Use This David Bromstad-Inspired Idea To Brighten Up A Bathroom Without Any Paint

If there's a room in your home that always seems dark, you may assume that the only way to fix it is to change the color to something light and airy. This is a common problem in hallways and rooms without windows but also occurs in bathrooms. While you certainly head to the home improvement store to choose a new color, you don't have to give up on your favorite darker hues just to lighten up the space. In an article by Realtor, HGTV's David Bromstad says that paint isn't the only solution for bringing more pizzazz to any room of your home, including the bathroom.

Perhaps you've purchased a beautiful gray paint and added it to your main bathroom. Now, you're worried it's just too dark in there because of the lack of light. Or, you think the entire space seems moody and melancholy. Instead of giving up on that darker paint color, try introducing new colors to other areas of the room. Bromstad, an interior designer and host of "My Lottery Dream Home," says you can add color to a space without much hard work or expense.

Everyone makes mistakes when choosing a paint color, from going with your first choice to trying to match everything too closely. Before you paint over that color you love, consider a few strategies to introduce other pops of color within the room, and you may see a fantastic transformation without lifting a paintbrush.

Let's focus on that gray bathroom, a color you hope to keep (so you don't have to go through the whole painting process again!) According to David Bromstad (in that same Realtor article), updating colors in this commonly problematic space can be relatively straightforward. "We can do rugs, we can do vases, we can do artwork....there are all sorts of ways to add color without having to paint the walls." That will take some creativity, but with a few tips, you may find this is an easy way to transform the space.

Start with something natural, like a few plants (choose succulents for that less-used bathroom so you won't have to worry about forgetting to water them). Bright greens create a significant offset to a dark space, and some low-light plants work very well in these areas, even offering a bit of air freshening power to the area.

Another option is to add a rug in the bathroom that offers bright colors, perhaps a unique pattern, or a contrasting color to the walls. Textiles like this do more than make a bathroom bright. They can also make the space feel warmer and far more comfortable. You can also fill out the space with accessories; Bromstad recommends beautiful vases or even a few decorative pieces of glass to illuminate the room. Be sure to check out the latest rising bathroom design trends to choose décor pieces you love.

A small bathroom can feel intimidating and less than relaxing. If you want to add more color and light to this space, get a bit more creative. For example, consider a few small bathroom shelf ideas. Choose lighter-toned wood shelves and fill them with rolled-up white, fluffy towels, a few products with light-colored labels, and perhaps a basket or two that's also in a bright color. Then, add a few pieces of glass, like canisters, for your favorite soaps. Those will help to reflect the light from the fixture throughout the room, creating more sparkle than you thought possible. If that ceiling fixture isn't giving off enough light, consider replacing it. Instead of your basic metal, go with something brighter, like a crystal chandelier that takes your bathroom to the next level.

If you want more drastic color options, get a bit brave. For example, you can paint your cabinets a bright color or just the mirror frames. Choose a color that you love even more, but don't be too matchy-matchy here. If you just can't transform these larger pieces with colors for any reason, look for similar upgrades like copper handles and pulls or a backsplash that provides more of a bold color choice than your walls. You can also consider adding a feature wall, such as covering a portion of the wall with a tile pattern you love or, if all else fails, wallpaper.