Houses often have rooms deprived of natural light, and area lamps will be a poor substitute to this necessity; fabric or wallpaper can enliven walls, give them warmth, and yet still no light.  To make walls glow and give them beauty, there is nothing like painting them with metallic paint patterns.  Choose small or over sized, modern or traditional patterns; however, stay with light colors such as white, pastels, pale gold or silver, with a goal to bring as much luminosity as possible.  Also, remember that metallic paint absorbs shade twice as much as regular paint, such as color applied on ceilings looks twice darker than on walls.  Moreover, where natural light is lacking, metallic paint will look even darker, hence the choice of a pastel tone.  In India, there is a wonderful tradition to treat walls  by embedding small pieces of mirrors in plaster, designing patterns.

Tree and birds with inlaid mirrors.

Indian inlay of tiny mirrors on wall.

They make rooms glow as if plated with silver, and one never tires of contemplating the infinitely surprising effects of these designs, which change depending on the angle from which you contemplate them.

Geometric design formed with mirrors

In a more modest attempt to bring light to a dark dining room.

Sideboard HL before peonies.

DR peonies

I painted over-sized peonies on an English-pink wall.  I started with a diluted off-white paint to create the transparent shapes of the petals, and then I emphasized more on the heart of the flowers, and started adding silver and mother of pearl white.

 I finished with touches of gold and a few birds.

Sideboard with new painted decor.

Mirror and flowers

It made the walls glow differently at night and in the daytime.  The sad and dark room became fresh and luxurious with happy walls that seemed to have come to life.

Peonies and corner cabinet.