How to Make a Kitchen Brighter

Place a decorative lamp on the counter or install under-cabinet lighting. Under-cabinet halogen and xenon bulbs both provide bright light, but xenon bulbs last five times longer and generate less heat.

Swap out a lone ceiling fixture for recessed or track lighting. Add a mini chandelier or pendant fixture above the sink or island. Choose clear glass shades instead of dark or frosted shades.

Knock down non-load bearing walls in the kitchen. By opening up the room to the rest of the house, you’ll glean light from the other spaces.

Remove kitchen cabinets on both sides of a window. Replace the cupboards with floating shelves to open up the space and allow light from the window to flood the room. Display white or neutral chinaware on the shelves to avoid a cluttered look.

Clean the kitchen windows, inside and out. Remove heavy valances and curtains permanently. If privacy is needed, mount a light-filtering shade.

Paint dark cabinets white; the snowy color bounces more light around the room. For contrast, paint the island in a hue that coordinates with your accents. Install ceramic tiles on the backsplash for a subtle sheen.

Cover the walls with a sunny yellow or white paint color. Choose a semi-gloss finish for extra luster.

Hang a mirror. Although kitchens don’t have much wall space, you can place small, decorative mirrors above or below upper cabinets. Round frames add curves to an otherwise boxy space.

Opt for stainless-steel appliances and hardware; they possess reflective properties. If your appliances still have a lot of life left, paint them with genuine stainless-steel appliance paint.