5 ways to brighten a dark kitchen

03 January

Have a dark, cumbersome kitchen? Here are 5 ways to get some light!

You love your house, it’s decorated just the way you like it and it just feels like home. However, the kitchen is in a dark corner that barely gets any of the natural light coming in from the windows. One idea would be to make a whole and add a window, but that might be just a tad too difficult. Another idea might be to make some cosmetic changes to add brightness into the room. Whether you are thinking of refurnishing your existing kitchen, or looking to furnish a your new home, take a look at these simple ways to add more light to your kitchen:

1. White

White is the absence of color and it reflects light in all kinds of ways. Having white in any capacity in your kitchen is an easy way to add that much needed brightness to a dark space. For example, by adding a white backsplash in between your cabinets and your countertop will liven up that shadowy space, making it automatically brighter and bigger. Another thing you can do is paint your ceiling white. A dark ceiling will give the kitchen a cramped feeling, while white will make it look taller. Or, as an extreme option, you can go all white for a sleek, ultra-modern look.

Remember that there are many, many different shades of white. A pure, crisp white is not the same as a creamy or ivory white. It’s important to take this into consideration, because each one will give your kitchen different looks. A bright white, for example, will add a lot of brightness and is very modern, while a creamier white is much warmer and has a much more “old-fashioned” feel to it.

2. Neutral tones

If you don’t like the all white look, and want to add a little bit of nature, consider using neutral or natural tones, such as wood. This combination of wood and white will add some visual interest and warmth without overwhelming or darkening the space.

3. Minimalist décor

The more furniture you have in a space, the more cluttered it’s going to look, making it feel cramped. Take on a minimalist mentality and get rid of all the things you don’t’ really need or switch out big, clunky pieces of furniture for more lightweight ones. Not only will this make the kitchen brighter, it will make it look much more contemporary.

Another place to get minimalist is on your window treatments. There is no way for light to come into your kitchen if you block it out. If you have heavy drapery on your windows, consider switching to something more sheer that will still give you privacy, but allow the light to diffuse into the room and create a great glow. Plus, it will give the room a much more romantic look.

4. Open shelving

Using this kind of shelving instead of the traditional cabinets makes everything look less blocky and adds depth, which gives the illusion of more space. It also allows the light to travel farther into the room. A perk is that it gives you a chance to display your glassware or ceramics, giving it almost an artistic feel. Use things like baskets to add storage without cabinets.

5. Reflective surfaces

Whether it’s by adding stainless steel appliances, mirrors or just having silver or gold accents here and there, using reflective surfaces will allow the light to bounce around the room and illuminate the kitchen.

Example by RiFRA

Creation of a LINE kitchen in oak 55 Street, New York, USA.

This is a great example of a combination of white and a darker wood. The white countertop helps brighten the darkness of the wood, while the open shelving above the stove keeps that area feeling free. The stainless steel appliances help bounce off the light.

Cucina FLY laccata lucida

This kitchen has no windows and is in a corner. It has everything for it to be a dark space, but it’s not. The use of the glossy white backsplash and wall to the left lets the light bounce off and illuminate the space. The lacquered cabinets and island helps break up the white and adds warmth to what would be an otherwise sterile space. The open shelving under the cabinets allows extra storage space without making it feel bulky.

Realization of a pure glossy white lacquered LINE kitchen in Monza, Italy

The only light source in this space are the windows across from the dining table. Yes, they are large windows, but you can tell that the kitchen space itself is lacking in the luminic department. By going all white, the kitchen doesn’t feel cumbersome or dark. The glossy finish in the countertops reflects the light, which bounces off the stainless steel fridge and makes the space feel open and airy. This look is very modern and sleek.

Laura Spinelli