Small Rooms & Colour

Julie-Ann · #1 09-07-2010, 05:45 PM

How can you use colour to give a small room the illusion of looking bigger? The colour of your floors, walls, ceilings, skirtings and furniture can make a huge difference to how small a small room will appear. There are also lots of decorating tips to do this but we will write about them next week.
Here are some of the ideas I have found over the years:

1.Cool colours recede and warm colours will advance. So in a small room try to use cooler colours.

2.A light floor, walls and ceiling will make a room seem larger. Though this does not mean you have to choose white.

3.Painting your skirting and architraves the same colour as your wall will help.

4.Using a shade lighter of your wall colour will create a seamless edge.

5.Using a monochromatic (where you use variations of the one colour) or ****ogous (using colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel such as turquoise, light blue and dark blue) works well in small spaces creating a more seamless look.

6.Having furniture and window treatments in the similar colours to the walls.

Have you tried or seen any rooms done like this?
Do you have a small room? What colours did you use in it?

Davisgirl · #2 09-07-2010, 06:09 PM

I painted my 6yo son's bedroom - which is just smaller than a 3m x 3m room English Castle by Watyl. I used white trim, white blinds and white furniture to offset the dark walls. But I think it works. :-) Have attached a couple of photos.

Julie-Ann · #3 10-07-2010, 12:04 PM

Hi Davisgirl English Castle by Wattyl is one of my favourite colours. Sometimes I think it is nice to make the most of the cosy feeling of a small room but using warm, comforting colours. I think the room looks very inviting and a great place to snuggle up and sleep in.

Lanne · #4 11-07-2010, 07:27 AM

I think a small room with a lot of light.. then a dark wall can actually help... it seems to disappear.. but i wouldnt paint ALL the walls dark.. Love the paint colour Davisgirl

Davisgirl · #5 16-07-2010, 03:29 PM

Thanks - I firstly painted this room as my guest room and had all white bed spreads and very light curtains etc. I actually discovered my then 5 year old kept wanting to sleep in the spare room. He said he liked the dark colour so I ended up swapping him into the guest room and furnished with the white furniture and then navy blue for a boy. This was actually a huge thing for us as my son has Aspergers and was previously having issues with sleeping - as soon as I got him into the dark (cosy) room his sleeping improved. :-)

Julie-Ann · #6 16-07-2010, 05:46 PM

That is so wonderful that the darker colours helped your son with his sleep.