Some of the features of an apartment that make renters more interested in choosing it as the Branson apartment they want to rent, is the square footage and storage space. 

However, once you have moved in, you may find the place a bit darker than you had initially thought. If you have already made the extra effort to place additional lamps around the space, but the extra lighting is still not enough, you should check out these smart ways to make your dark apartment brighter.

Natural light is one of the cheapest sources for more light in any home. Choosing a rental apartment in Branson with plenty of large windows and glass doors is a good option. But if your apartment isn’t designed to let in a lot of light, you can do things that can help you optimize the light you do get. 

If you have rented an apartment with blinds, shades, shutters, or curtains pre-installed on windows, and you think you don’t need the privacy they will provide, you can take them down and store them somewhere safe and out of the way, until you move out. If you want to keep the blinds up, make sure to open them during the day to let in light as much as possible.

Light fixtures or ceiling fan lights are the most common light sources in most rental apartments, but they often provide insufficient light. If your apartment has a pre-installed light fixture, and you think it isn’t giving enough light to the room, don’t hesitate to swap it out the bulb for a higher wattage or for a bulb labeled “daylight”. Often these bulbs will add just enough extra brightness or cleaner light, to bring about the desired results. Just be sure to check the lamp or light fixture label, to confirm the highest wattage that is safe for that specific fixture.

If your rental apartment has ugly or outdated light fixtures, find some clever ways to replace them. If there are no light fixtures installed in your apartment and you’re desperate for some overhead lighting, don’t despair. Most ceiling fixtures in apartments come with a plug-in style power cord which allows you to easily attach the fixture to your ceiling (either by peel-and-stick-style strips) and plug it into the nearest outlet. Contact your property manager or landlord for approval, before installing any new fixtures.

Mirrors don’t produce light, but they are a great source to reflect light to help make the entire room feel larger and more illuminated. Hanging mirrors in every corner is a good idea, especially if you place them across from the windows, glass doors, and lamps. By doing so, it can add the appearance of extra lights without having to install any additional light fixtures.

Even if your apartment has enough lighting, when you add a few well-placed task lamps around the room, it can help make working or reading much easier on the eyes. Consider adding adjustable lamps with proper wattage bulbs to next to your study table, reading chairs, couches, and bedside desks. You can get task lights that have stylish fixtures that you can use in the corner of your living room or on your bedroom desk.

If you think that your kitchen doesn’t have sufficient light and there is no way, or nowhere, to install a lamp to provide the extra lighting, consider installing lights underneath the cabinets. You can find small lightbars at most home improvement stores for such a purpose, and many of these lamps can be held in place using Velcro or command strips. They are also battery operated so there are no cords to mess with and no electrical wiring is needed. Not only does the lighting underneath the cabinets provide great task lighting for countertop prep, but they also provide nice ambiance after the kitchen is cleaned and closed for the day.

Lights shouldn’t be placed only on ceilings. You can place wall sconces which are a great way to add additional lighting to any space in a way that looks like a decorative light. Wall sconces tend to work best in foyers, hallways, bathrooms, as well as alongside mantels and beds. You can look for models with plug-in-style cords that can make it truly easy for you to install.

Finally, don’t overlook the power of the use of a few strands of festive lights as a way you can make a dark apartment brighter. Lighting such as patio lights, lanterns, or holiday lights are lighting accessories that can add a lot of ambiance to your apartment in addition to illumination. Such lights are best in trees or large plants, in outdoor spaces, nooks, or reading corners. 

If you’ve rented a dark and gloomy apartment, there are ways to make it lighter and brighter. Don’t hesitate to change dull light fixtures to new ones to add the additional lighting where you need it.

If you are trying to find ways you can make a dark Branson apartment brighter, be sure you are taking full advantage of the natural light and then make the necessary decisions to change out bulbs or to install additional fixtures to help upgrade the lighting and the brightness of your apartment.

Thousand Hills Realty is Branson’s premier property management company. Contact us today to learn what properties we have available or that are coming soon that would meet your needs. At Thousand Hills Realty, we have been “Leading the Way Home” since 1992, and we look forward to assisting you in your search for your next Branson apartment or Branson home to rent.