What materials should you choose to brighten up a room?

When you're looking to breathe life into an interior, it's not all about the color of the walls, the style of the furniture or the choice of lighting. The real lever for transforming an ambience often lies in a more subtle element: the choice of materials. In this article, we take a look at the trendy materials to incorporate to brighten up a room, while maintaining aesthetic coherence and a design spirit. Out with the cocooning winter ambience, in with bright, breathable textures ideal for dynamic summer settings.

Light wood

If there's one material that embodies the balance between sobriety and conviviality, it's light wood. In addition to diffusing a sensation of visual freshness, it brings a natural warmth that immediately echoes nature.

Among its major assets:

It visually enlarges space.
It reflects light without absorbing it, unlike dark woods.
It's equally at home in Scandinavian, minimalist, Mediterranean or bohemian chic styles.

Some effective applications:

Bleached oak or natural pine flooring for a light, soothing base.
Dining tables in light wood and sober lines to create a luminous focal point.
Wall-mounted shelves for a discreet, airy touch.

In summer, light wood creates a strong link with the natural elements. It's perfect in combination with pastel shades, sage greens, soft blues or natural fiber accessories such as linen or jute. It gives a seaside feel that's both relaxed and designer.

Terrazzo

It's no coincidence that terrazzo is making a comeback in trendy interiors. This Italian material, composed of fragments of natural stone (marble, granite, quartz, etc.) bonded with cement or resin, offers a rich, colorful visual effect.

Why adopt it?

It creates visual movement and depth without the need for artifice.
It's equally at home in pop, contemporary design or mid-century modern settings.
It's easy to maintain and highly resistant: perfect for living rooms.

Where to place it?

Worktop or credenza in a kitchen to break up monotony.
Coffee table tops for a graphic effect under decorative objects.
Bathroom floor or hallway: the wow effect is guaranteed from the very first step.

Terrazzo also allows you to play with colors: you'll find it in pastel, nude or multicolored versions, or more mineral for a refined look. It's ideal for brightening up an overly neutral room without going overboard.

Glass

Glass is undoubtedly one of the most refined and subtle materials to integrate into a summer decor. Unlike classic glass, its undulating surface creates a play of light and shadow, while retaining a certain intimacy.

Highlights:

It structures without partitioning, perfect for delimiting spaces in an open space or small apartment.
It offers filtered transparency, allowing light to circulate while diffusing a soft atmosphere.
It creates an art deco atmosphere that's both chic and contemporary.

Ideas for integration:

Sliding doors or dividers in a living room.
Fronts of base units or display cabinets to visually lighten a composition.
Suspensions or table lamps to play on the diffraction of light. light.

Used sparingly, fluted glass becomes a decorative signature. Combined with brass, light wood or black metal, it enhances a room without weighing it down.

Canework

Canework, a traditional craft, is making a strong comeback in modern interiors. Made from woven rattan, it combines authenticity and visual lightness, making it a perfect ally for structuring space while allowing light to circulate.

Why choose it?

It evokes a bohemian chic or japandi style, very much in vogue in 2025.
It creates a subtle, airy and breathable texture.
It goes well with other natural materials such as linen, ceramics or blond wood.

Ideas for use :

Chair backs or banquette seats for a vintage twist.
Headboards or decorative wall panels.
Dresser doors or closet fronts in a bedroom or hallway.

In summer, cane has the unique ability to add lightness, filter light and connect the indoors to the outdoors. It creates a natural, lively ambience without visual overload, ideal for a bright living room or relaxing bedroom.

Ceramics

There's something deeply soothing about ceramic objects, especially when their surface is not smooth, but marked by the hand that shaped it. Textured ceramics, with their imperfect shapes and rough finishes, introduce a precious dose of authenticity into an overly smooth or standardized interior.

They can be found in :

sculptural vases on console tables,
wall sconces with a clay-like finish,
or hand-crafted stoneware table tops.

These are eye-catching pieces that tell a story. They evoke the handmade, the grounded, a tactile sensibility that contrasts wonderfully with the clean lines of designer furniture. Incorporating one or two ceramic pieces is like adding a personal accent, a breath of craftsmanship in a room that's a little too rigid.

Travertine

In recent seasons, travertine has established itself as the new darling of decorating enthusiasts. Its light hue and porous texture make it both natural and graphic. It blends seamlessly into designer interiors, with that timeless touch.

Typical applications include

Travertine coffee tables,
Dining table tops with softened edges,
Bathroom elements (basins, shelves) for a Mediterranean spa effect.

What makes it so appealing? It diffuses light, visually warms the space and blends effortlessly with materials such as wood, linen or brass. Neither too smooth nor too rough, it plays on a discreet sensuality, perfect for structuring a summer living room without heaviness.

Light bouclé fabric

It's everywhere, and for good reason: light bouclé fabric, often available in off-white or beige, brings a touch of soft modernity to any room. Its soft texture immediately creates a cocoon effect, while retaining a fresh, airy look, especially when paired with light shades or natural wood furniture.

This fabric works particularly well on:

an occasional armchair near a window,
a bench at the foot of the bed to add visual comfort,
or a designer pouffe in a corner reading.

It introduces volume and contrast without adding visual weight. It's an excellent option for those who want to energize a somewhat flat living room without overloading it with color.

Painted steel

Want structure without rigidity?Painted steel, especially in matte white, deep black or sandy beige, anchors a room visually without weighing it down. This material has real graphic potential, while remaining sober. It evokes the industrial world, but in a revisited, softer version integrated into current design trends.

Perfect for :

slender table legs,
structures for armchairs or stools,
or contemporary wall shelving.

Used in contrast with more organic materials (wood, ceramic, natural fabric), it creates a modern visual balance. It's also a popular choice for open-plan spaces, providing structure without compartmentalizing, with a clear, assertive geometry.

Mix & match: the art of combining materials

As you can see, brightening up a room doesn't just mean adding bright colors or flashy patterns. The challenge lies in the right combination of materials, in the visual tensions they create or, on the contrary, the harmonies they reveal.

Some winning combinations:

Light wood with brass, for a warm, luminous effect,
Colored terrazzo mixed with natural linen, for a soft, summery touch,
Curly fabric contrasted withblack steel, to modernize without hardening.

The key is not to mix everything at once, but to create a coherent visual dialogue, keeping in mind the lines of your furniture and the brightness of the room. The golden rule: three main textures are enough to create rhythm without confusion.

In conclusion: brighten up with intention

Transforming a room without redoing everything is entirely possible when you know which levers to pull. Materials are your best allies in breathing new life into an interior. They bring light, contrast, relief... and above all, personality.