Painting small spaces can be challenging. The goal is to make a room feel larger while still matching your personal style. Fortunately, there are a few tricks home painters use to make a room feel larger with paint. It’s true: paint can take your room from feeling cramped to being comfortable! Our painters are here to share with you our tips and tricks on how to use paint to make a small room look bigger. Let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways

Here’s what you need to know:

• Light colors can help open up small spaces and reflect more light.
• Bold colors can still work in small rooms when used strategically with the right undertones and finishes.
• Accent walls and patterns create visual depth and focal points, making rooms feel larger.
• Painting ceilings lighter than walls can increase the perception of height and space.
• Testing paint colors beforehand ensures the final result looks right in your lighting and space.

1. Use a Shade of White or Light Color

When painting smaller rooms, it’s not uncommon to choose a shade of white. A light hue can easily open up the space and make it seem much bigger. 

“White is a great option to help the viewer’s eye travel throughout the whole room. This color is one of my favorites because it can really open up space and create an illusion of height in the smallest of spaces,” says Jerry Prosise of CertaPro Painters® of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

For a warmer shade of white, we recommend: 

• Navajo White (Benjamin Moore)
• White Dove (Benjamin Moore)
• Alabaster (Sherwin-Williams)

2. Know How to Use Bold Colors

Small spaces are not confined to light colors. In fact, black can be a favorite to open up space if used the right way. But be careful when going with bold paint colors to make your space seem larger. You’ll need the right undertone and sheen for a cohesive look and long-term durability. Consulting a home painting expert can help you avoid amateur mistakes for a result you’ll be proud to show off in your home.

We recommend the following dark colors: 

• Bohemian Black (Sherwin-Williams)
• Black Panther (Benjamin Moore)

3. Paint an Accent Wall to Draw the Eyes

If a bold tone is outside of your comfort zone, you can make a significant impact on your space without painting an entire room by utilizing an accent wall. Accent walls work for two reasons:

1. A different colored accent wall gives an optical illusion. It also helps to make the room seem like there is extra space inside.
2. Accent walls direct the eye to a focal point. This helps when decorating and when deciding the best way to place existing furniture.

4. Feature an Eye-Catching Pattern

Instead of relying on flat colors alone to make a room look bigger, think about strategically placed patterns. Vertical stripes can make your room look taller, add to the openness of the space, and create drama. For some, vertical stripes can make a room feel constrictive. To counter this, avoid painting stripes on all of your walls in smaller areas and stick to wide stripes focused in one area, such as a single-striped accent wall. 

If stripes aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other patterns to try. Just remember: smaller patterns tend to look nice in areas with low square footage and add to the interest of your walls.

5. Paint Your Ceiling Space for a Larger Room Feeling

Painting light colors on ceilings can create the illusion that a room is taller than it really is. If your walls are dark, any shade of off-white or even light pastels or grays could work on ceilings. 

If you’re wanting to get a bit more creative, ceilings don’t always need to be kept in a monotone shade. For example, a common scheme for nurseries is to paint light blue and white clouds on the ceiling and then have a deeper (yet still calm) blue on the walls. You can also use crown molding to draw the eyes upward. 

Painter’s Tip: Darker ceilings can be an interesting design choice, but are not usually helpful when painting a room to look bigger. 

6. Test Your Chosen Paint Color Before Applying

If you don’t know what you want, but don’t have a lot of time to experiment, use an online visualizer tool to save time and stress. You can test any color by virtually painting it on your walls, helping you visualize the final result while also making the decision much more manageable. 

We also recommend picking up paint samples and testing in areas you are going to paint. Colors often look different at home than they do in the store. With paint samples, you get to see how the paint color will look under your lights, in your home before making a final decision.   

Make Any Room Feel Larger with Help From CertaPro Painters®

Paint can work wonders in a small room. Smart color selection alone can transform how big a space feels, from a half-bath to a small guest room. For help transforming your space, If you’re unsure which colors or techniques will work best in your space, CertaPro Painters® can help you choose and apply a design that makes your room feel larger and more functional.

To schedule a free painting estimate, give a trusted service advisor at CertaPro Painters® a call today.