6 Paint Colors That Will Instantly Brighten Up Any Dark Room, According to Designers

We all dream of a bright, airy sanctuary flooded with plenty of natural light—but some rooms in a home will always be darker than others, whether that’s due to their position, shape, or the number of windows.

Luckily, there’s a simple, designer-approved way to increase the natural light in a dark room: painting the walls and ceiling with a shade of paint that reflects and maximizes the available light in a space. We spoke with some pros and here are their top six paint color picks for brightening dark rooms.

Warm White

One of the best colors for brightening a dark room is also one of the most popular. White is a great choice when it comes to making the most of natural light—but softer, warmer variations are your best bet, according to interior designer Emily LaMarque.

“When there isn’t much natural light available, and in northern-facing rooms, I use warmer undertones to help a space feel bright and airy,” LaMarque says. “Nothing brightens up a space faster than a soft, warm white that bounces light around the room.”

Although cooler-toned and stark shades of white will have the same light-reflecting capabilities as their warm counterparts, blue undertones and pure white paints can run the risk of feeling cold and clinical.

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Cozy Beige

Even though lighter colors tend to amplify more light, some designers, like Marble Lotus’s Soni Mehra, like to lean into slightly deeper shades to strike a balance between making the most of the room’s naturally dark ambiance and creating a brighter, more inviting feeling.

“For spaces with limited natural light, I prefer using warm neutrals or muted earth tones in the beige family that embrace the moodiness of the room,” Mehra says. “They still reflect some light to brighten the space, but also give a cozy, cocooning effect.”

Blush Pink

Stepping into slightly more saturated territory, another color Mehra and home designer Nina Lichtenstein both love to use is a dreamy blush. This gentle shade of light pink is ideal for those who love the colors of dopamine decor, but are mindful of dousing their walls in highly pigmented hues that can make the area feel small and crowded.

“Delicate pastels like blush pink bounce light around the room and create an open, airy feel,” Mehra says. “They act as a nearly-neutral that enhances any light available, and create a warm atmosphere without feeling too heavy.”

Consider this soft, surprisingly versatile shade for a clear sense of warmth, a subtle hint of color, and to bring a vintage-inspired touch to the space.

Light Greige

Another go-to color for Lichtenstein when it comes to her clients’ homes is greige, which shares the same light-amplifying qualities as many of the lighter, warmer shades on this list.

Greige also acts as a chameleon color, with undertones that appear as warm or cool based on the rest of the room’s decor, lighting, and position in the home.

“This versatile color pairs well with various design styles, and works beautifully in living rooms and bedrooms,” Lichtenstein says.

Soft Blue

As a nature-inspired designer, Lichtenstein always considers what’s outside a window when determining the best paint shade for the room, and views a home’s natural surroundings as an element of permanent wall decor to embrace.

Even if you live in an area with constant rain and clouds, you can recreate the feeling of summer sun and brighten a room year-round with the help of a soft, natural blue.

“Light pastel blue paints enhance brightness while adding a touch of whimsy and personality,” Lichtenstein says. “These shades also mimic the sky, creating a sense of openness, freedom, and tranquility in an otherwise dark and crowded-feeling room.”

Gentle Green

Perfect for low-light bathrooms and bedrooms, a soothing sage green paint can bring a gentle, subtle sense of brightness to a dark room, and its yellow undertones allow the color to feel warm and comforting—despite green being considered as cool on the traditional color wheel.

“Soft greens, reminiscent of nature, can rejuvenate low-light spaces,” Lichtenstein says. “They provide a refreshing backdrop while promoting a connection to the outdoors, reflect light well, and can bring a sense of balance and calm through color.”