Painting a Small Room

The most basic tip for painting a small room has to do with color: pit it white or some other very light color to make the room appear bigger. While this is good advice, there is much more to consider when painting a small room such as warmth, emphasis, and how you intend to use the room. Color of paint is crucial, but you can mix the colors and shades to get different effects. Below is a list of painting tips to help you create a warm, inviting, even spacious small room you will be proud to show off and happy to live in for many years to come.

Light colors

Paining with light colors is certainly the general rule of thumb when paining a small room. Note however, that you do not have to be committed to white only. There are many light varieties of just about every color on the spectrum, so think about your color theme and simply paint the walls a very light shade of that color.

Gradation of Light in Color Choice

You can even use several shades of the same color. For example, you can paint three or more very wide horizontal stripes across the wall to give more texture to your color scheme. You will need to gradate the colors however so that the lightest shade is at the top and the darker shade at the bottom. When you move from light to lightest from the floor to the ceiling, the affect is to open up the space. Top it off with a white ceiling.

Dark and Warm

Dark colors will definitely close in the space whereas light colors will open it up. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however. You can paint a small room dark so long as the color has a soft warm tone. Dark chocolate brown, for example, is a beautiful color, but it gives more of a stone-like feel to a small space, making it seem cold; a milk chocolate brown on the other hand, is warmer and more inviting. By trimming the room with a soft white, you draw the attention into the room without creating the feeling that the room is caving in and growing even smaller. Again, a light colored ceiling will help to give the space an open, inviting feel.

Two Tones

You can make a small room appear larger by focusing attention on one special area and then paint the surrounding walls a complimentary lighter color. For example, if you want to make a particular piece of furniture stand out in a small room, paint the wall behind it darker and the other three walls much lighter.

Satin Shimmer

If you finish your painting with a satin polyurethane, the walls will have a bright shimmer that will make the room look lighter and bigger. If the room has windows that bring in sunlight, this is a nice technique to create a very attractive affect.

Blending Neutrals

A combination of soft whites, light beiges, and sandy tans will give a small room the feel of expanse and a calming peace. These are the colors and tones found in the wide, expansive space outside along a quiet beach. The same feeling can be created when you bring these colors into a smaller room.