How to Make Dark Wooden Walls Look Lighter & More Modern

Paint the walls white to make them brighter. If painting the walls isn’t an option, hang floor to ceiling fabric along the length of your walls, or install curtain panels with curtain wire. Also try lightening your walls with wood bleach.

Accessorize with light colored furniture that brightens the look of your room. Avoid dark, overstuffed furniture and pieces with wood accents, as these thwart the effect you’re trying to achieve. Remove visual blocks with glass-topped tables to allow the eye to flow freely around the room. Choose furniture with open space underneath to continue the sense of flow.

Install several types of lighting, including recessed lights, wall sconces, tall floor lamps and table lamps with bright shades. Replace your dim bulbs with the brightest bulbs you can find to enhance your room’s illumination.

Hang light or brightly colored wall art with ample white space in each piece to make your walls look modern and spacious. Arrange paintings strategically in vertical and/or horizontal groupings to give your room a modern art gallery feel. Use frames with silver metal accents, or mount art with no frame all; avoid dark or ornate frames that make the walls look heavy and weighed down.

Over-extend your window treatments to draw the focus toward your windows and the bright outdoors. Mount curtains as close to the ceiling as possible, extending the rod past your actual window frame on either side. Hang floor-length curtains made of sheer, white or light colored fabric that amplifies the light flowing in.

Hang mirrors throughout the room to reflect light and amplify a feeling of spaciousness in the room.

Install light colored wall-to-wall carpeting or ceramic tile to open up the floor and take attention away from the dark wooden walls. If carpeting or tile isn’t in your budget, cover your floor with light colored area rugs.