Bright blues and textured paints can make the room seem larger.
Most people tend to think that lighter colors make a room look larger. However, many designers suggest paint ideas that are just the opposite. The main property of a room's paint scheme that makes it appear larger or smaller is the brightness; bright rooms look larger. Instead of settling for pure white, try bright colors with a satin finish that will reflect the light around your room, making it feel spacious. No matter how you paint your room, furniture and clutter can make it feel small again. Keep the room as bare as possible to preserve the feeling of space.
Ocean Tones
Teal blues and aquamarines can go a long way toward making a small room seem large. For many people, these colors bring to mind images of ocean and sky, both of which are associated with feelings of openness or broad expanses. Paint one wall a deep, vibrant shade of blue-green, then paint the remaining walls two to three shades lighter, and the ceiling a shade or two lighter than that, all in the same color range. If you have trim, paint it bright semi-gloss white to add more reflective surfaces. Crown molding can also help if it is painted bright white, but darker colors on crown molding may make the space feel more enclosed, especially if you have low ceilings.
Add Variation
Variation keeps your eye moving, which tends to make a room look bigger. Add visual texture by painting the walls white or ivory, then add a glaze of a bright color over the top. The varying depths of color can fool the eye into thinking the room is larger than it is. However, using a texture that feels too busy can have the opposite effect, making the room feel cluttered. Opt for a single color wash and a smooth, brushed-on texture rather than a multicolor sponge stipple or stone-style faux finish. Accent walls may provide enough variation without texture painting, especially if the accent color is mirrored elsewhere in the room's furnishings, such as in a throw pillow or decorative vase.
Warm and Light
Warm colors tend to feel enclosing, but that doesn't mean you can't use them in small spaces. Bright gold or coral tones can add interest and warmth on an accent wall, while ivory or buff on the surrounding walls keeps the space feeling open and bright. For more color, paint one solid accent wall in a bright, warm color, then glaze the remaining walls with a wash of that same color over an ivory or white base coat. Mix your color with a clear satin acrylic compound rather than water to keep the paint's sheen from getting too dull, or split the mixture into 1/2 paint, 1/4 water and 1/4 clear acrylic.
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