Pastels work wonderfully in small rooms, as do whispery-light shades of gray. Try white mixed with one bright or mid-tone color, such as the blue and white shown here. For the most impact, stick with cool colors—shades of soft blue, green, and purple help enlarge a space, while the warmer hues have the opposite effect.
What Colors Make a Room Look Bigger? “For a small space, nothing beats airy blues and crisp whites,” says Nivara Xaykao, Benjamin Moore color and design expert. “Blues recede, which can give the illusion of opening up a space,” she explains.
Light neutral shades of gray, taupe, beige, or greige can stand in for white while adding a hint of color or warmth. Pale yellows, blues, greens, and even pinks can effectively function as neutrals in a small space that adds a whisper of color for those who find white walls too boring or sterile.
'Lighter paint colors like off-whites, light neutrals, pales, and pastels give the illusion of larger, brighter rooms. The right sheen can add light and depth to your room and using a semi or high-gloss will help to enhance your space as higher sheens are more reflective than mat and give the illusion of more light.
Paint and Color
When you look at how to make a small room look bigger with paint, keep in mind that medium shades will make your space appear smaller than it is. Using dark and bright white colors that open up a room, in contrast, creates the illusion of a much larger area. Small rooms are not always square.
A great alternative to a white paint color is a light cool gray, which can feel fresh and bright without the starkness of pure white. Cool colors feel fresher and brighter than warm ones, so it helps visually create the appearance of more space.
Gray can make a room look bigger. A light gray can be a great pick in place of white; it will reflect natural light, but it looks less architectural and cool than white, which you might prefer.
To sum up, there isn't a lot of scientific research behind how colour affects your mood. However, anecdotal evidence suggests it can affect your frame of mind and consequently your sleep. The best bedroom colours we'd recommend to make you happy are yellow, blue, green, and pastel shades such as lilac.
If natural light and a room that feels larger are important to you then a lighter color is a great choice. If you rarely open your curtains and love to sleep in, then a darker color will help you create a cozy environment, like this example below (not one of our projects).
Earth tones and neutrals are a frequent choice for small bedrooms. If you prefer softer shades, grey, green or yellow can lighten a small room. Neutral shades can make the wall visually recede into the background, making the room appear larger and bringing more attention to the accessories in the room.
Add reflective surfaces
Yes, you know that mirrors make a space appear larger. (“It's like doubling a room,” Curtis says.) But other reflective surfaces — high-gloss painted ceilings, lacquered furniture, shiny tile on a kitchen backsplash — have a similar effect, casting light and creating the illusion of volume.
'Contrary to traditional thinking, dark paint allows the room to appear larger and taller than it may be. Dark colors add depth, visually enlarge the space, and make a great statement,' says Lichelle Silvestry.
The 60-30-10 rule works like this: 60 percent: The main color you choose should represent 60 percent of a room. 30 percent: The secondary color should represent 30 percent of a room. 10 percent: The accent color you choose should represent 10 percent of a room.
Decorators and designers will often say they don't follow rules when it comes to decorating but something that is helpful to bear in mind is that colors never need to match, they just need to work together. To achieve that balance, it's helpful to bear in mind that one color can also be stronger than the other.
"If you have a small, dark, dull room, a light wall color doesn't create light," says the expert. In fact, it's just the opposite. "When you are starved of light, it's better to go for a really strong color" to add depth to the room. Then decorate with lighter elements to "make it welcoming."
Research studies discovered red to be the best color light to help you sleep, because it increases production of melatonin as well as full darkness. On the other end of the spectrum, blue is the worst. Despite being a calm-inducing color on most occasions, blue is not suitable for lighting a bedroom.
The wrong bedroom colors can impact just how soundly you sleep at night. You'll want to create a relaxing retreat for the best night's sleep and unwinding. In general, muted colors work best for your bedroom walls. Light blues, soft greens, shades of white, and beige and gray are some of the best choices.
Yellow is usually the color of happy, joyful emotions.
'A light-toned sofa in neutral colors, such as beige, cream, light gray, or white, can create a sense of openness in any room.
Pick dark shades that have a bit of color. 'I love dark green as a feature wall in a room with a lot of natural light,' says color and paint expert, Annie Sloan. A dark purple, brown, burgundy or navy blue can also work against a soft white or cream to help trick the eye into making the space feel bigger.
What patterns make a small living room look bigger? Stripes make a small living room look bigger. Use them vertically to make a low-ceilinged room look taller or horizontally on the narrowest wall to make a narrow space feel wider. You do not have to use pronounced stripes – they can be subtle to have an effect.