Snake plants are definitely troopers, but pothos...I dunno. Mine always seem to get moody if I neglect them too long. Maybe they're just picky about my apartment vibes, haha.
Anyway, totally agree about mirrors—game changer. Another sneaky trick I've tried is using sheer curtains instead of heavy ones. They diffuse the little bit of sunlight you have, making the whole room feel softer and brighter without needing any extra lamps or fixtures. I also painted an old bookshelf white once, and you'd be surprised how much brighter that made the corner look. It reflected the natural light nicely, and bonus points—it gave me an excuse to spend a weekend covered in paint splatters and feeling super accomplished afterward.
Sheer curtains are nice, but honestly, nothing beats a fresh coat of paint. I went with a soft cream color in my old historic place—totally transformed the gloomy corners without losing character. Plants are great, but sometimes you gotta tackle the walls first...
Totally agree about the paint—cream shades can do wonders, especially in older homes. I did something similar in my 1920s bungalow, went with a warm ivory tone and it made the wood trim pop without feeling too stark. Also found that swapping out heavy drapes for lighter blinds helped bounce the natural light around even more. Plants are nice touches, but yeah... sometimes you gotta sort out the basics first. Glad your update worked out!
Cream shades definitely help, but honestly, I've found mirrors to be the real MVP when it comes to brightening up a space. I recently renovated my first place—a tiny apartment with limited windows—and strategically placing a couple of large mirrors opposite the windows made a huge difference. It practically doubled the natural light without any extra fixtures. Plants are great too, but if you're like me and struggle to keep them alive... mirrors don't wilt, just sayin'.
"mirrors don't wilt, just sayin'."
Haha, true that. Mirrors are definitely underrated for bouncing around natural light. Another thing I've found helpful is choosing furniture with lighter colors or reflective surfaces—glass coffee tables or glossy finishes can subtly brighten things up too. And if you're still open to plants (but wary of your plant-parenting skills), snake plants or pothos are pretty forgiving... trust me, they've survived my neglectful watering habits more times than I'd like to admit.
