Should small rooms be painted in light or dark colors? Design experts share some surprising advice
If you're about to give a small room a new look, you might be asking: should small rooms be painted in light or dark colors? There are several factors to consider when you're thinking about how to choose paint colors. Deciding on a painted finish is a good start, as choosing paint for a small room rather than wallpapering will help to keep things simple. Plus, decorating small spaces is obviously less time-consuming than painting larger rooms.
Even in a small room, however, there are still big decisions to be made when considering your room color ideas. Thinking about how that small room will be used, the effect you want to create, and even which way the room faces, are all part of the decision-making process.
So should small rooms be painted in light or dark colors? We asked designers to share their thoughts and expertise on this question.
SHOULD SMALL ROOMS BE PAINTED IN LIGHT OR DARK COLORS?
The simple answer to the question should small rooms be painted in light or dark colors, is that there isn’t one simple answer. Nor are there any hard or fast rules. However, where there are no rules there's flexibility and plenty of room for personal preference, too. So while there's no single answer, there are some basic design principles you can follow to choose the best small room ideas and create the right look. Understanding the likely effects of your decision to paint a small room in a light or dark color will ultimately help you with that choice.
We asked interior designers to share their thoughts and advice. These are the strategies you can adopt to get the best results. WARNING: some of them may surprise you.
DECIDE ON THE EFFECT YOU WANT TO CREATE
This is where the aforementioned flexibility and personal preference come in. Are you looking to emphasize that this is a small room by choosing paint colors to highlight its compact, cozy look? Or would you prefer to make the room look larger, using your color selection to create an illusion of space?
Make that your starting point. By establishing your aim with your small room, your light or dark paint color decisions will be an easier next step.
Paris-based interior designer Lichelle Silvestry(opens in new tab) agrees that the choice to go light or dark in your small room depends on the mood you wish to create. 'For a light and airy ambiance, it's best to use a light color; if you want your space to feel warm and cozy, then a dark color will be the best choice for you,' she explains. Read More…