Is your kitchen feeling dim and dreary? If you feel like your kitchen is too dark, there are plenty of solutions.
A dark kitchen can be uninviting and make cooking or entertaining less enjoyable. Fortunately, learning how to brighten a dark kitchen is easier than you might think, especially when using our range of roof lights and skylights.
In this guide, we’ll explore 11 tips (beyond generic advice) to modify your kitchen into a lighter, more welcoming space.
What makes kitchens feel so dark?
Several common factors can make a kitchen feel too dark:
- Limited natural light: Small or poorly placed windows (especially in north-facing rooms) mean less sunlight enters the space. Enclosed kitchens with few openings can feel cave-like.
- Insufficient artificial lighting: Without sufficient overhead and task lighting, cabinets and appliances can cast shadows, leaving corners and work areas dimly lit.
- Too many dark surfaces: Deep-rooted cabinets, floors, or worktops tend to absorb light. Dark, matte finishes on large surfaces (walls, counters, flooring) won’t reflect light, making the room look dull
11 ways to brighten up a dark kitchen
1. Install a kitchen skylight or roof lantern
One of the best ways to flood a dark kitchen with natural light is to add a skylight or roof lantern in the ceiling. Unlike small wall windows that only catch light at certain times, an overhead kitchen skylight captures sunlight throughout the day. This can dramatically transform a gloomy kitchen into a bright space. Beyond brightness, opening skylights can provide ventilation and even energy savings by reducing the need for electric lighting.
View our range of skylights perfect for kitchens.
2. Add or expand windows and glass doors
If your kitchen lacks windows or has a solid back door, consider introducing more glass to connect with the outdoors. Installing a new window or enlarging an existing one will increase natural light.
Even better, replace a solid exterior door or wall section with glass patio doors (such as sliding or bi-fold doors) to invite daylight inside. This creates an open, airy feel and can visually extend your kitchen space into the garden.
Korniche bi-fold doors are a great way to create a bright and inviting feel, effectively merging your indoor and outdoor areas. For interior kitchens, adding a window opening to an adjacent room or a glass partition can bring light from other regions.
The idea is to remove barriers to sunshine to enhance natural light.
3. Light colour scheme (walls, cabinets & ceilings)
Bright white cabinetry and walls reflect light, making the kitchen feel open and sunny.
If dark paint or cabinetry is sabotaging your kitchen’s brightness, switching to a light colour palette is a quick win for a brighter look.
Whites, creams, soft neutrals, and pale grey tones on walls and cabinets will reflect available light around the room instead of absorbing it. Painting walls and ceilings white can make a room appear much brighter by bouncing light more effectively.
4. Choose glossy and reflective surfaces
Another design trick to boost light is using shiny, reflective materials in your kitchen finishes. Glossy and polished surfaces act like mirrors to bounce light around.
For example, opt for high-gloss cabinet fronts or glossy ceramic floor tiles instead of matte finishes. Likewise, stainless steel or chrome appliances (fridge, oven, taps, and cabinet handles) will reflect light.
5. Include mirrors
It may not be traditional to hang a mirror in the kitchen, but it’s a brilliant way to increase brightness. A well-placed mirror can act as a secondary window by reflecting light from existing windows and fixtures.
Consider mounting a decorative mirror on a wall opposite a window or adjacent to a light source, it will bounce illumination to dark corners and make the room feel more open.
6. Layer your kitchen lighting
When natural light is limited, the key to a bright kitchen is layered artificial lighting. Relying on a single ceiling fixture won’t cut it, –you need multiple light sources at different levels.
Start with good ambient lighting overhead: this could be a bright ceiling pendant, a set of recessed lights, or a modern LED panel. Then add task lighting to shine directly on work areas: under-cabinet LED strips or puck lights will illuminate your worktops and eliminate the shadows beneath upper cabinets.
7. Upgrade to smart, brighter bulbs and LEDs
Sometimes the quickest way to fix a dark kitchen is simply using brighter bulbs. Swap out dim, inefficient bulbs for high-lumen ones. For instance, if your fixtures allow, move up to a higher wattage equivalent, e.g. replacing a 60W incandescent with an LED bulb that gives off the equivalent of 100W brightness.
Daylight-balanced LED bulbs can also make a space appear crisper and closer to sunlight. The beauty of modern LED bulbs is that they deliver much brighter light for a fraction of the energy usage of old bulbs.
You get a double benefit: a brighter kitchen and lower electricity bills from their efficiency.
8. Open up with glass-front cabinets and open shelving
Dark, heavy cabinetry up to the ceiling can make a kitchen feel cramped and block light from spreading. If a full repaint isn’t enough, try opening up some of your storage.
Replacing solid upper cabinet doors with glass-front doors or removing a few cabinets in favour of open shelving can do wonders for visual lightness. Glass cabinet doors allow you to see through to the wall and lighting inside, preventing the “wall of darkness” effect of solid wood.
9. Keep windows clear and use sheer treatments
Get the most out of the daylight you already have by making sure nothing is obstructing your windows or roof windows. Clear the mess from windowsills and avoid placing bulky furniture that blocks window openings.
Next, look at your window treatments: heavy curtains, dark blinds can steal a significant amount of light.
Swap them out for curtains or light-filtering shades, which maintain privacy but still let sunshine through. Even better, during daylight hours, pull window coverings fully open to let in all available light.
Another often overlooked tip: regularly clean your windows (inside and out).
10. Add pops of colour and bright decor accents
While it may seem counterintuitive, adding strategic pops of colour can brighten a dark kitchen’s appearance. Brightly coloured accents, such as a bold rug, artwork, or a set of yellow bar stools, draw the eye and break up large bits of darkness, preventing a dull look.
For example, if you have dark cabinets, you could paint a kitchen island in a light contrasting colour or add light-coloured backsplash tiles to lift the overall palette.
Even something as simple as displaying a bowl of lemons or a colourful stand mixer on the counter can add a spot of brightness.
11. Consider an open-plan layout or larger renovation
Removing or reducing walls that separate the kitchen from other rooms can greatly increase light flow. Creating a semi-open or open-plan kitchen allows daylight to migrate from adjacent brighter areas (like a living room with big windows) into the kitchen.
Even a wide interior doorway or pass-through window between rooms can help share light. In the case of a major remodel or extension, plan the new space with maximising natural light as a top priority.
Brighten your kitchen with Toughened Glass Systems
Toughened Glass Systems can help you implement many of these ideas. From our bespoke skylights and roof lanterns to glass doors and kitchen splashbacks, we offer glazing solutions that infuse spaces with natural light. Even small changes like a custom-cut mirror or a new glass window can make a big difference in your kitchen’s ambience.
Why not explore our range of kitchen skylights to see what fits your home?
Contact Toughened Glass Systems for expert advice on day lighting your kitchen.