How to Paint Your Walls to Make Your Room Feel Bigger

Are you looking for a quick way to refresh your home? The easiest option also happens to be the most transformative! With a minimal investment and just a few hours of time, you can create an entirely new look for your home. Simply applying a few fresh coats of paint provides a high-impact change that improves not only the way your home looks but also the way it feels. Specifically, strategic interior painting can make your spaces look and feel larger – no matter their true size!

Whether you live in a two-bedroom cottage or a one-story ranch, your desire for more space does not always necessitate costly, lengthy renovations. Instead, careful color selection can make your home feel much bigger without adding any square footage.

Below, we’re breaking down several ways to make your rooms feel larger with interior paint.

Consider Light Sources

When choosing paint colors for small rooms, the first step is to consider your light sources. The direction your windows face dictates the amount and type of light your space will receive. Rooms with north-facing windows have soft, indirect illumination throughout the day, meaning any paint color you choose will remain consistent, with little contrast and few shadows. Because the light is never too harsh or dull, it imbues the room with a peaceful, soothing atmosphere that can be further emphasized with dark colors.

On the contrary, rooms with south-facing windows are flooded with a bright, direct stream of light all day, which may come across as stark or harsh. This strong illumination is ideal for lighter colors but can also easily accommodate a bold palette of intense hues. Meanwhile, if your space features west-facing windows, the afternoon sun will infuse your space with golden tones. Choosing warm hues will accentuate this light and the room itself.

Use Versatile Neutrals

If you want to choose a paint color with staying power, neutrals are the way to go. Of all the colors that open up a room, these are the most likely to remain tasteful for generations, ensuring you won’t end up having to repaint every time the trends change. Plus, neutrals can work anywhere in your home and will act as a lovely base when paired with any other colors.

White, the most common neutral, is used in art galleries around the world because it serves as the perfect background to highlight whatever is placed before it. Using white paint for small rooms not only draws attention to the art and objects within the room but also makes the space feel bigger and more open by reflecting natural light. Choosing a paint finish with a light sheen, such as satin or eggshell, enhances this reflection, causing the room to appear even more spacious.

Gray, a popular alternative to white, induces the same feeling of openness but with more personality and less severity. A warm gray or greige (a mix of gray and beige) can also provide a sense of luxury and elegance, especially in spaces with refined architectural details.

Go Bright and Bold

Bright colors might seem intimidating, but they are often an excellent choice for small spaces. This is because smaller rooms can easily accommodate bright colors without becoming overwhelming. Plus, bold hues lure you in while simultaneously distracting the eye, meaning you naturally focus on the style of the space rather than its size.

Join the Dark Side

There is a common misconception that small spaces can only look larger if they are painted with light colors. However, some of the most alluring paint schemes for small rooms are those with rich, dark hues. Painting your walls charcoal black or navy blue, for example, ensures your room feels cozy and inviting, while simultaneously opening up the space by blurring the boundaries between walls. Dark colors enhance the impression of depth, too, bringing drama, sophistication, and grandeur to even the smallest of spaces.

Try Monochromatic or Tone-on-Tone Shades

Another great way to open up your space is by utilizing one singular hue or multiple shades of the same color throughout the room. Continuing the color from the walls to the ceiling, trim, and doors provides a sense of balance and unity unmatched by any other technique. Just as dark colors blur the boundaries of the room, painting every surface of a small space makes the edges of the room seem to recede and disappear.

Create an Accent Wall

Painting one wall in a different color, finish, or pattern from the other three is another example of how to make a small room look bigger with paint. One of the most popular ways to create an accent wall is to paint it a darker shade of the color used on the other walls. This simple yet stylish change maintains a sense of continuity while creating a focal point for the room.

An accent wall can also be painted in a gloss finish while the other walls are painted in a matte version of the same hue. The contrast between the smooth matte walls and the shiny gloss finish of the accent wall creates a sense of friction that energizes and expands the room. Additionally, when the accent wall is opposite the door you enter, it draws the eye forward and elongates the room, creating a sense of more space.

Enhance Your Interiors with High-Quality Painting Services

A small space doesn’t mean you have to make small style choices. With the right paint colors and smart painting strategies, you can create a room that looks spacious while reflecting your personality and tastes. If you’re ready to transform your home’s interior, look to the experts at C&M Painting and Home Improvements, the top painting company in Shelton, Woodbridge, Orange, and nearby CT.