Brighten and lighten your living space

• Give your home a bit of a face lift by bringing in the bright and airy feel of the outdoors indoors
• Never underestimate what white can do for a room
• White is a classic and will always stand the test of time

As we move in to the warmer month that we leave the gloom behind; trade in the ponchos (someone needs to ban those by the way) and the scarves for more suitable attire.

And your home shouldn’t be left behind. Our abodes have been turned into an escape from the bitter chill with “warm and cosy” being the ambience of choice.

However, my take is that soon some of us might be looking for something else. My suggestion? Bright and light.

Give your home a bit of a face lift by bringing in the bright and airy feel of the outdoors indoors. As it gets hotter you’ll be thankful for the new ambience that will have you feeling refreshed and cool.

This change is also a great choice for those who feel like their interiors are dull and choice of décor does nothing but dampen their spirits.

Whatever your reasons for needing to switch things up, here are a few ways you can brighten your home.

The power of white

Never underestimate what white can do for a room. Of late, as people get bolder with colour in their homes, white is slowly becoming non-existent.

Compared to the peaches and the mint greens of the world white can come across as boring to those who want to go all out with colour.

But the truth is white is a classic and will always stand the test of time.

I’m not asking you to trade your “in vogue” palette for all white walls in the name of a brighter room but adding it to your colour scheme, especially opposite a window such that the light is reflected and spreads through the room will go a long way in switching your space from dark and dreary to light and airy.

If your colour scheme tends toward warm colours, such as yellows, browns, or reds then choose creamier whites such as ivory.

If you have cooler colours in your space, go for brighter, cleaner whites.

A simple palette

This is especially for those who want every colour that tickles their fancy to feature in their living space.

Limiting your choice of colours to two or three, with one of them being the primary one that you then use to tie everything else together, will visually give the room a lighter feel.

Brighten your focal wall

Painting your focal wall in a sunnier, brighter, or lighter shade of your current wall is a great way of brightening your space.