With the heaps of beautifully bright homes on Pinterest, it’s easy to look around our own houses and wonder why they don’t quite compare. Dark and dingy? Yeah, sounds more like it. If you’re anything like me, and yearn for a bright, happy space, then you’ll love these tips about brightening up your home. Not only will they help you create a brighter space (even in a dark room!), but they’ll add to your decor to make it fresh, inspiring, and oh so #Pinterest ready. Want to brighten up your home? Here are eight tips to help you do just that:

1. Use white or light-colored furniture.

Wherever possible, search for white furniture, rather than dark colors. Think white bookcases, white credenzas, cream couches, and white tables! If you have dark wood floors like me, then adding an off-white rug can do wonders. I have one in my living room and it really brightens up the space. Fun fact: if you’re scared of getting it dirty, then I knocked over a full cup of coffee on mine and it came right out. No excuses! 😉

Here are a few of my favorite light-colored furniture pieces:

White Metal Chair | Cream Couch | White + Wood Drawers

Related: How to Choose the Right Sofa for Your Home

2. Keep tall items away from windows.

Is there a large plant, bookshelf, or other piece of furniture blocking the light in your house? Move it! I recommend putting large pieces of furniture on opposite ends of a room from where your windows are. That way, your room will receive the most natural light possible.

3. Use sheer, white curtains.

When I moved into my apartment, it came with thick, ivory curtains that made the room look a little dark and yellow-hued. Bleh. Instead, I traded them in for sheer, white curtains. Wow, what a difference that simple change made!

4. Add mirrors.

Mirrors are incredibly handy in home decor for a couple reasons. First, they will make your room appear larger. In addition to opening up your room’s space, they’ll also reflect any light coming into the room, especially if placed across from light sources, such as windows. Try adding a large mirror into your dark room to give it more space and light.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Wood Mirror | White Mirror | Sunburst Mirror

5. Paint it!

This is, perhaps, one of the most obvious (but important!) suggestions. If your room has dark colored paint, it could be giving it an overall dark feel. Paint can transform a room. Try white paint or a light grey to brighten up your space. It’s amazing what a can of white paint can do for your decor!

6. Clean!

What your house might actually need more than anything is…a good cleaning! Wipe down all of your surfaces, clean scuff marks off the walls, and dust wherever possible. Imagine how dingy a room would look if it was covered in a thin layer of dirt? Yeah, that.

7. Bright, white bulbs

Are your lamps giving off a yellow tint? It might be time to switch them out for something new. Try Bright White LED bulbs to maximize the brightness coming from your lamps. You also need more light sources in general! Try adding a table lamp to your decor to add a bit more brightness.

Here are a few of my favorite lamps:

White Table Lamp | Pendant Lamp | Three-Legged Floor Lamp | Polished Steel Lamp

8. Add flowers or plants

I don’t think there’s anything that really freshens up a space more than some well-placed flowers or big, leafy plants. Add plenty of plants to your decor (not just succulents — think bigger!) and you’ll literally breathe new life into your home.

Related: 9 Gorgeous Ways to Decorate With Plants

What has worked for you in brightening up your own home? Leave a comment and let me know!

This post is in collaboration with awesome home decor brand, Apt2B. Thank you for supporting the wonderful brands that keep The Nectar Collective going.