How to Use Color and Paint to Make Your Small Space Appear Bigger

By Akshay Sharma January 6, 2017 Properties

When it comes to small spaces, most people fear color and play it safe by choosing a bland, all-white finish. Regardless of the size of the space you wish to paint, never shy away from color. It adds vibrancy special vibe and personality into your interior design concept and can actually make your small space appear bigger. If you are curious about bringing some color back into your home and making it more spacious, here a couple of exciting paint ideas that will certainly inspire you.

Consider Using Sharp Colors

Clear, intense colors used in a small space can easily change the perception of a room’s size. Sharp colors like radiant reds, brilliant blues, yellows and greens, or colorful patterns like bright chintzes, help to highlight precise lines of the furniture in the room. Also, by spreading the furniture even more apart, you can increase the contrast and add depth, which opens up the space even more.

Paint the Focal Wall

When you want to extend the visual perspective of a room, paint the focal wall in a completely different color. The striking contrast of focal walls draws our attention to them creating an illusion of a much larger space. If it’s the kitchen – paint the wall behind the main counter top; or in case of the living room – the wall behind the TV. Use deeper, darker tones that work really well with softer or earthier hues.

Give Your Walls a Two-Tone Finish

The visual contrast of a two-tone paint scheme can also make a small room look bigger. If you would like to make your room seem higher, you should paint vertical accent lines in the corners of the room. On the other hand, you can paint an accent line where the ceiling and wall meet if you want to make your room appear longer. Alternatively, you can also increase the room’s length by painting the wall tops and the ceiling in the same color, or choosing two-tone stripes to achieve height or width of the room.

Add Accent Areas

Adding accent colors to the general color scheme of the room can also make it more spacious. Bold splashes of color increase depth by surprising us visually. We can achieve this contrast with a brightly painted area of the wall behind a book shelf, an intensely hued windowsill or vivid radiator. When painting them, use painter’s tape to determine the lines, a quality acetone paint remover in case of mistakes, and protect the surrounding wall with newspaper.

Extend One Room into Another

Although it works best with an open floor plan layout, extending the color scheme across rooms can change our size-perception. Using a single base color in several rooms unites the space, creating an illusion of a continuous space. At the same time, you will need to use different shades of the primary paint to separate them into individual functioning areas. You can also use same-colored accent pillows, lampshades, drapes or area rugs in neighboring rooms to connect them and achieve a similar effect.

Consider the Faux Look

A stylish faux finish can be used to increase spaciousness of a room and give it additional character. This texture creates a 3D effect on the walls, tricking us into thinking they have more depth than they actually do. Faux wall coverings, like Venetian plaster, artisan or sandstone finishes, also seem to attract more light, making the room feel more airy and open.

All in all, these exciting paint ideas give you the chance to break from the common white backdrop in your home. Analyze the room you want to paint, compare it to the rest of your home, and choose the best solution for you. No matter how small your room might seem, color can make it feel more spacious and more personal.