Sun tunnel... reflective paint... mirror shelving?

nford57

3 years ago

I want to increase the light level in the corner of the lounge.
I’m looking for advise please:

Install a sun tunnel above the red striped sofa (the tunnel will have to pass through my upstairs wardrobe which sits above the lounge)
I like the contrast wall, yet the matt finish drains the light. Should I have gone for a silky finish, or should I add a glitter/metallic mix to the paint to reflect light?
I’m considering putting mirror backs behind the shelving to reflect light... or would it be too ‘busy’?
All ideas and suggestions welcomed.

Featured Answer

Sonia

3 years ago

Hello, I think the red wall is the problem. It’s quite dated. You’ve painted a dark colour in the darkest part of the room which is sapping the little light you have. I prefer Matt paint, it looks classier. Of course you could add a light tunnel but it’s an awful lot of upheaval and expense and it may not provide that much light. I do love your room though, very nice and very cosy!

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Comments (20)

Carolina
3 years ago
Agree with Sonia. I'd start by painting the accent wall in a lighter colour and go from there. And I too love your room :-)
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Victoria
3 years ago
What they said ^^^ 😊
E D
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I like your red wall, lovely colour. It suits your beautiful interior really well.

Did it feel dark(er) after painting the wall red or has it always been a dark-ish corner?

Could moving the floor lamp to that corner help?

I don’t think reflective paint, or similar will make a substantial difference.

EDIT: Just noticed it’s not a floor lamp... 🙂
H A
3 years ago
Hi I love this room! It depends what you use the room for - you have two rooms in one here I think. Your light-filled seating by the garden is lovely; could you rearrange the furniture somehow so it faces the garden? Then you have your cosy seating for evenings. You could paint your feature wall a lighter colour or some light/bright wallpaper, but this changes the character of this end of the room and if you like the red, keep it! At least go through one winter before you change your mind. X
nford57
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for the comments.
The corner of this room has always been dark. I presumed the extension would bring in enough light to fill the whole area. The ‘red’ area is used in the evening. It faces the TV and fireplace.
peggysue67
3 years ago
Put a lamp in the dark corner!
Ellie
3 years ago
They do look as if they are 2 separate areas, I'd treat it like that. Chairs on one side of room look too far from chairs on other side. I'd turn couple chairs to the doors and change the red.
Lynn Baba
3 years ago
on the much more expensive side--could you put a skylight or two into the extension roof?
Alan Knights
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
There seems to be plenty of light coming from the hall maybe double the size of the doorway with a fixed glass door to steal some light There should still be room to swap one of your yellow chairs with the pink sofa I would paint the feature wall to a lighter colour from the rug Or the beautiful colour of the sideboard We put in a sun pipe in our bungalow and have never regretted it but the longer the pipe (especially if it has any bends around joists ) the less light you will get good luck and enjoy the designing
tamp75
3 years ago
I was also going to suggest changing furniture layout so that you have a lighter area and make the most of the darker cosier end of the room. I don’t think mirrors will work behind the shelving as they’re not ‘enclosed’. You’d basically be sticking mirrors to the walls not the shelving which I think would look strange. I wondered if your curtains would pull back any further? If there is window behind where they’re stacked to the side, that could potentially provide a lot more light to the room.
HU-464303906
3 years ago
It’s a lovely sitting room but I agree with everyone above to change the red paint and moving the lovely table lamp to the corner. Also, have you thought about recovering your sofa and armchair? Or changing the cushion covers? Try throwing a white bed sheet over them and you’ll see immediately how much brighter the room will feel. I know it’s an expensive option, but with all those small changes, I think you’ll find it perfect!
CV Barny
3 years ago
I like the suggestions of changing the red feature wall to something much, much lighter and putting in a glazed door to the hall. The hall looks very bright, how about stealing more light from the area with a window to it...perhaps quite high up, long across but not too deep to keep the area private still? This will probably be less messy and expensive than a light tunnel.
CV Barny
3 years ago
Like this
https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/modern-toronto-infill-modern-living-room-toronto-phvw-vp~896929
Sonia
3 years ago
I wonder if Dulux Light & Space Paint will increase the light levels? It’s a matt paint so looks like normal paint but has particles that pick up the light. Now I’m not sure if it actually works, but worth researching?
Alan Knights
3 years ago
Adding to my comment of yesterday if you want to keep a red feature wall you could paint the wall at the other end of the room red as this gets a lot more light and will tie in with the curtains I would keep the picture and mirror where they are Above all enjoy the process
ali270
3 years ago
I’ve used Moon Shimmer in my north facing dining room and yes it does work .
nford57
Original Author
3 years ago
Has anyone had experience with sun tunnel installations. Hints/tips? Should I approach a competent builder or roofer to gain quote/install?
Juliet Docherty
3 years ago
I would try to avoid a sun tunnel to start with to see if could be tweaked with paint etc. I would be tempted to paint both the red wall and the wall with the hall door one colour to unite it as a cosy space. It's impossible to pluck colours out of our heads, they have to be tested rigorously as light changes everything. Rooms starved of light will look greyer if painted white, and lack of light makes F&B greys look a bit too grey. Something subtle but with some colour may help, could be a dirty browny pink or a soft 'hay' colour. What is the other colour on the pale walls?
nford57
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks ‘Colourhappy’. The main neutral colour from Little Green is China Clay. The red wall is LG Drummond.

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