I like this video. I used to live in a dark basement. One day I painted an area with a white that was tinted slightly yellow. It still looked white but made the room glow. It made the other white walls look grey because of the darkness. So now I know, if you want a bright white, always get a very pale yellow, almost white. You will have a bright 😎 place. It was amazing!
Exactly what I was looking for! I thought about adding a big mirror but now I have plenty of ways to brighten my living room thanks to your tips! Thanks so much!!! 🤩
hi reynard since I discover your channel i never stop of watching your videos, I been learning alot from them thank you for sharing all your knowlege and tips with us . if is not a problem and when you have the time I would like you to explain more about bathroom decor and desing. and tips how to decor over the kitchen cabinets.
Hi Reynard, I have been watching your videos for a while to help me with DIY-ing our home improvements/reno! You offer fantastic tips and they are spot-on. I like this one in particular as we will be tackling a dark room soon. If you don't have it on your list yet, may I request for a video on improving a bedroom that is south facing with only 1 window as source of light? As well as on a ground floor apartment facing south. Really appreciate it and keep it up! You help a lot of people like me :)
Amazing video. Thanks so much. North facing apartment and I cannot stand that I did not get a lot of direct sunlight. Also, about to order some crystal prisms to bring in rainbow specks.
Could you create a video explaining style influences? For example craftsman, art deco, victorian, different ethnic/international influences. I always felt if I understood these sources I could make better choices in creating more cohesive or eclectic spaces. But as an amateur I don’t have time or finances to put into a course. I tried buying textbooks but never had time to read them LOL!
Thank you! Question - to brighten a low light space (not enough windows, north facing, greenery/buildings) would it be better to have sheer curtains or no curtains at all (esp if privacy is not an issue)?
Hey! Thanks for this video, it was very calm and easy to understand :) The suggestion about mirrors and sheer curtains really were helpful for letting light in! I have a question about suggestions for curtains in a living room that has no lights. There's no lights in my new living room, but does have two tall windows framing one wall. I wanted to keep the blinds open and use a sheer curtain for the windows, but it's a bit of a security issue here lol. Would you be able to recommend a type of curtain that would provide more privacy than sheer, but still let light in? Thanks for your content!
So beautifully presented in such a nice tone even for noobie and new renter like me. I have doubts on the lux chart though. What if your dinning room and Living room are side by side with no seperation between them. Should i still buy lights with lux levels in total or still different level ambient lights in the living room and dining room totalling both added? .
New here. Your voice and videos are very soothing and easy listening. Kudos! I’m glad to be here. Liked. Subscribed. Notification bell on. 😊 Major challenge. Major obstacles. I apologize for the length. I hope it’s okay I’m asking for suggestions. I’m at a total loss what to do. Backdrop: • For 7.5 years I’ve lived in a 100+ yo apt bldg w/10 stories. I’m on the 3rd & face N. Total size of apt: 1 bdrm 390 sq’. • Tall cement parking structure 15-20’ away. Apt bldg has cement bump outs. Cement everywhere. • I use my weather app. There’s some light, but I cannot see the sky unless I crane my neck. (cannot do this while winterized) • No insulation for bldg/windows. No double panes. Metal blinds. (Difficulty opening windows in warmer months.) • Outdated oversized & poorly installed jutted out air conditioner. Window stops short of. • Drafty baseboard heaters. Don’t use. • I’ve purchased 2 different heaters over the years. Don’t heat the rooms. Have to have next to me. (oil register & forced air) Winterizing solution I’ve in place: • Windows & air conditioner covered w/heavily layered U-line 1” cells bubble wrap, white darkening curtains, and olive green wool blanket for each paired side by side windows = 4 windows total. Huge challenge keeping the apt warm each winter. Layering experiments 2019 to the present. I’m not in a position to move. Company won’t do anything about the issues. The bldg’s old, but it’s not a slum. I’d be grateful if you have the time to offer suggestions/direction on how to winterize. Thanks!
Beautiful styling but if my rooms were as light as all of these with their huge windows, I wouldn't need to use them. I think it would make more sense to show smaller darker rooms with before and after your tips have been implemented.
Most of these rooms have huge windows. What if you have small windows that don’t receive much outdoor light? White seems kind of gloomy then, or am I picking the wrong color white? I live in an old craftsman style home and love the dark wood trim, floors, and beams. Right now I have green on the walls, but would like to change it up. It’s been there for the last 15 years! Before that the walls were off white and I didn’t like it. To me it looked like cigarette stained. (We don’t smoke!😅)
I live in a east facing studio ,on the 26th floor.. it’s 500 sq feet…I have it white with one accent wall a taupe gray colour. I’m now ready to change it but my dilemma to still remain on white or a very light colour either green with a under tone of yellow or light blues..or should I go with a warm white ?
How to a room facing north looks bright and warm? My home office window faces north and don’t get Sun shine all year long. I have painted the walls all white and use white curtains. It still looks dark during daytime with ceiling lights on. Any suggestions?
Try incorporating rich yellow (with gold undertones) in your office space. It will instantly lift your mood! It can be a yellow chair or throw, yellow painting, etc. Then, add some plants in the corner and light them well with small lamp, preferably in orange. This will give you warm sunny feeling.
Dear Reynard, I just bought small ground floor flat, appx 3.2x10.5m, (length with conservatory), low ceiling 2.2m. Would you give me some advice on how to solve out conservatory - entrance - living room. Its old and needs redesign on a budget. Make miracle with ideas and little money. I can send some pics
Hello, is your arc floor lamp in the dining area synced to the dimmer app? Does the arc lamp give decent light during the night? I’m currently looking for a new floor lamp, thank you.
I've read that white is actually hard on the eyes. Apparently it's why surgeons traditionally eschewed it for their scrubs, in favour of green. White walls / furniture in harsh, north European light can just feel cold instead. I'm living in the wrong Hemisphere lol. I enjoyed watching your clip though and will check out the lighting clip you mentioned.
great video! however i have an issue that some of your tips cant help at all… my apartment literally has no windows. it would be nice if you did a part 2 to this with some suggestions for how to brighten up a room with no natural light at all.
Without natural light at all then I'd say it's best to focus on the artificial lighting aspect + having a light color base so it doesn't feel closed in and stuffy.
My problem is that my room is small, has a dark window with a screen layer on it for sun protection and has a very greyish carpetfloor build into it. I will try to overlay it with light carpets, try a mirror against the one window and hope for the best.
Hey Reynard, i just discovered your channel and find it super helpful. And maybe you could help me out (video idea): In the next weeks i'll move to small Loft (about 50m2) but with a room hight of 4 m. And i really have no clue how to make this look cosy but still modern. Also one Wall ist just windows and it's not possible to make a gallery or something
Nice but I disagree with darker wooden style Floors looking ‘dingy’ the shade doesn’t always have to be natural to look good - contrast as he mentioned is imp .. but darker floors aren’t inherently dingy.. ppl have diff taste, this is the main thing that puts me off about the cookie-cutter mentality of interior designers
We’ve lived in a home with dark floors for about 8 years now and of course while this is only my opinion, it does make our home feel depressive coupled with the lack of natural lighting since our living room faces north. I would much rather have a gray but as we’re renters, that’s not going to happen. Started researching how to brighten it up since the floors soak up the minimal amount of light this room gets and found this video. Definitely going to try some mirrors and see how we fair.
I wasnt paying specific attention to the part where he spoke of floors, but throughout, he uses language like "can" make the room look darker" and "try" this or that" Generally he was not using absolute language and was making suggestions. While contrast is important, a darker floor is still going to be darker. Plus he is clearly and openly biased towards a specific style and that's OK, people wanting that will get more value from him than listening to a generalist, but ppl trying to create a different style can take from it what they want. Even if he did say that, you don't have to rip out your floors because a man in a youtube video said so. But people can put a light rug in if their dark floors are making the room feel dark!
I'm about to move, but this time I have a dog with black fur. So the whole beige trend won't work for me (in the long run). It will be a challenge to balance out functionality and style 🫠
What do you think about using a white paint with pearlescent sheen to reflect light? I have a windowless dining room adjacent to a very sunny living room and hoping to get some of that brightness to bounce off the common wall. A mirror is in place but isn't enough.
I hope you manage to brighten it up. it's good to know I'm not the only one in this category. SUPER sunny living room but little bedroom like a dungeon with dark everything on floors thanks to agency and one window. In desperation I'm pinning up via tape panels of foil on the darkest wall corners. well really all the corners be cause it bugs me where ever I go and it does at least cheer the space up and give it some life whilst I decide what to do to go bigger and better overall. Also using hanging mirror shards they make a nice pretty decoration (although it's not very much light I need more) it does at least look nice. I use anything metallic and vaguely reflective and whack it on the walls. I also fill glass bowls of water. They twinkle a bit and look move I just mentioned the foil because it's easy to get a lot for virtually nothing and instantly create a bit of reflected light though hanging mirrors and glass is probably better. I think it's just a case of trial and error. I also discovered that bright contrasting colours while they might not necessarily create light they do wake up the room so add lots of yellows, blues, reds etc Remember that black absorbs light as well as lacking it Best of luck to you with it. let us know how you do!
@@vvelvettearss Are you renting? Or you just buy it? Asking because there's a tipe of window (sometimes is just glass framed) that is close to the ceiling. The purpose is bring light from the sunny room to the dark one without damage the privacy. (english isn't my first language)
A little late but our home is very dark and during renovation, I accidentally bought the stairwell paint in a pearly semi gloss. Best mistake ever. The wall isn't "shiny" per se but it is reflective and really brightened the space immensely.
I like this video. I used to live in a dark basement. One day I painted an area with a white that was tinted slightly yellow. It still looked white but made the room glow. It made the other white walls look grey because of the darkness. So now I know, if you want a bright white, always get a very pale yellow, almost white. You will have a bright 😎 place. It was amazing!
Reynard, it is always a pleasure to watch your videos, your tips are always spot on, keep up the good work.
Thanks, will do!
Exactly what I was looking for! I thought about adding a big mirror but now I have plenty of ways to brighten my living room thanks to your tips! Thanks so much!!! 🤩
Probably the best home improvement channel on youtube. Thanks Reynard 👍🏽 🇮🇳
I love when a place feels light and calm! ❤
Not a wasted minute in this vid, killing it!
hi reynard since I discover your channel i never stop of watching your videos, I been learning alot from them thank you for sharing all your knowlege and tips with us . if is not a problem and when you have the time I would like you to explain more about bathroom decor and desing. and tips how to decor over the kitchen cabinets.
I really love your videos! I always look forward to your new uploads, they're a pleasure to watch and already teached me a lot. Thank you so much! :)
So helpful! So many things I can change to hopefully brighten my dark lounge room, thank you!
Hi Reynard, I have been watching your videos for a while to help me with DIY-ing our home improvements/reno! You offer fantastic tips and they are spot-on. I like this one in particular as we will be tackling a dark room soon. If you don't have it on your list yet, may I request for a video on improving a bedroom that is south facing with only 1 window as source of light? As well as on a ground floor apartment facing south. Really appreciate it and keep it up! You help a lot of people like me :)
I second this.. I have the same problem lol
such great & simple tips! thank you for sharing, will have to follow this in my next room makeover!
So many tips I didn't know before!! Love your videos Reynard
Hey man, the quality of your videos are getting better. Well done!! :D
Amazing video. Thanks so much. North facing apartment and I cannot stand that I did not get a lot of direct sunlight. Also, about to order some crystal prisms to bring in rainbow specks.
Light, light, cozy, inspiring and inspiring! Thanks
Remove your roof
😂
😂😂😂
Very very informative.... Gem of an episode
Could you create a video explaining style influences? For example craftsman, art deco, victorian, different ethnic/international influences. I always felt if I understood these sources I could make better choices in creating more cohesive or eclectic spaces. But as an amateur I don’t have time or finances to put into a course. I tried buying textbooks but never had time to read them LOL!
I love this channel. Keep this great content keep coming. I lov'em
All great tipps, I especially love the one to use mirrors , tyvm 😊
Thank you Reynard for the video, as a beginner exploring interior design for my new apartment, I found it very useful and fascinating. :)
Thank you! Question - to brighten a low light space (not enough windows, north facing, greenery/buildings) would it be better to have sheer curtains or no curtains at all (esp if privacy is not an issue)?
Hey! Thanks for this video, it was very calm and easy to understand :)
The suggestion about mirrors and sheer curtains really were helpful for letting light in!
I have a question about suggestions for curtains in a living room that has no lights. There's no lights in my new living room, but does have two tall windows framing one wall. I wanted to keep the blinds open and use a sheer curtain for the windows, but it's a bit of a security issue here lol. Would you be able to recommend a type of curtain that would provide more privacy than sheer, but still let light in? Thanks for your content!
This video is extremely helpful! Thanks! 👍
So beautifully presented in such a nice tone even for noobie and new renter like me. I have doubts on the lux chart though. What if your dinning room and Living room are side by side with no seperation between them. Should i still buy lights with lux levels in total or still different level ambient lights in the living room and dining room totalling both added? .
Good question - surprised this wasn’t mentioned
Love your videos Reynard ! ❤
Thank you for sharing great tips as always
New here. Your voice and videos are very soothing and easy listening. Kudos! I’m glad to be here. Liked. Subscribed. Notification bell on. 😊
Major challenge. Major obstacles. I apologize for the length. I hope it’s okay I’m asking for suggestions. I’m at a total loss what to do.
Backdrop:
• For 7.5 years I’ve lived in a 100+ yo apt bldg w/10 stories. I’m on the 3rd & face N. Total size of apt: 1 bdrm 390 sq’.
• Tall cement parking structure 15-20’ away. Apt bldg has cement bump outs. Cement everywhere.
• I use my weather app. There’s some light, but I cannot see the sky unless I crane my neck. (cannot do this while winterized)
• No insulation for bldg/windows. No double panes. Metal blinds. (Difficulty opening windows in warmer months.)
• Outdated oversized & poorly installed jutted out air conditioner. Window stops short of.
• Drafty baseboard heaters. Don’t use.
• I’ve purchased 2 different heaters over the years. Don’t heat the rooms. Have to have next to me. (oil register & forced air)
Winterizing solution I’ve in place:
• Windows & air conditioner covered w/heavily layered U-line 1” cells bubble wrap, white darkening curtains, and olive green wool blanket for each paired side by side windows = 4 windows total.
Huge challenge keeping the apt warm each winter. Layering experiments 2019 to the present. I’m not in a position to move. Company won’t do anything about the issues. The bldg’s old, but it’s not a slum.
I’d be grateful if you have the time to offer suggestions/direction on how to winterize. Thanks!
Just what I needed, thank you !
Great tips! Very thoughtful!
Which is best? Kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, etc with acrylic finish or With Natural Wood finish?
Please respond.
I'm waiting for this 👍
Beautiful styling but if my rooms were as light as all of these with their huge windows, I wouldn't need to use them. I think it would make more sense to show smaller darker rooms with before and after your tips have been implemented.
Greetings from Malaysia. Thank you Reynard!
Hey reynard keep it up your good work love from India 😊
Most of these rooms have huge windows. What if you have small windows that don’t receive much outdoor light? White seems kind of gloomy then, or am I picking the wrong color white? I live in an old craftsman style home and love the dark wood trim, floors, and beams. Right now I have green on the walls, but would like to change it up. It’s been there for the last 15 years! Before that the walls were off white and I didn’t like it. To me it looked like cigarette stained. (We don’t smoke!😅)
Thank you for the tips
Wow these tips, thank you!
Thank you, that was very helpful!
Great ideas! Thank you!
I live in a east facing studio ,on the 26th floor.. it’s 500 sq feet…I have it white with one accent wall a taupe gray colour. I’m now ready to change it but my dilemma to still remain on white or a very light colour either green with a under tone of yellow or light blues..or should I go with a warm white ?
How to a room facing north looks bright and warm? My home office window faces north and don’t get Sun shine all year long. I have painted the walls all white and use white curtains. It still looks dark during daytime with ceiling lights on. Any suggestions?
Try incorporating rich yellow (with gold undertones) in your office space. It will instantly lift your mood! It can be a yellow chair or throw, yellow painting, etc. Then, add some plants in the corner and light them well with small lamp, preferably in orange. This will give you warm sunny feeling.
Really helpful :)
Dear Reynard, I just bought small ground floor flat, appx 3.2x10.5m, (length with conservatory), low ceiling 2.2m. Would you give me some advice on how to solve out conservatory - entrance - living room. Its old and needs redesign on a budget. Make miracle with ideas and little money. I can send some pics
any tips for north facing windows in an apartment?
Hello, is your arc floor lamp in the dining area synced to the dimmer app? Does the arc lamp give decent light during the night? I’m currently looking for a new floor lamp, thank you.
Which extra lighting is undated one in bed room., hanging , wall sconces,or table lamps ...pls reply
Great tips!
I've read that white is actually hard on the eyes. Apparently it's why surgeons traditionally eschewed it for their scrubs, in favour of green. White walls / furniture in harsh, north European light can just feel cold instead. I'm living in the wrong Hemisphere lol. I enjoyed watching your clip though and will check out the lighting clip you mentioned.
Thank you
I’ll try some of these. My room makes me feel sad. I use a white light lamp almost all day just to feel like I’m not in the dark.
Can you please tell me when can i get those curtains from?
Very good tips
Where did you get your white linen looking like curtains?
great video! however i have an issue that some of your tips cant help at all… my apartment literally has no windows. it would be nice if you did a part 2 to this with some suggestions for how to brighten up a room with no natural light at all.
Without natural light at all then I'd say it's best to focus on the artificial lighting aspect + having a light color base so it doesn't feel closed in and stuffy.
Anyone got an ID for the lamp at 3:50? Love these videos btw
Very true and useful , appreciated sharing your video, brilliant 👍
My problem is that my room is small, has a dark window with a screen layer on it for sun protection and has a very greyish carpetfloor build into it. I will try to overlay it with light carpets, try a mirror against the one window and hope for the best.
It worked?
@@fecorr Hey I will only know when I try it out. Right now I have to save money for that. I can tell you more when it´s done :)
Hey Reynard, i just discovered your channel and find it super helpful. And maybe you could help me out (video idea): In the next weeks i'll move to small Loft (about 50m2) but with a room hight of 4 m. And i really have no clue how to make this look cosy but still modern. Also one Wall ist just windows and it's not possible to make a gallery or something
Wood, warm colors, textures and natural fabric.
I have a room without any ceiling lights, anything I can do about this?
@ Reynard Lowell what color is your wall please?
Do a gym bag and how you plan to go to the gym video! thx
And how do you make a room bigger?
Good content ! Have you considered a name rebranding that is easier to remember ? How about THE LOWDOWN FROM LOWELL ?????
Now decorate the OR.
A place my brother has never been.
most of the extra lightning achieved in this vid is just using a better camera and the editing in post
4
First to comment
Nice but I disagree with darker wooden style Floors looking ‘dingy’ the shade doesn’t always have to be natural to look good - contrast as he mentioned is imp .. but darker floors aren’t inherently dingy.. ppl have diff taste, this is the main thing that puts me off about the cookie-cutter mentality of interior designers
We’ve lived in a home with dark floors for about 8 years now and of course while this is only my opinion, it does make our home feel depressive coupled with the lack of natural lighting since our living room faces north. I would much rather have a gray but as we’re renters, that’s not going to happen. Started researching how to brighten it up since the floors soak up the minimal amount of light this room gets and found this video. Definitely going to try some mirrors and see how we fair.
I wasnt paying specific attention to the part where he spoke of floors, but throughout, he uses language like "can" make the room look darker" and "try" this or that"
Generally he was not using absolute language and was making suggestions.
While contrast is important, a darker floor is still going to be darker. Plus he is clearly and openly biased towards a specific style and that's OK, people wanting that will get more value from him than listening to a generalist, but ppl trying to create a different style can take from it what they want. Even if he did say that, you don't have to rip out your floors because a man in a youtube video said so. But people can put a light rug in if their dark floors are making the room feel dark!
First
I'm about to move, but this time I have a dog with black fur. So the whole beige trend won't work for me (in the long run). It will be a challenge to balance out functionality and style 🫠
What do you think about using a white paint with pearlescent sheen to reflect light? I have a windowless dining room adjacent to a very sunny living room and hoping to get some of that brightness to bounce off the common wall. A mirror is in place but isn't enough.
I hope you manage to brighten it up. it's good to know I'm not the only one in this category. SUPER sunny living room but little bedroom like a dungeon with dark everything on floors thanks to agency and one window. In desperation I'm pinning up via tape panels of foil on the darkest wall corners. well really all the corners be cause it bugs me where ever I go and it does at least cheer the space up and give it some life whilst I decide what to do to go bigger and better overall.
Also using hanging mirror shards they make a nice pretty decoration (although it's not very much light I need more) it does at least look nice. I use anything metallic and vaguely reflective and whack it on the walls. I also fill glass bowls of water. They twinkle a bit and look move
I just mentioned the foil because it's easy to get a lot for virtually nothing and instantly create a bit of reflected light though hanging mirrors and glass is probably better.
I think it's just a case of trial and error.
I also discovered that bright contrasting colours while they might not necessarily create light they do wake up the room so add lots of yellows, blues, reds etc
Remember that black absorbs light as well as lacking it
Best of luck to you with it. let us know how you do!
@@vvelvettearss Are you renting? Or you just buy it? Asking because there's a tipe of window (sometimes is just glass framed) that is close to the ceiling. The purpose is bring light from the sunny room to the dark one without damage the privacy. (english isn't my first language)
A little late but our home is very dark and during renovation, I accidentally bought the stairwell paint in a pearly semi gloss. Best mistake ever. The wall isn't "shiny" per se but it is reflective and really brightened the space immensely.