A couple well-placed lamps? Some rooms are just dark. I don't think trimming the hedges at the bottom of the window would significantly increase the light level: light comes in at the top.

Do you need nighttime privacy as well as daytime privacy? Because there are some things that will provide daytime privacy, but not nighttime privacy.

My SIL used sheer curtains the exact length of the window with two tension rods--one through the rod pocket and one through the bottom hem. With both rods in place, light gets through and no one can see in during the daytime.

When she wants to see out or let more light in, she moves one of the tension rods--moves the bottom one up if she needs to keep track of the kids in the yard; moves the top one down if she just wants more light in the room.

But the sheers don't provide privacy at night, so she has curtains that she can close over the sheers.

Have you considered a window film to block the view but still let light through?

A bottom tier of lace curtains are not only beautiful but they keep people from seeing inside the house and let a lot of light in at the same time.You can put almost any kind of window covering there along with the lace curtains.

Actually, I had trimmed back the shrubbery once before and it made a significant difference in light in the room.

I haven't been able to find tension rods that would work. It is 92 inches across, so I would need supports. I hadn't thught about tension rods top and bottom. I'd still be ab;e to loser the cellular blinds at night fro privacy, which I definitely need.

There are two recessed lights in the ceiling above the windows, as well as two lamps in the room, so there is adequate artificial light, I'd just love to have more sunlight.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Ha -- more than a few typos above! What I meant was

I hadn't thought about tension rods top and bottom. I'd still be able to lower the cellular blinds at night for privacy, which I definitely need.

Lace is pretty and I'll consider that although they may not go with the room. There's a sofa in the same style as the chair on the left and a Pottery Barn Logan media unit. Kind of transitional.

How about those shades that close from the bottom up? Light could come in through the top during the day but you'd have your privacy at the bottom.

Plantation shutters?

I think I would try replacing at least one of the art pieces with a good sized mirror and see if it reflects some light into the space. Have you tried that? And I love the wall color, but maybe something with more lightness in the alcove would brighten it?

The color is MAB Lemongrass, although I think MAB was bought by Sherwin Williams. I didn't use a flash on the picture, so it looks darker in the picture than IRL.

The other problem with the shrubbery is that it looks very overgrown from the outside, so I would love to get it lower than the sill.

Oly, funny you should mention a mirror. I have an old mirror that I was planning on selling. It's been in my closet for years. Maybe I'll try it in that spot.

What I did in my bathroom at the old house (how I wish I had pictures of the place to show you) was to create my own "tension rod" using small L hooks and cording, top and bottom mounted to the window itself, and then gathered a lace panel onto it for privacy. So the lace panel went up and down as the window went up and down. It allowed full view through the top, and filtered light and privacy through the bottom. It was a small window though so the cording worked fine. They also make slender rods that you can use instead of the cording.

In case of the center window, it looks like there is enough trim to use a spring-loaded tension rod, top and bottom, which is available up to 90" long (amazon, bed bath beyond, etc.)

In terms of the lace panel, for a lot of privacy, get it 2 1/2 to 3 times as wide as the window so it gathers fairly densely.

You could also use sheers instead of lace for a different look...it probably wouldn't need to be as densely gathered. Or here they used a light weight coordinating fabric.

[Traditional Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2107) by Encino Interior Designers & Decorators Dayna Katlin Interiors

For other ideas, you could use window film that provides privacy, (frosted, stained glass, etc.). You could look into using a beaded curtain a la hippy days...in glass or bamboo. You could look into a wooden screen and depending on how handy you or someone you know is, could mount it to the lower part of the window...maybe get a larger one that can be cut and fit to size....
{{!gwi}}

or it looks like you have room to put a raised planter box there and fill it with live or "everlasting" greenery to provide the privacy on the inside instead of the hedges on the outside.

Here is a link that might be useful: curtain rods

Part of the problem is the room design. The light comes in the alcove in a straight line and is not going to reach the areas of the room that are not in line with the alcove. The shadowy areas make the room seem even darker because of the contrast.

It is sometimes possible to install a solar tube down to the first floor of a house.

I call two lamps in a room a good start. :)

Is there enough room to use a small diameter rod in each window? If lace isn't the right look for your room, you could use an unlined fabric (something that doesn't really have a backside). I recently used a cotton/linen embroidered fabric for a kitchen and pantry. The small diameter rod has socket brackets to be mounted inside and using rings, you can open and close the curtain.

This post was edited by ice1 on Mon, Aug 19, 13 at 12:17

The top/bottom tension rod is a great idea~I speak from experience. I have this treatment on my four almost-to-the-floor windows. Also had the same in my last home where the LR was in the front. I wanted panels, but since the LR was in the front, wanted privacy also. I installed the top rod about 3/4 up the window, leaving about 3 1/2 feet to look out, giving enough privacy as well,as light. It's a good solution.

Don't know that it could work in your situation, but just in case:

I discovered by accident that if I raise the umbrella on my deck table, I get MUCH more light in my living room. Apparently the white/pale blue umbrella bounces more light into the room. I think it acts similarly to a "light shelf" that architects sometimes suggest.