How to Brighten Up a Room of Antiques

Paint Walls White

• Paint a room full of antiques with several coats of paint in the white family. White paint reflects into adjacent areas to lighten an otherwise dark room. Painting a room a color in the white family also makes the room appear more spacious, which is especially important if you have large antique furniture. Likewise, add a coat of white or off-white paint on the ceiling to give the illusion of more height in your room. Use a flat finish since in addition to hiding surface blemishes it also softens a room.

Add Texture

• Texture adds depth and interest to a room -- especially in a room painted in white or other neutral shade to make up for the absence of color. Soft textures lighten the look of dark, old antiques. Decorate with a soft sea-grass area rug, terra-cotta tiles and a chenille upholstered sofa. Use linen, cotton or tweed for your throw pillows, which provides a soft, subtle texture. Texture doesn't only refer to how something feels but also how something looks, such as adding texture with folds and pleats in window treatments.

Use Color

• Introduce color in a room of antiques to create a bright and cheerful atmosphere. Decorate with throw pillows, upholstered furniture, wall treatments, bedding and tablecloths in vibrant colors. Use warm colors that are are vivid and energetic like red, yellow and orange or cool colors that are calm and soothing like blue, green, and purple. Use these colors or tints (lighter versions of these colors) or shades (darker versions of these colors).

Bring Light In

• Light from chandeliers, table lamps, floor lamps and wall sconces can brighten up a room of antiques. However, you can also brighten up a room by bringing in natural light by drawing back your shades or curtains. Use drapes or shades in fabrics like linen or voile that are sheer in white or off-white. These fabrics and colors are translucent and soften a room and filter sunlight while providing a little more privacy.