White roller shades continue to cast light into a room after dark

Interior designer Vern Yip, best known for his work on HGTV shows and The Learning Channel's Trading Spaces, believes homeowners shouldn't have to do without strong light in their homes during the shorter days of winter.

Halogen bulbs, candles and mirrors are some of the ways he combats winter's darkness, according to Parade magazine.

Although not usually associated with lighting, Yip told the magazine that mirrors are a great tool for directing light into a room if they are hung opposite a window.


"Mirrors will take whatever natural light is coming in and bounce it right back into the room," he said. "The larger the mirror, the more light you’ll get."


For candlelight, Yip recommends using sconces because they bring the lighting up higher and keep the candles out of the reach of pets and children. An added safety precaution is to use battery-operated candles that have a waxy exterior and flickering lights that give the glow of the real thing.


Using more white during wintertime also is a favorite Yip tactic. Choosing a white window treatment such as roller shades can achieve this by bringing white into the room when the shades are drawn after dark.