How to Decorate a Room With Little Sunlight

Walls

• Don't confine yourself to painting the walls with white paint in a room that is touched by very little sunlight. In north-facing rooms, the incoming natural light appears as a cool blue light, which can make a space covered in bright-white paint feel sterile and hospital-like. If you like the clean feel of white, choose a soft white or creamy ivory tone for your walls to create a more inviting ambiance. Increase the visual temperature in a low-light room with walls covered in muted warm hues, such as burnt orange, brick red, olive green and burnished gold. Apply vibrant periwinkle, lime green or golden yellow to cheer up a dimly lit room. Soft pastel tints such as pink, gray, yellow and green create a soothing atmosphere. Select a satin or semigloss paint finish to create a more reflective surface that bounces and reflects light.

Windows and Lighting

• Remove heavy window treatments to avoid blocking the small amount of incoming natural light. Opt for transparent, lightweight sheers for a breezy cottage appeal, or choose white-painted wood blinds to offer a contemporary flair. Clean the windows until they sparkle, and leave bare windows uncovered to take advantage of every sliver of sunlight. Turn up the illumination in a room that lacks sunshine by furnishing it with a variety of artificial lighting sources, such as overhead light fixtures, recessed lighting, a sparkling chandelier, wall sconces, and table and floor lamps. Use halogen lightbulbs to fill a space with illumination to mimic direct sunlight. Halogen lights are cooler and cleaner than incandescent bulbs but warmer than fluorescent.

Furniture and Floors

• Limit the furniture pieces in a room that is deficient in natural light. Too much furniture, especially dark-colored pieces, can make an already dark room feel even more dismal. Opt for upholstered pieces in perky patterns and light or vibrant hues. Accent tables with surfaces such as glass or metal offer a shiny surface to reflect more natural and artificial light. Exchange existing dark tile, carpeting or hardwood flooring for light-colored replacements. Flooring materials with a glossy finish make a dark room a tad brighter with their reflective surfaces. If replacing a room's current floor is not in your budget, add a cheery feel to the space by laying a large area rug over hard-surface flooring. Select a rug in a lively, colorful pattern, such as turquoise, sunny yellow and orange stripes.

Accessories

• Control the clutter in a sun-deprived room to help the space feel larger, brighter and more organized. Get rid of stacks of old books, magazines, newspapers and other reading materials that take up space and absorb light. Pick out a few favorite accents that add visual interest with light-reflective qualities, such as shiny ceramic or metal vases, an oversize wall mirror, silver or glass candlesticks, and framed wall prints. Place a few pots of natural greenery atop accent tables or a coffee table to bring a touch of the outdoors inside. Pick out plants that thrive without much natural sunlight.