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11 Ways to Create a Bright Space with Dark Furniture
Reinvent the look of a dark sofa, bed or chair with the right backdrop of color and light
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design is collected, not decorated, and that homes should always be as comfortable and functional as they are chic. In addition to writing for Houzz, I work as the Head Copywriter for Layla Grayce and Zinc Door.
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design... More »
Are you looking to redecorate around dark furniture and feeling like there’s no way to achieve a bright space? Think your only options are new furniture or a trip to the upholsterer? It’s no secret that furniture and reupholstering are expensive, but there’s no requirement to go that route. Instead, embrace your dark staple pieces, heed a few design tricks and accessories, and transform them into the perfect grounding complements to a bright, lively space. Check out the following photos for tips and inspiration, and pretty soon you’ll see your dark furniture in an entirely new light.
| Choose drapery in complementary colors. Nothing will make your dark furniture bounce back to life than pairing it with complementary colors. Deep blues and purples sofas will pop against oranges and yellows, as proven by this sofa paired with yellow floral drapery. |
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| Consider white walls. Don’t be afraid of white walls. The key is warming them up, and dark furniture does exactly that. Pull the white throughout the room through bedding and accessories, and vary the shade of the white for texture and additional warmth. |
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| Or, paint your walls a bright shade. A lighter-colored sofa and ottomans wouldn’t have had nearly the dramatic impact against these apple-green walls and ceiling as these gray pieces do. |
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by Jessica Uppal
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| Pick up an accent chair. There’s an accent chair out there to fit into any budget, and to bring instant brightness to your space. |
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Get your lighting right. For obvious reasons, dark furniture can lead to a darker space in general. Therefore, be sure you have adequate ambient and task lighting throughout to brighten it appropriately. A mix of overhead lights and lamps is best.
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by Tara Seawright
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| Throw pillows are your best friend. Load them onto your sofa and you’ll forget all about its dark upholstery! |
| Think about a white rug. Like white walls, a white rug looks sharp against dark furniture and adds light to the space. |
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| However, if the up-keep of a white rug leaves you cringing, find a colorful rug instead. This option adds the same brightness as a white rug, but will more easily hide stains and wear. |
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| If your budget allows for a few new substantial pieces, consider purchasing complementary furniture in lighter colors. Noticehow well these black sofas play off of the white coffee table and dining roomtable to create a balanced look across the room. |
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| Perhaps you can’t afford new furniture because your money is going into a renovation. In that case, keep in mind floors: lighter wood flooring sets a much more complementary stage to dark furniture. |
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Let the light shine in. Natural lighting will do wonders for dark furniture, so throw open the shades and bring in the sun.
Ideabook published on Aug. 29, 2011.
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