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6 Ways to Give Your Dark Kitchen a Bright New Look
You don't have to cook in a dull and dark space...here are are tips to brighten up a gloomy kitchen
Rashmi Haralalka
6 July 2017
Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about writing, especially interior design, home decor, and home improvement. I believe that details are not just details... they make the design. Connect with me on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rashmi-sharda-b79b8119
Email: rashmiharalalka@gmail.com
Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about writing, especially... More
Does your kitchen resemble a dark cavern from lack of natural light or because of its dark cabinetry or wall colour? A gloomy kitchen could impact your cooking. Shouldn’t this space be the heart of the house? If not the heart, at least make it a place where preparing food is a joyous and a pleasant affair. Read through these solutions to transform a dull and a poorly lit kitchen into a space you won’t want to leave.
1. Paint it white
White reflects light, which can help brighten up dull areas. Painting the walls and cabinetry white can create a seamless flow of surfaces that easily blend into each other. This will not only make the kitchen brighter but give it a feel of openness too. This kitchen also dons trim white moulding on the window and the false ceiling, which brings in depth.
Tip: Near the cooktop and on the cabinets, go for easy-to-clean paints that can be easily wiped clean of those stubborn grease and masala stains.
7 White Kitchens That Mix It Up With Accents
White reflects light, which can help brighten up dull areas. Painting the walls and cabinetry white can create a seamless flow of surfaces that easily blend into each other. This will not only make the kitchen brighter but give it a feel of openness too. This kitchen also dons trim white moulding on the window and the false ceiling, which brings in depth.
Tip: Near the cooktop and on the cabinets, go for easy-to-clean paints that can be easily wiped clean of those stubborn grease and masala stains.
7 White Kitchens That Mix It Up With Accents
2. …or mix with accents
Juxtapose your neutral walls with wood or brighter colours to liven up the space. This energises the ambience with a subtle brightness.
Shades of muted turquoise streamline this Victorian kitchen. The wooden panelling on the ceiling gives it another layer of texture. The beautiful contrasting shades illuminate the place subtly.
Juxtapose your neutral walls with wood or brighter colours to liven up the space. This energises the ambience with a subtle brightness.
Shades of muted turquoise streamline this Victorian kitchen. The wooden panelling on the ceiling gives it another layer of texture. The beautiful contrasting shades illuminate the place subtly.
3. Play with lights
If your kitchen lacks natural light, you can introduce different layers of lighting and add depth and drama to the space. SEA Germany brighten up this grey kitchen by placing spotlights and recessed lights. The niches and the open shelves are lit up, too, elevating the brightness quotient.
If your kitchen lacks natural light, you can introduce different layers of lighting and add depth and drama to the space. SEA Germany brighten up this grey kitchen by placing spotlights and recessed lights. The niches and the open shelves are lit up, too, elevating the brightness quotient.
LEDs complement high-heat zones like kitchens because they offset the temperatures of the space with their cooler hues. Consider installing white LED lights under the cabinets as task lighting. You can also install LED strips on the underfoot to get a recessed effect.
10 Reasons to Say Yes to LED Lights
10 Reasons to Say Yes to LED Lights
4. Accentuate with metallic shine
A little shine is always good – particularly if you have a kitchen that lacks lustre and brightness. If your budget permits, go for metallic cabinets. Alternatively, you can also bring in stainless-steel sheen with kitchen appliances like microwaves, refrigerators, chimneys, and so on. In this image, the glossy black polish and subtle sheen from the appliances ups the ante, taking it from dark to wow!
A little shine is always good – particularly if you have a kitchen that lacks lustre and brightness. If your budget permits, go for metallic cabinets. Alternatively, you can also bring in stainless-steel sheen with kitchen appliances like microwaves, refrigerators, chimneys, and so on. In this image, the glossy black polish and subtle sheen from the appliances ups the ante, taking it from dark to wow!
5. Place a mirror, bring in a faux skylight
The lack of a window can make the kitchen a claustrophobic and dreary space. Hanging a mirror (or setting up a wall-to-wall one as shown here) can help reflect light and give the illusion of expanded space. The mirror can also double as a handy backsplash and perk up the lean and long kitchen. If you are up for a slight remodel, explore the option of a skylight if the layout of your house does not permit a window.
Tip: If a skylight is not possible, a trick can be to create the illusion of one. Install a skylight-sized backlit panel that gives clear, white light for a refreshing effect.
The lack of a window can make the kitchen a claustrophobic and dreary space. Hanging a mirror (or setting up a wall-to-wall one as shown here) can help reflect light and give the illusion of expanded space. The mirror can also double as a handy backsplash and perk up the lean and long kitchen. If you are up for a slight remodel, explore the option of a skylight if the layout of your house does not permit a window.
Tip: If a skylight is not possible, a trick can be to create the illusion of one. Install a skylight-sized backlit panel that gives clear, white light for a refreshing effect.
6. Declutter and organise
There is no doubt that a clean and an organised kitchen seems nicer and brighter than one filled with too many appliances and clutter. In this kitchen by Architecture BRIO, everything goes right into the cabinetry. A clean and clutter-free kitchen brings a positive vibe and intensifies the available light. Glass cabinets are a clever addition to minimise clutter and reflect light, livening up the zone.
Read more: Kitchen Storage: How to Pack a Punch
7 Ways to Modernise Your Kitchen
Tell us: Which of these ideas have you tried to make your kitchen brighter?
There is no doubt that a clean and an organised kitchen seems nicer and brighter than one filled with too many appliances and clutter. In this kitchen by Architecture BRIO, everything goes right into the cabinetry. A clean and clutter-free kitchen brings a positive vibe and intensifies the available light. Glass cabinets are a clever addition to minimise clutter and reflect light, livening up the zone.
Read more: Kitchen Storage: How to Pack a Punch
7 Ways to Modernise Your Kitchen
Tell us: Which of these ideas have you tried to make your kitchen brighter?
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