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You already know that paint can make a big difference when rejuvenating an outdated space, but what if you want to make a small space look bigger? While painting small spaces won’t literally give you more space, it can help create a roomier illusion. At the same time, certain paint colors can make a small room look even smaller, so it’s important to choose the right colors.

Types of Small Spaces

Even if you have a large home, there are still probably different rooms or areas that you would want to look more spacious. Some common types of small spaces include:

  • Quarter or half bathrooms
  • Hallways
  • Closets
  • Gallery kitchens
  • Stairwells
  • Storage rooms
  • Attics

Having the right paint color is a great start to making these small areas feel less claustrophobic. 

Expanding Space with Paint

Light colors

Paint Ideas for Small Spaces | WPL Interior Design
Photo by Jay Greene Photography

Lighter shades and colors will be most effective in making a room look larger. A very bright white will reflect light the most; you can also find whites with warm or cool undertones. But as we’ve seen in the past few years, homeowners are starting to veer away from “safe” white and branch out into different colors depending on their style. Maybe your style is spicy and warm reds and oranges, or calm and cool blues. Or maybe your style is more botanical and natural greens and browns. There are many color trends nowadays to fit your aesthetic and personality.

Neutral ceilings

There are a few ways to use a neutral or light-colored ceiling to your advantage. For those that don’t want to limit their color palette in a small room, using a light neutral on the ceiling. This will help expand your space visually from the top for a more airy look. Painting your ceiling can also be a simple way to refresh a room without having to paint the whole room.

Paint Ideas for Small Spaces | WPL Interior Design
Photo by Natalia V Guseva

Accent walls

Too much color, especially darker shades, can sometimes make a small room feel even smaller. But if you’re still trying to add color when painting small spaces, consider adding an accent wall. You can add a lot of vibrancy to a room by using a darker paint color against lighter walls.

Two-tone walls

Paint Ideas for Small Spaces | WPL Interior Design
Photo from Shutterstock

Two-tone walls allow you to add color and dimension in a different way. One two-tone wall method is by dividing your wall horizontally and painting the top and bottom different colors. This means you don’t necessarily have to choose between two different shades or colors that you really love, as long as they complement each other well! Two-tone walls can help alter the dimensions of a room, especially if you have low ceilings. Choosing a lighter color on the top can help make your room look more vertically spacious. You can also play around with how you split the walls; some may divide their walls into thirds instead of halves. Deciding how to paint a two-tone wall will ultimately depend on your space and the type of look you want to achieve.

Paint Ideas for Small Spaces | WPL Interior Design
Photo by Jay Greene Photography

There are many ways to create more space in your home, even if it’s just visually. From helping clients downsize to simply maximizing the spaces that exist in your home, WPL Interior Design knows how to tackle painting small spaces. We can guide you through the whole process of maximizing your space with paint, including choosing your paint colors and connecting you to the right professionals to get the painting done. Schedule a consultation with us today by filling out our online design form. You can also give us a call today at 215-592-9570.

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