Choosing the right interior color for a small space can make a big difference in how the room looks and feels. The color you choose for the walls, flooring, and furnishings in a small room can impact how spacious or confined the space appears. When working with a small room, it’s important to carefully consider your color choices to maximize the feeling of openness. In this article, we’ll look at the best interior color options for small spaces and provide tips on choosing colors that will make the room feel larger.
Opt for Light, Neutral Colors on Walls and Ceilings
One of the best things you can do when painting a small space is to use light, neutral wall and ceiling colors. Dark or intense colors have a tendency to make a room feel smaller and more closed in. Bright whites, off-whites, light grays, and soft beiges are great go-to neutral shades for opening up small rooms.
Light colors help reflect natural light around the room, which makes the space feel more open and airy. Dark colors absorb light, which can give a cramped feeling. Sticking with light wall and ceiling colors is key for a small space.
When considering different neutral shades, take into account how much natural sunlight the room receives. North-facing rooms with limited natural light can handle slightly darker neutrals like dove gray or oatmeal. South-facing rooms awash in sunlight are better suited to pure whites and paler neutrals.
Use Bright Accent Colors Sparingly
While neutral wall and ceiling colors are best for small spaces, that doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to bland, boring tones. Thoughtfully using bright accent colors is a great way to add visual interest without overwhelming a small room. Just be sure to use vivid hues sparingly in a small space.
Focus bright colors on smaller accents like throw pillows, area rugs, artwork, flowers, and decorative objects. This creates a livelier look while still allowing the lighter wall colors to open up the space. If you want to use a vivid shade on a larger feature like an accent wall, stick to just one wall to avoid going overboard.
Bright accent colors like emerald green, sapphire blue, tomato red, and sunny yellow can make a small room feel energetic. Just be careful not to overdo it or the space may end up feeling chaotic and cramped.
Consider Monochromatic Color Schemes
An extremely effective approach for a small space is to use a monochromatic color scheme where you stick to varying shades, tones, and tints of one color family. This gives visual interest while maintaining a calm, cohesive look.
For example, different shades of blues like navy, sky blue, robin’s egg, and slate blue create a soothing monochromatic scheme. Or try varying shades of greens, grays, and even neutrals like cream, beige, and tan. Stick to lighter versions of the base color on walls and ceilings and use darker shades sparingly for accents.
The minimal color variation of a monochromatic scheme helps make a small space feel tranquil and airy rather than busy and cluttered. It allows the eye to seamlessly move around the room without being distracted.
Use Color to Define Different Zones
In a studio apartment or open concept home, smart use of color can help delineate different functional zones in a small open space. Using different colors in each zone helps them feel separate even when they aren’t divided by walls.
For example, paint an accent wall a different color in the sleeping area than the living room, or use colorfully printed curtains to divide the spaces. Make the dining area and kitchen separate colors for more definition. Keep the palette cohesive by choosing colors in the same family like all blues or greens.
Strategic use of color to define functional zones provides visual separation and interest in an open small space. Just don’t go overboard with too many competing colors.
Make Ceilings White or the Lightest Color
No matter what color palette you choose for the walls in a small space, using white or very light, neutral shades on the ceiling is critically important for making the room feel open. Dark ceiling colors have an oppressive, cavelike effect on a room.
Bright white ceilings reflect light and create an airy, expansive look. For variety, an extremely pale neutral like almond or linen also works, as long as it reads as white from below. Save deeper ceiling colors for larger spaces that can handle the cozy atmosphere.
Painting ceiling trim the same color as walls also maximizes height, while contrasting trim reduces ceiling height. Stick with white or matching trim for a small room.
Use Light Floors to Balance Dark Furniture
Just like with ceiling color, maintaining light and bright flooring keeps a small space from feeling too heavy and closed in. Hardwood floors stained a light natural wood tone or painted a pale shade work wonderfully. Light tile floors are another option.
If planning to use dark-colored furniture or wood trim, balance it out with extra light flooring. For big pieces like sofas or beds, stick to neutrals or upholster with lighter colors and fabrics to prevent heaviness.
Here’s a quick table summarizing the best color options for different elements in a small room:
| Room Element | Best Color Choices |
|---|---|
| Walls and Ceiling | Bright whites, pale neutrals, light shades |
| Accents | Vivid hues in small doses |
| Floors | Light woods, pale paint colors, light tile |
| Furniture | Neutrals or upholstered in lighter colors |
Test Paint Swatches and View in Different Light
When selecting a color palette for your small space, never rely solely on the paint swatches at the hardware store. Colors look very different once painted on walls and seen throughout the day. Purchase a few paint color samples, paint swaths on the wall, and view at different times before fully committing to a shade.
The color that looks gorgeous in morning light may appear all wrong in the evening. Also, paint colors are impacted by surrounding hues. A shade that complements your furnishings in artificial light might clash come daylight. Take the time to test out colors before settling on the perfect small space palette.
Conclusion
Choosing the ideal interior colors for a small space is all about tricking the eye to make the room appear more spacious. Stick to light wall and ceiling colors, use vivid accents sparingly, consider monochromatic schemes, define zones with color, keep floors light, and test paint swatches at varied times of day. With the right color strategy, even the tiniest room can feel open, airy, and inviting. The key is balancing brightness with pops of color for visual interest.
