House feels dingy

foreign_correspondent

lighting can make a huge difference, candles are good, but a few strategically placed table lamps, or even clip on spotlights, can make a huge difference to how a room feels

Brambleberry

Some light or bright table cloths and runners will break up large expanses of dark wood, but if the unchangeables of your rental are fairly dark, it may be cheaper and easier to go with a rich, warm and cosy theme instead of light, bright and airy.

Also consider your lighting, we use seven lights (standard and table) in our living room that are our main source of light in the evenings. They make the room look cosyby lighting up the dingy corners, and only total about 65 watts, much cheaper than the 6x60w golf ball bulbs on the "big light".

lessonlearned

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

I got some round solar lights that sit on the windowsills all day and glow at night. Some change colours. They are intended for outside but I like them inside.

Wow what a fantastic idea, I'll definitely pinch that one

Re the paintings and posters, you can now get some special fixing strips that don't mark the walls so should be ideal for rented property so as not to mark the walls and risk your deposit.

Large mirrors that are too heavy to hang without bolts can just lean against the walls.

Ideally place mirrors at right angles to the windows to bounce light around.

Basically anthing shiny will reflect light around, so even something as simple as tin foil on a mantelpiece or table top will make things seem brighter.

PasturesNew

If you can get permission to paint any walls, there's a light reflecting paint I've heard mentioned on the telly in a basement flat.

Quickly googled it - it's common. Dulux one's here: http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/static/dulux-light-and-space-paint £25 got 2.5 litres... but could be doable for 1-2 relevant walls.

lessonlearned

Can second the dulux light reflecting paint,it works very well.

GreyQueen

lessonlearned wrote: »

Can second the dulux light reflecting paint,it works very well.

I've had good reports of this product from a pal, also. Really makes a difference.

Lots of good tips here already. I'd give any window panes a really regular clean. It sounds naff, but the dust and grunge really does build up, inside and out, and cuts a surprising amount of light.

Mirrors are a fabulous trick, leaned against walls if necessary. If you can get an angle, you may be able to reflect light from the window into the room, and you can bounce light mirror to mirror. Things which are reflective, such as light coloured metals, or white ceramics, or pale textiles, can up the lightness level of a room.

But, as someone else said, the warm-and-cosy look is very appealing, particularly at this time of year. I know I'd rather be snuggled among brown furniture and woodwork than in a minimalist loft in white tile and blond wood about now (I have dark pretend wood, and pale walls).

Any don't forget fairylights. Cheap, widely available, fun and can be put in all sorts of places to add a bit of sparkle to your life.

SailorSam

Start looking for things on Freecycle and the Charity shops before you go out and spend to much.

PasturesNew

GreyQueen wrote: »

Mirrors are a fabulous trick, leaned against walls if necessary. If you can get an angle, you may be able to reflect light from the window into the room, and you can bounce light mirror to mirror.

I am planning on putting mirrors in my garden to reflect sunlight back into the room. It's also surprising how much light can be reflected off something painted white/cream in the garden, which can be done cheaply with a bit of cheap offcut perspex and some paint. Just angle them to catch the sun and reflect back ... propping them up somehow.

GreyQueen

One thing which I did for my parents in their house (1960s ex-council house, boxy and plain) was to paint the insides of the window reveals (sides and top) in white gloss, with the windowsill itself either white gloss over wood or white/cream tiles.

This simple wheeze served to bring more light into the room and, where there had been wallpaper coming around into the reveal, and getting curly and mouldy, it was cut back to the outside of the reveal, and the gloss paint was easy to wipe clean.

It's amazing how few little tricks really add up to more light in a place; my present home is a ground-floor flat shadowed by tall buildings and with a poor orientation to the sun, my previous flat was in a basement.

You can never have too many mirrors and they're cheap as chips at bootfairs; my biggest one was a freebie from a booter's rubbish pile.

carrielovesfanta

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

You're right in that I can't paint the walls. I think all the paint would ideally need to be stripped off as it's very thick and cracked in places.

I like the idea of getting some pale table runners to cover some of the dark furniture up. I'll also see about some flowers. Maybe fake ones or would I regret this as a dust trap?!

I may look out for a mirror too.

The warm and cosy look will def be the one I'm going for! I'd def rather that than a very stark look. It's just a little too dark at the moment. More great grandma's house than grand designs!