How to Dress a Bed in a Dark Room

Choose a comforter (or duvet cover/bedspread) and sheets in a light but bright shade. They may take some getting used to, but bright pinks, oranges and yellows are surefire ways to make a room feel less dark. The key is to avoid shades that are “muddy” or don’t pop. If you can, buy a reversible comforter. This way you’ll have two color palettes to work from when adding other decorative touches to your bed.

Arrange pillows of different sizes and colors at the head of the bed. Aside from the pillow(s) you sleep on, you can introduce light, bright colors with bolsters and boudoir pillows of different sizes. Most pillows made for bedding use an insert and a removable cover (sham) so they can be washed easily, and are often made in the same fabric as comforters and sheets. If you want to save money, you might want to buy inexpensive throw pillows in different shapes, sizes and colors.

Add color to your headboard. If your headboard is cloth-covered in a dark or drab shade, have it recovered in something brighter or patterned. If your headboard is wood or metal, paint it — you’ll have hundreds of color options. You can then coordinate your bedding to the headboard, either through contrasting or matching colors.

Fold or artfully drape a colorful patterned throw at the foot of your bed. If you can’t handle a bright comforter, use a more subdued (albeit still light) one, but add a touch of cheeriness with the throw.

Hang an inexpensive circle canopy over your bed and drape it in white netting. You’ve added a soft and airy focal point that will add light to any bedroom.