Color Your Way to a Bigger Room

August 19, 2013

A small room doesn’t have to be a drawback for a home on the market—buyers, sellers and occupants of a home with a small room don’t need to be put off by a small space. When it comes to a home’s layout and design, perceived space is as important as actual space or square footage. Color is one of the most practical methods in design technique to “open up” a small space, creating an atmosphere of utility without cramping the room.

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Dark colors absorb light, making a room feel smaller. For walls and lower ceilings, opt for light colors, which reflect light, making rooms appear bigger and brighter. The ideal color palette for a smaller room might include cream tones, icy blues, soft greens, pale yellows, shades of lavender, and sand colors. These choices are more light-reflective, maximizing the effect created by natural light and creating the optical illusion of openness and airiness in even the smallest of rooms. Light-colored or white trims also create the illusion of space by making the walls appear further back and thus making the living space feel larger.