HGTV Stars Share Their Favorite Ways To Brighten Up Dark Rooms

If there's a room in your home that is lacking light, the stars of HGTV have some invaluable advice to share. Unless you're a vampire at heart, nobody thrives in a dark, compact space. Whether your room is windowless or super small, there are ways to make your interior appear bright and welcoming — no matter the physical constraints. From adding unexpected light sources to experimenting with paint colors, there are different concepts to consider depending on the scale of your project. If you're in the middle of a remodel or you want to add an easy boost of brightness, there's something for everyone.

The beauty of HGTV shows is that they highlight designers with varying styles. This allows you to choose the tip from the star whose approach you align with most closely, whether that's playing up dark spaces with a dramatic wall color, leveraging contrast, or daring to forgo window treatments. The designers are also veterans at working with challenging layouts and spaces, often coming up with innovative solutions that let in more light and create the illusion of additional space. Hosts like Hilary Farr, the Property Brothers, and Joanna Gaines have conquered every kind of room. Although each project is different, there are some ideas that can be applied to a wide range of spaces.

Adding windows to a dark room might seem like an obvious solution, but Hilary Farr took a particularly creative approach. She replaced a series of French doors and small Palladian windows that didn't offer much sunlight with a floor-to-ceiling window grid made entirely of glass. She explained to her clients in this HGTV Canada clip on Facebook, "Your home needed to maximize not just the natural light coming in, you had to maximize the connection with this beautiful setting." The lesson learned? Think even bigger when it comes to creating a visual portal to the outside.

But, if you don't have the budget or bandwidth to install a wall's worth of glass, simply replacing your front or back door with a glass paneled variation is an easy way to channel Farr's effect. The aptly named fiberglass Greatview Doors from Lowe's is a good example, featuring a generous-sized beveled glass panel (it's also pre-hung for easy installation). Another way to amplify light is by installing French doors rather than single-panel doors. If you're worried about privacy, something like these Sartodoors French Lite Frosted Glass Doors could be an ideal solution. This is also a technique you can apply in your interior, by removing solid doors and installing glass barn doors for increased light and flow. For example, the JUBEST Bypass Double Glass Barn Doors from Amazon.

Many designers have suggested that utilizing a light color palette can make a space feel more open and airy, but Jonathan Scott believes that you can go beyond just paint. He is a proponent of selecting a complementary, bright light fixture. Scott explained the concept in an interview with PopSugar (via BestLife), saying, "Use a lighter color palette and light fixtures that will brighten the space." The combination of light tones and a bright, bold light fixture can take your room from dingy to fresh.

There are tons of stylish statement lighting ideas that can brighten up your room. Choose an overhead light fixture with several light sources that span a significant width. For example, the Shine Luest Acrylic Ring Ceiling Lamp Fixture on Amazon offers a wide distribution of light against a bright white frame. If your taste leans more traditional, consider a classic chandelier. For a transitional space, a globe chandelier like the DDLLDESHI 8-Light Sputnik Black Chandelier could make for a show-stopping focal point. Against a luminous paint color like Heavy Cream by Behr, a statement light can create a sense of warmth in any space.

Although light colors are a classic way to brighten your space, in Season 3, Episode 8 of "Fixer Upper," Joanna Gaines proves you don't need to stick to a strictly pale color palette. Because she was designing a masculine space for a bachelor, she chose heavy hues for the kitchen. However, she didn't want it to feel small or closed off. Her genius trick was swapping cabinets for open shelving. She explains her thinking behind the design, saying in the episode, "What I like about it is that we did a lot of heavier colors in this room. They're darker, so anywhere I could do some open shelving to make it feel a little more light and airy, I think it was really important to implement that."

If you want to consider using open shelving in your kitchen but are worried about the reduced storage, do a declutter, then try using only your bottom cabinets to test drive whether you can live with a little less cabinet real estate. Removing the doors on your uppers can give you the chance to play around with styling open kitchen shelving. You can also look into adding storage in other areas, for instance by storing tableware in a dining room sideboard, adding a hutch nearby your kitchen, or implementing some clever kitchen ideas to unlock extra pantry storage.

The kind of shelving you choose can also create the illusion of a brighter or heavier space. Try opting for minimalist floating shelves that take up very little visual space, such as these industrial kitchen shelves by the Generic Store on Amazon. You can even apply the same theory to your kitchen island and choose a simple, open worktop like the Vasagle Kitchen Island from Amazon.

Fans asked Jasmine Roth her opinion on using the "big light," otherwise known as overhead lighting. Often bashed by designers and aesthetes as a total ambiance buster, using overhead lighting is sometimes seen as a design mistake, but Roth disagrees. The HGTV star replied to her fans in a TikTok video where she compared two rooms, and discussed how the one with less natural light benefited from having an overhead light. She said, "Here's an example of a room that includes a fan with a light. This room does have windows, but no other light source on the ceiling, so it can feel a little bit like a cave in the winter or at night. Which, that's fine if that's what you want, but here, I wanted to make sure that the room is well-lit without the sun."

To follow Roth's theory, consider installing a white or cream ceiling fan with a light like the low-profile Dreo Ceiling Fan. If a fan isn't needed, try a flush overhead light that's color-adjustable, like the Blnan Dimmable LED Flush Mount Ceiling Light Fixture. This will allow you to choose the brightness and color that best suits your space. The biggest complaint about the "big light" is the harsh environment it can create, so an adjustable fixture is an ideal solution.

Even if you have a dimly lit room, Orlando Soria believes that you can make a dark paint color work with the right details. He advises against painting everything white, and instead suggests leaning into moody tones to create a dynamic space. Soria explained the theory in this Instagram post, saying "Sometimes instinct tells you to paint a dark room white to make it look brighter. THAT INSTINCT IS WRONG!!!" The designer expanded saying, "Painting a dark, sexy space white makes it look dingy and depressing. LEAN IN and paint it a sultry, saturated color." The caption's photograph drives home the designer's point, showcasing an arresting before and after of a living room space painted in "Hague Blue" by Farrow & Ball, a dramatic deep navy. According to Soria, rather than increasing the gloomy factor, going dark "will give your space an intentionally romantic vibe. Brighten it up with pops of ivory, warm woods, woven textures, and soothing neutrals."

A deep blue, like Soria's suggestion, is a great way to create a moody atmosphere without going too sombre. If your space is already dark, a navy blue or emerald green might be preferable to a charcoal or black tone. Try a similar shade like Bainbridge Blue by Benjamin Moore. The hint of color can add saturation rather than leaching light out of the room. If you really want to make a textural impact, consider a deep-toned wallpaper like this blue bird and lemon wallpaper from the Blooming Wall Store on Amazon.

When it comes to finding smart ways to brighten up a dark room, Leanne Ford defends an unconventional design choice. If your goal is to create a lighter space and privacy isn't paramount, try ditching window treatments completely. Ford told Street Easy, "I don't really use window treatments, so the light can just flood in. You don't need privacy in your kitchen or your family room, for example. Ditch the curtains, and the natural light will help a space to feel more open."

Of course, getting rid of curtains can come with a few downsides. While Ford doesn't feel that privacy is always a priority, you may disagree depending on the direction your windows face. However, there are a few stylish alternatives to traditional curtains or blinds. You can apply a privacy film to the most exposed windows, like the Velimax Reeded Glass Window Film, to block prying eyes without blocking light, or consider a one-way film, such as the non-adhesive WPCTEV One Way Mirror Film. If you want the option of blocking the sun, try installing exterior shutters rather than interior window treatments, or opt for streamlined roller blinds that tuck neatly away when not in use. 

Exposed wooden beams can add depth, but the dark finish can also make a room feel smaller and heavier if it isn't super bright to begin with. The Property Brothers aren't above painting beams in a lighter shade to make spaces feel more open. During Season 2, Episode 3 of "Celebrity IOU" the brothers were tasked with updating a Los Angeles home that was brimming with beams, and Drew Scott said (via Realtor.com), "From the moment we walked in, we noticed the dark beams and that high, recessed, rough-ridged ceiling. It was sucking the light out of the space." This was the catalyst for their decision to paint the beams white. Additionally, the brothers installed shiplap ceiling panels that could house can lights to address a total absence of overhead lighting.

While it's an easy update, painting natural wood beams has become quite the controversial choice. While some homeowners believe in preserving the integrity of the natural wood, others agree with the Property Brothers and feel that dark wood beams can weigh down a room. If you're stumped on what to do with your exposed beams, there are a few milder treatments you can try, such as staining the wood in a lighter shade. You could whitewash the beams with a diluted paint that will still allow the texture to show through, or gently bleach them with something like Daly's Wood Bleach Solution Kit.

Nate Berkus is another HGTV star who believes that a dark-toned space can work, as long as you provide enough visual contrast. If you're working with a dark-hued base, you don't have to repaint in order to make the space feel bigger and brighter. Leave dark walls as they are and simply add light furnishings for balance. In an Instagram reel sharing his top tips for lightening up dark-feeling rooms, Berkus explained this concept, saying, "The easiest way that I've found is you need to balance it out with things that are really, really light. Even, like, ivory linen floor-to-ceiling drapery on a dark, dark paneled wall. What you notice isn't the darkness of the room any longer, you notice the contrast. I love using lighter upholstered furniture in spaces like that."

Berkus mentions using ivory, off-white, bone, or chalk against a dark wall. It's important to recognize that these shades are not bright white, but rather warm, organic tones. These softer hues result in a gentler, more welcoming effect. You can achieve this cozy, natural technique with décor items like these beige linen curtains from Pangsinne Store on Amazon. Another light, bright textile to add to your dark-toned space could be a pale rug, like this Livebox Soft Jute Cotton Rug. Art in light tones will also positively pop on dark walls. Speaking of walls, in the Instagram video, Berkus shared another favorite trick for moody spaces: Washing walls with light from sconces. Adding up lights, down lights, and art lights can inject warmth, illumination, and show off the drama of dark walls. 

If your layout doesn't allow for the installation of traditional windows, Mina Starsiak Hawk has a genius solution. In Season 5, Episode 3, of "Good Bones," she increased the natural light in a quaint cottage by installing clerestory windows. These windows are typically narrow and located at the top of the wall by the ceiling, perfect if you need to preserve privacy. It's also one of the best ways to improve natural light in a home and increase ventilation. Starsiak Hawk explained why they opted for clerestory windows on the episode, saying, "We wanted to add these, so you get some more light from the north and south, but you still have some privacy."

In order to avoid compromising the structure of your home and roof, hiring a contractor is typically necessary to install clerestory windows. If you don't have the ability to add clerestory windows, you can still apply the same principle to your space. Try adding light at the very top of your wall with a few different product ideas. The first light source to consider is strip-style LED lights that can create a frame around your ceiling, like the Jarbih LED Aluminum Profile Lights. If you're looking for more renter-friendly ways to add light to your living room, consider a less permanent option like these bendable LED light strips by Axmotut Store on Amazon.

If your walls don't allow for enough windows but you have a roof directly above the room in question, consider adding skylights. Jeremiah Brent and Nate Berkus demonstrated the visual impact of skylights in Season 1, Episode 2, of "The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project." They turned a dark, galley kitchen into a bright, charming space by adding two skylights over the countertops. This wasn't the only instance where they showed their soft spot for skylights. The kitchen in their beloved Fifth Avenue apartment has an atrium-style addition featuring arched overhead windows. In an interview with House Beautiful, Berkus shared, "That was done by the person who owned the apartment before us who actually expanded onto some of the exterior terrace to create that atrium. And it's one of my favorite things in the house." 

If you're wondering whether a skylight is right for your home, there are a few different styles to contemplate. Pitched skylights resemble a greenhouse, and can be ideal if your goal is to make your space appear brighter and more open. Another option to consider, inspired by Brent and Berkus' apartment, is adding sloped windows. These are a great alternative if you don't have the ability to install skylights directly overhead. If renovation isn't an option at all, these faux skylights from EchoLifes Store on Amazon can create the effect of a flush, natural light source.