5 Easy Ways to Brighten Up a Dark Kitchen

November 6, 2021

There’s a reason for the saying “the kitchen is the heart of the home.” After all, it’s where many of us spend the majority of our time.

Between cooking, entertaining, and spending time with family, it’s usually a well-traveled part of the home. Which is why it should also be a well lit part of the home.


Brightening up your kitchen isn’t something that requires an entire kitchen overhaul. In fact, smaller changes can actually make a major difference in the look and feel of your space. If you’re wondering how to update a dark kitchen, read on for some easy ways to brighten things up that won’t take a great deal of time or a huge investment to achieve.

Change up your lighting

Changing your lighting will help make the kitchen feel brighter

One of the easiest ways to brighten up a dark space in any room is to add more lighting. In the kitchen especially, the right lighting is key.


From preparing meals and eating, to entertaining guests, and even finding things in your cabinets, having better lighting makes it all easier. Plus, the right lighting can impact the overall ambience of your kitchen and make it more inviting, so you’ll actually want to spend even more time there.


Consider changing out existing fixtures, or add some simple under-cabinet lights or hanging fixtures to brighten up dark corners of the room. Even swapping out your existing light bulbs for a brighter bulb can make a dark space much brighter.

Add a pop of color

A great way to bring some brightness into a dark room is by adding pops of color to otherwise dull spaces. Brighten up your paint color in the room, or even add an accent wall to make the space feel fresh.


Check out Pantone’s colors of the year for some inspiration. You can also swap out any existing artwork or add a statement piece to a wall in light, bright colors. And the next time you’re shopping for a countertop appliance, opt for one in a fun color instead of black or grey to brighten up your countertops, too.

Update your backsplash

A dark or busy backsplash can make your countertops and walls feel much darker and smaller than they really are.


A great way to change the feel of your kitchen is by swapping out your backsplash for a new, bright one with a clean, simple design. For an even easier fix, there are great temporary backsplash or peel-and-stick options for those who want to DIY this themselves.

Add a light-reflecting element

One of the best ways to make a room feel like it has more light, is to reflect the light that’s already there.


Metallic elements can not only make a room feel brighter, but can make it feel bigger, too. If you have an open wall, add a mirror. You can also opt for a metallic backsplash, or stainless steel appliances to help move light around the room and make things feel brighter, too.

Refinish your cabinets

Oceanside brightened up this dark kitchen with light white cabinet refinishing

Maybe you moved into a home with dark cabinets and it’s just not your style. Or perhaps it’s been a while since you last renovated, and you’re looking for a major change to brighten up your dark kitchen finishes.


While many think the only way to brighten up a dark wood kitchen is by replacing your cabinets, it’s actually much easier (and more affordable) to refinish them instead. If you’re wondering whether it’s even possible to lighten dark kitchen cabinets without replacing them altogether, the answer is yes.


At Oceanside Painting, our specialty is refinishing cabinets and can help you revamp your current finish, or work with you to find the best new look to brighten up the dark cabinets that are already in your kitchen.


Contact us today to get started in making your dark kitchen feel bright and new again.

Get Your Free Estimate Now!

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