How Paint Can Change the Size of Your Room

While paint color on your walls cannot physically change the size of a room, it can dramatically change how you perceive the size of a room. It’s true, the color of a room can actually play tricks on you to make you feel like the room is bigger, smaller, wider, taller, etc. There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the right paint color for a particular space. The experts at Nolan Painting are here to give you some home interior paint ideas so that you can choose the colors that make the most sense for your space!

More Space

A lot of people wonder how they can make a room look bigger. The short answer is to paint it a light color, particularly white. Additionally, paint the walls and trim the exact same color. If you have dark floors, that’s ok! Add a light area rug to the space. The dark floors can be a nice contrast to the lighter walls and, as long as you have light accents, you will still be creating the illusion of a more spacious room.

Add Height

To make the ceiling height in a room feel taller than it actually is, go with a light (tone of white) on the ceiling and medium to darker colors on the walls. Since dark colors make your eyes recede, the light-colored ceiling naturally draws your eyes up.

Feel Cozy

Want to make space feel more intimate? Here’s a pro tip: paint the ceiling and one wall in a light tone and the rest of the walls another color that is darker. It doesn’t have to be too much darker than the accent wall, but by making three of the four walls another color, you will create the effect that the room is giving you a “hug”.

Feel Smaller

Interested in making a room feel smaller? This could be an issue in a really large room or a room that is far too bright. To create a “cave-like” effect, paint the whole room, (including the ceiling), the same color. The darker the better! This effect is great for libraries.

Bring That Ceiling Down

If you’re painting a room that has a high ceiling and you want to make it appear lower in the room, paint the walls a light color and the ceiling dark. Painting a ceiling is a statement. While it may not have been the first thought that came to your mind, it’s one that makes sense and can really make a space look pleasing to the eye.

Expand the Space

If you want the space to seem longer than it is, paint the ceiling and one wall a dark color, and the other walls a lighter hue or even white. The lighter-toned walls elongate the room, while the eye follows the long line created by the dark ones.

Create A Horizontal Effect

This is one of the trickier effects to accomplish, but it is doable. To make a room look wider, paint the ceiling and first half (from floor to midway up the wall) white and use a darker tone for the second half of the wall. Similar to wearing horizontal stripes, the room will appear wider because of the stripe that you essentially created.

Looking to manipulate the size of a room without changing the actual structure of your home? Our team of expert painters and color consultants have worked within thousands of spaces over the years and can help point you in the right direction! If you are interested in speaking with one of our knowledgeable representatives, give us a call today at (610) 572-2806 or contact us through our website to schedule a free estimate. We look forward to hearing from you!