Nothing is more depressing than a dark, stuffy living room or dining area without sufficient light or air. Of course, no one intentionally makes his or her home look lifeless and dreary, but poor design and thoughtless furniture choices can create this rather unfortunate effect. Lots of bad decisions can make a space look gloomy: for example, a room without windows, such as a basement, can feel like a basic storage unit if there aren’t enough light fixtures or free-standing lamps to brighten it up. Heavy curtains or a large piece of furniture blocking the window can cut off the light in any room, and dark walls and floors or dark furniture that look elegant in a showroom can also serve to create a heavy, somber mood at home.

Light up a room with custom made furniture
Light up a room with custom made furniture

Oftentimes, the problem is that the existing furniture just doesn’t fit the space well. A huge, dark dresser, for example, will inevitably make a bedroom seem darker. In a bright, more open space, this might not be a problem, but if your bedroom is small, has few windows, and is poorly lit, you would be better served by custom made furniture that takes those realities into account. A custom piece designed for such a space would be smaller, simpler in design, and lighter. It would be designed to be both proportional to the space and to make the most of it.

Other tricks include repainting the walls of a dark room in a lighter color to make the most of natural light and to use mirrors to reflect the light and make the room seem larger.  Custom-made furniture can also bring the outdoors in in a number of different ways and can be designed to fulfill your specific decorating needs. For example, if you need seating for guests, but don’t want to obstruct the light from a picture window, a furniture pro can design low, backless chairs to fulfill that need. You can also bring in more light by switching out a solid interior door for one made of glass. If you love dark wood, you can contrast dark kitchen cabinetry with lighter finishes and accent pieces to balance out the look.

Even small changes can make a big difference in the appearance of a room. If you can’t or don’t want to furnish an entire room with custom pieces, you can give your dining room chairs  a dramatic makeover simply by having them reupholstered in a brighter fabric. If they’re dark, heavy antiques, a furniture expert can redesign them to look lighter and more modern. For example, a heavy chair back can be redesigned, or chair arms can be removed completely. A sofa can be reupholstered in a cheerful pastel instead of a heavy black or brown or even made smaller, if that works better in your space.

There’s no need to live your life in depressingly dull and dark quarters. An experienced furniture professional can help you assess your décor needs and craft a custom solution that will bring a beautiful sense of light and airiness to your home, making it feel bigger, happier, and more welcoming!