Top 10 Painting Tips For Small Spaces
Small living spaces come with many challenges including the need to simply make rooms appear more spacious than they actually are. Just as with any magic trick it’s all about illusion and there’s a lot you can do with a simple coat of paint to magically push back those walls.
- Go bold! If asked what color should be used in a small room, most people will say white but really a small room gives you the perfect opportunity to go bold with color. You can make a room appear larger by painting the walls a light color but if you want the space to feel cozy and warm go for rich jewel tones. Just avoid very dark colors.
- Consider function. What’s the room used for? Even in small spaces mood matters. If it’s a breakfast nook where you sip your morning coffee in an attempt to wake up, opt for sunny colors such as yellow or orange. These are stimulating and energizing colors that will get your morning in gear. On the other hand the bedroom is the space where you want to unwind and rest. Choose softer, muted tones like dove gray or an earthy sage green. These colors are easy on the eye and can help you relax.
- Choose cool. Light or cool paint colors are a great option if you really want to open up a small space. Light colors fool the eye and to make a room appear larger than it is. But remember that you have more choices than plain old white. Light blue or green will bring in a touch of nature and also make your small space seem as open as the great outdoors.
- Use a Gloss Finish. Using a gloss finish will also open up a small space. This doesn’t mean you have to use high gloss which might actually be a little shocking but eggshell, satin and semi-gloss are all perfect choices. Use semi-gloss in the kitchen or bath but stick with the more subdued eggshell and satin finishes for the living room or bedroom.
- Use Monochromatic Colors. Using colors that are close in tone allow the eye to move smoothly around the room with out the interruption additional colors. This tricks the mind into believing a room is larger than it actually is. The way to achieve this is to use colors from the same area of the color palette such a light green, medium green and touches of a darker green.
- Make your walls recede. When painting your room try using a slightly darker shade on the wall opposite the door. This will make the wall appear to recede and make the room seem more spacious. Partner this trick up with lighter colors and the walls of your small space will recede even further and give the look and feel of a much larger room.
- Avoid certain colors. If you want to make your small space appear larger you’ll need to forego a few colors that will actually make your small space seem smaller. These include red, dark blue and deep purple. Of course these are also the colors that will make a room feel cozy and warm so if you don’t mind giving up the illusion of spaciousness, they can still work for you.
- Try stripes. The same thing that stripes can do for our figures, they can do for a room, with much better results of course! Painting vertical stripes on the walls of a small room will make the ceiling appear higher and the room feel much more open. This is one of those projects where you’ll need to do some planning if you want nice neat lines that are also plumb with your walls.
- Paint the trim bright white. Don’t step back to admire your handy work just yet! Add a fresh coat of white high-gloss to all the wood work. It not only looks clean but will refract the light back into the room again adding to that open and spacious feeling.
- Splurge! One last great tip for using paint to make spaces feel larger; buy quality paint. One of the best things about decorating small spaces is that it can cost so much less to make them look stunning. When you only need a few gallons for a small room, even the most expensive brand can be affordable. You’ll get a wide array of colors along with better coverage and durability.