Room Size and Paint Color Selection

CONCORD — An important consideration when selecting paint colors is the size of the room you’re planning to paint. While this detail is commonly overlooked, color can have a dramatic effect on a room’s overall ambiance, so be sure to consider how this will play out in your space.

In general, the relationship between room size and color follows a consistent spectrum, with brighter colors having an enlarging effect and darker colors having a shrinking effect. That’s why painting a small room with dark colors will typically make it appear even smaller than it actually is. To avoid this, painting professionals recommend using bright colors to paint smaller spaces.

While large rooms lend themselves more to dark colors, there are ways you can mitigate their shrinking tendency. One way is to paint the room’s ceiling with a half-formula of the wall color (a 50/50 mixture of the wall paint and white). Another way to enliven the atmosphere of a deep-hued room is to adorn it with brightly colored décor like throw pillows, blankets and wall art. These decorative highlights will provide aesthetic intrigue and avoid creating an overly dark atmosphere.