadequately lit space.