5 Ways to Fake Natural Light in Your Kitchen When You Really Don’t Have It
Good lighting is essential to creating an inviting space — and there’s no better light to bask in than sunlight. But what to do when your kitchen is lacking in the south-facing window department? Don’t worry! There’s hope to be had. We did a little digging and discovered a handful of ways to create the illusion of more natural light in your home, from mirrors to houseplants.
1. Stock up on mirrors.
Did you know that adding mirrors to the wall across from your natural light-receiving windows will help bounce the light around a room? Take it one step further and opt for furniture and decor pieces with mirrored surfaces like this mirrored bar cart at Pottery Barn to maximize the amount of natural light being reflected in your space.
2. Avoid dark tones.
Dark tones absorb more heat and light than lighter colored ones. That’s why filling an already dim space with dark colored furnishings and textiles will actually make it seem darker. So before you paint your windowless room a deep shade of gray, consider a lighter hue like bright white or eggshell that will reflect more light around the room.
3. Gloss up your surfaces.
A little gloss goes a long way when faking natural light at home. Add a fresh coat of gloss to your walls, ceiling, and floors (if possible) to help bounce the light you do have around the room, and invest in decor items with glossy finishes, like this shiny white dining table at CB2, to give the impression you have more light in your home than you really do.
4. Employ artificial light.
Artificial lighting is still essential in any room, especially ones that lack a lot of natural light. Add full-spectrum light bulbs (they’re designed to simulate daylight) to the light fixtures in rooms with poor lighting to quickly brighten up your home with some soft but warm artificial light.
5. Add greenery.
When all else fails, you can always count on houseplants to help you compensate for a lack of natural light in a room. Bring a few low light-tolerant plants, like ferns or spider plants, into a room with little-to-no-natural light to usher in some ethereal vibes and keep the air clean.
This post originally ran on Apartment Therapy. See it there: 5 Ways to Fake Natural Light When You Really Don’t Have It