Several techniques can help that small, ugly room in your house look bigger, brighter and more welcoming. The basic rule of thumb is to use light colors in smaller rooms; dark colors make spaces feel smaller and more constrained. After you have changed your wall colors to help the small room look bigger, you also may want to consider other touches for the same effect, such as window treatments, mirrors and furniture styles.
Light Colors
Light wall colors--not to be confused with bright colors--and clean, fresh shades of paint will make your small room look big. Neutrals are the classic way to maximize small rooms, but you may prefer a shade with a little more flair than basic white. If so, try a crisp cream color or an ice-blue shade. Pale yellows, lavenders, pinks and greens all will give a bigger feel to a room. Don't use busy prints or ornate patterns, and avoid patterned wallpaper in a small room. Sheer, light window treatments will also help the goal of creating a bigger feel to the space by letting more light into the small room.
Color Palette
Consider painting trim and molding in a shade or color even lighter than your wall colors to neutralize their bordering effect. Molding and trim outline the limits of the room, which you are trying to divert attention from. Stick to the same color palette as your main wall color, but go a shade lighter or use white or ivory. If you want to add depth to your room, use several light shades in the same color, but use the darkest of them on the wall with the door and move toward the lighter colors on the opposite wall. A thin vertical pinstripe in a coordinating color is another idea and is one of very few patterns that expand a room, drawing the eye upward for a sense of height and space. Use the same color scheme as your walls on your rugs, curtains and furniture if possible, and keep flooring and ceiling colors light as well. A dark wood or carpet floor counteracts all the work you do to make the walls airy and light. Use glass-topped tables and openwork, light-colored chairs so as not to obstruct the light and color filling the room.
Mirrors and Lighting
To make even more of your small room, place strategic mirrors and lighting in the room. Don't overwhelm the room with objects; clutter makes it feel even smaller. But place one large mirror or mirror tiles on a bare wall to immediately double how big the room feels. Mirrors bounce light and color around the room, adding a more open sense, so place one opposite a focal point such as a window, a door or a fireplace for maximum effect. In a narrow room, a mirror on the long wall will help make it look wider, and in a tiny room, add lighting close to the mirror, giving the illusion of more depth and warmth than there is. Other light ideas include using skylights or torchiere lamps. A skylight lets light in from the top of the room, while a torchiere directs light onto the ceiling and reflects it around the room.
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