by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: February 17, 2012   Last Updated: February 23, 2012

When you decorate a room with very little sunlight, you need to start from basics. That room will always look small unless you evaluate the overall room including all elements introduced into it. There are ways to make it look larger, and to maximize the available space, but all good design follows the principles of starting at the beginning. Planning is what makes or breaks the decorating of a difficult space such as this.

Assessment

If you really are not happy that you are maximizing that room, empty it. You can always bear in mind the items you have to add at a later time, but emptying it helps you assess the room better. Take down the drapes. Take away the pictures and fixtures within the room. You will do a better job of it if you start from scratch.

Look at the space itself, as this is important. You need to first look at what light is available to the room, and what is stopping sunlight from getting in. Perhaps the way the room faces has something to do with it, and you can't address that. Perhaps something outside the room casts shadows and in this case you may be able to alter the situation. If not, it's important to take the journey step by step.

Maximizing light

Look at the lights that you have in the room. Do you have the possibility of introducing more light? A ceiling light in the center of a room is often all people have, but more light can be introduced by using wall lights or table lamps. Another way to maximize light is to use blinds instead of drapes in linen which are a neutral shade such as off white. These allow light to flood into the room even if they are closed, whereas colored ones would not. If you need an electrician to wire your lighting, get this done before you start the decoration process, and get rid of curtain poles, as you won't need them.

Assessing the basic colors

Floor covering which is dark also darkens the room. If you are able to introduce lighter flooring this is a much wiser choice. Laminate flooring is fairly easy to lay, or a good quality linoleum in a light color is easy to clean. The walls should have a themed color.

Don't make the mistake of having everything in white as white on its own is stark and cold. As you have no sunlight, the room will look even colder. Instead, go for colors which introduce a little yellow as these add warmth, but don't overdo the darkness of the shade. A very pale primrose would be perfect. Base boards should be in white as should architrave and ceiling. In the case of a ceiling,

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