Use Paint to Create an Illusion of Spaciousness

Do you have one or more rooms in your home that seem like cramped spaces?

painting a small room
An accent wall combined with minimal decorations and light colored walls may create the look of a larger space.

You can do several things to create the illusion that the room is bigger and roomier than it actually is. When painting small spaces, your choice of paint color is an important part of successfully creating this impression.

Every feature of a room contributes to the effect it creates. Furniture, wall hangings, floor coverings, light, and paint colors are all part of the overall look of a space.

Wall Color

The paint color on the walls creates moods and can drastically change the feel of a room. Dark tones, such as brown and dark green, tend to evoke coziness but also cause a room to look smaller. Icy blue and cream are lighter colors that create an expansiveness and freshness. Adding a contrasting color to the trim also helps to give an effect of openness when painting small spaces.

A reverse shadow effect results if you paint trim darker than the walls. The room seems to collapse when the trim appears to be a shadow. On the other hand, if you paint trim lighter than the walls, the trim appears to extend the room’s boundaries, causing the walls to look as though they are further out than they are.

Lighting

Light is one of the most important components in making a space look larger. One reason dark wall paint isn’t the right choice for a small room is that it absorbs the light that you do have. Lighter colors of wall paint reflect the light, helping to open up the space.

The bigger the windows, the better. Let as much natural light into the room as possible. Pull the curtains open or use sheers. When the sunlight hits a light-colored wall, the room will feel brighter and more spacious.

What may be lacking in natural light could be accomplished with properly placed lamps.

Furniture

It’s best to have matching couches and chairs in a small room, or they should be a similar shade. Avoid placing the furniture in a perfect square. When the eye travels longer distances, the room opens up to appear bigger. If you get pieces without arms, it will also help to open up the room.

If you have a large piece of furniture, it would help to paint the wall behind it a similar color so that it absorbs the bulk of the piece.

interior painting
Decorate the room with a large mirror to help create the illusion of more space.

Use multi-purpose pieces to minimize the amount of furniture that crowds a small space. For instance, use a chest as a coffee table. Store the additional sections of an expandable dining table in a closet until needed.

The large pieces of furniture should be flush against the wall, to expand the open space in the room.

Place the furniture in such a way that pathways aren’t blocked.

Remove large rugs because the more cleared floor you see, the larger the room will appear.

You can hang a mirror in the room to provide more light and depth. Angle the mirror upward just enough to catch the light more fully.

Glass tables also help to create the illusion of a larger room.

Limit the focal points in the room to one or two to make the area look larger. The less cluttered, the less cramped the room will feel.

Stick to one large painting on a wall instead of groupings of more miniature framed art.

If you’re ready to paint the interior of your home and create the effect of a larger living space, consult our professional painters in CT, who can assist you with every step of the process of painting small spaces, beginning with identifying the perfect light shade and type of paint.

Franklin Painting LLC – Call us Toll-Free at 877-646-7774
or at our main office number 860-678-7701
2 Eastview Drive, Farmington, CT 06032

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