Have you upgraded your lighting to 4000K LEDs? That would be the first step; it will give you a true daylight feeling and keep colors the same day and night. Do that before you select paint.

At the chance of sounding dumb how do I do that. Can I buy regular light bulbs.

No, you want LED light bulbs. They'll cost more but may outlive you!

California-compliant LED bulbs are available from Home Depot and other retailers online. Look for "bright white" as the description, or 3700-4000K color temperature. At supermarkets you will probably find only "soft white" which is much yellower.

Thank you all.

If you currently have dark walls and dark ceilings, painting the ceiling white and a light color will certainly make a big difference. Change your light bulbs first though so you can choose the right colors for your room.

This is my

LOL Nancy! That’s actually a nice kitchen. Try swapping out the lights, then take some pics of the adjoining spaces.

Moving the valence on the curtain rod up to ceiling height will let 25-30% more light in the window. Just take it down to try it out. Selective pruning of trees and shrubs that may be overhanging the window will let in more light, too.

I am getting the ceilings all painted white and changing bulbs. Should I just move or take down the kitchen valance?

We live in the Redwood trees and can't trim the dang

Instead of white, I would paint the kitchen the lightest color in the counters or backsplash.

Redwoods win. Aside from pruning dead wood or half-broken branches, there's not much a professional tree trimmer can or should do with a redwood. Consider adding some skylights or solatubes.

Take down the kitchen valence. What a nice,open space! Very pretty and welcoming.

Yes to being sure your ceilings are white-it will make a huge difference. The valance removal won't make much light difference but I don't think it adds to your kitchen. Solar cans/skylights are fabulous but a lot of money and if not done well can be a leaking issue that recurs as the roof ages. I am seeing beautiful and abundant windows and skylights already. It may be you just will have to adjust to life in the woods. More interior lamps and lighter paint all 'round.

I have read that most of the light coming in a window comes in from the top.

All you need are white ceilings, a warm white on the walls, and remove the valance. In your living area, you might consider white with a touch of green for the walls- it would freshen the space, connect it to the outdoors, and still coordinate well with all the browns throughout your home.

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Someone asks if we chose the color. Wr bought a builder spec. House. I love the house . I removed the valance and I think the blind looks weird should I remove it? Ceilings are getting painted white that matches white trim. 4400 to paint ceilings downstairs. Thinking 11k for all but I can't afford.

If you need the blind, then I wouldnt be removing it. I might have kept the valance and moved it way up higher, and just have the lower part, hide the blind. For some reason, the places that make valances these days, make them way too deep and they cover way to much window. If I buy a valance for something, I redo it so its not so deep. Mostly, if I need one, I just make it, so its right from the beginning.

I would get rid of the blind. Doesn’t look like you have a privacy issue back there, and maybe you’ll see some little critters running around.

I am thinking when they paint the ceilings white I will ask them to remove the blind. And I will get touch up paint and fix the holes. I know the painter so maybe he will fix for me. I am keeping blinds in living room and dining room as there is a school by us and I want privacy. The cars go in and out of the school.