{"id":13555,"date":"2025-11-11T17:23:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T21:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/?p=13555"},"modified":"2025-11-11T12:39:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T16:39:38","slug":"6-ways-to-make-small-room-look-bigger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/blog\/interior-house-painting\/6-ways-to-make-small-room-look-bigger\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways to Make a Small Room Look Bigger with Paint"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In this guide, you will learn:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When light paint colors are used on walls and ceilings they can make a space feel bigger. Consider paint colors like white, light pastels, or grays<\/li>\n<li>How to use bold colors to strategically open up your space, particularly when adding an accent wall or utilizing patterns<\/li>\n<li>How to test your chosen paint color(s) beforehand using a sample or <a href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/paint-color-ideas\/\">paint color visualizer tool<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Painting small spaces can be challenging. How do you make your small space look better while having the paint job you want? Fortunately, there are a few tricks home painters use to make a room feel larger with paint. It\u2019s true: paint can take your room from feeling cramped to being comfortable! Our painters are here to share with you our tips and tricks on how to use paint to make a small room look bigger. Let\u2019s dive in!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23160 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/blog-body-corp-3-6.png\" alt=\"how to use paint to make a small room look bigger graphic\" width=\"624\" height=\"648\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/blog-body-corp-3-6.png 624w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/blog-body-corp-3-6-217x225.png 217w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/blog-body-corp-3-6-404x420.png 404w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/blog-body-corp-3-6-480x498.png 480w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/blog-body-corp-3-6-360x374.png 360w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/blog-body-corp-3-6-240x249.png 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Use a Shade of White or Light Color<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-23368 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-kitchen-white.png\" alt=\"kitchen with stool chairs\" width=\"604\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-kitchen-white.png 604w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-kitchen-white-219x225.png 219w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-kitchen-white-409x420.png 409w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-kitchen-white-480x493.png 480w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-kitchen-white-360x370.png 360w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-kitchen-white-240x246.png 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When painting smaller rooms, it\u2019s not uncommon to choose a shade of white. A light hue can easily open up the space and make it seem much bigger.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhite is a great option to help the viewer\u2019s eye travel throughout the whole room. This color is one of my favorites because it can really open up space and create an illusion of height in the smallest of spaces,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nashvillesouth.certapro.com\/residential-painting\/&amp;sa=D&amp;ust=1545154905778000\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jerry Prosise of CertaPro Painters\u00ae of Nashville and Middle Tennessee<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a warmer shade of white, we recommend:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.benjaminmoore.com\/en-us\/color-overview\/find-your-color\/color\/947\/navajo-white?color%3D947&amp;sa=D&amp;ust=1545154905775000\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Navajo White<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Benjamin Moore)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.benjaminmoore.com\/en-us\/color-overview\/find-your-color\/color\/pm-19\/white-dove?color%3DPM-19&amp;sa=D&amp;ust=1545154905776000\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">White Dove<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Benjamin Moore)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sherwin-williams.com\/homeowners\/color\/find-and-explore-colors\/paint-colors-by-family\/SW7008-alabaster%23\/7008\/?s%3DcoordinatingColors%26p%3DPS0&amp;sa=D&amp;ust=1545154905776000\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alabaster<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Sherwin-Williams)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Know How to Use Bold Colors<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-23369 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/black-and-white-bedroom.png\" alt=\"bedroom with queen bed\" width=\"604\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/black-and-white-bedroom.png 604w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/black-and-white-bedroom-219x225.png 219w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/black-and-white-bedroom-409x420.png 409w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/black-and-white-bedroom-480x493.png 480w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/black-and-white-bedroom-360x370.png 360w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/black-and-white-bedroom-240x246.png 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small spaces are not confined to light colors. In fact, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/paint-color-ideas\/why-you-absolutely-need-one-black-painted-wall\/&amp;sa=D&amp;ust=1545154905781000\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">black<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be a favorite to open up space if used the right way. But be careful when going with bold paint colors to make your space seem larger. You\u2019ll need to use the correct undertone or sheen for better match ability and durability. Consulting a home painting expert can help you avoid amateur mistakes for a result you\u2019ll be proud to show off in your home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We recommend the following dark colors:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sherwin-williams.com\/en-us\/color\/color-family\/neutral-paint-colors\/sw6988-bohemian-black\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bohemian Black<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Sherwin-Williams)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.benjaminmoore.com\/en-us\/paint-colors\/color\/2125-10\/black-panther\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Black Panther<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Benjamin Moore)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Paint an Accent Wall to Draw the Eyes<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-23370 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/bedroom-with-green-wall.png\" alt=\"bedroom with green wall\" width=\"604\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/bedroom-with-green-wall.png 604w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/bedroom-with-green-wall-219x225.png 219w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/bedroom-with-green-wall-409x420.png 409w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/bedroom-with-green-wall-480x493.png 480w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/bedroom-with-green-wall-360x370.png 360w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/bedroom-with-green-wall-240x246.png 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a bold tone is outside of your comfort zone, you can make a significant impact on your space without painting an entire room by utilizing an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/blog\/interior-house-painting\/accent-wall-ideas\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">accent wall<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This works well for two reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A different colored accent wall gives an optical illusion. It also helps to make the room seem like there is extra space inside<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accent walls direct the eye to a focal point. This helps when decorating and when deciding the best way to place existing furniture.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Feature an Eye-Catching Pattern<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-23371 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-bathroom-painting.png\" alt=\"bathroom with painted striped wall\" width=\"604\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-bathroom-painting.png 604w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-bathroom-painting-219x225.png 219w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-bathroom-painting-409x420.png 409w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-bathroom-painting-480x493.png 480w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-bathroom-painting-360x370.png 360w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-bathroom-painting-240x246.png 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of relying on flat colors alone to make a room look bigger, think about strategically placed patterns. Vertical stripes can make your room look taller, add to the openness of the space, and create drama. For some, vertical stripes can make a room feel constrictive. To counter this, avoid painting stripes on all of your walls in smaller areas and stick to wide stripes focused in one area, such as a single-striped accent wall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If stripes aren\u2019t your thing, there are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/blog\/interior-house-painting\/shape-up-your-walls-by-painting-geometric-patterns\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">plenty of other patterns<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to try. Just remember: smaller patterns tend to look nice in areas with low square footage and add to the interest of your walls.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Paint Your Ceiling Space for a Larger Room Feeling<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-23372 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-room-blog.png\" alt=\"ceiling painted brighter white to make room larger\" width=\"604\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-room-blog.png 604w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-room-blog-219x225.png 219w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-room-blog-409x420.png 409w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-room-blog-480x493.png 480w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-room-blog-360x370.png 360w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/small-room-blog-240x246.png 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Painting light colors on ceilings can create the illusion that a room is taller than it really is. If your walls are dark, any shade of off-white or even light pastels or grays could work on ceilings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re wanting to get a bit more creative, ceilings don\u2019t always need to be kept in a monotone shade. For example, a common scheme for nurseries is to paint light blue and white clouds on the ceiling and then have a deeper (yet still calm) blue on the walls. You can also use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/blog\/interior-house-painting\/5-types-of-crown-molding\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">crown molding<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to draw the eyes upward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><b>Painter\u2019s Tip: Darker ceilings can be an interesting design choice, but are not usually helpful when painting a room to look bigger.\u00a0<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Test Your Chosen Paint Color Before Applying<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you don\u2019t know what you want, but don\u2019t have a lot of time to experiment, use an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/paint-color-ideas\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">online visualizer tool<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to save time and stress. You can test any color by virtually painting it on your walls, helping you visualize the final result while also making the decision much more manageable.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make Any Room Feel Larger with Help From CertaPro Painters\u00ae<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paint can work wonders in a small room. Smart color selection alone can transform how big a space feels, from a half-bath to a small guest room. For help transforming your space, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CertaPro Painters<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00ae can help you explore the many color and design options available, and a color consultant can help you design any areas you\u2019re unsure about.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To schedule a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">free painting estimate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, give a trusted service advisor at CertaPro Painters\u00ae a call today.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this guide, you will learn: When light paint colors are used on walls and ceilings they can make a space feel bigger. Consider paint colors like white, light pastels, or grays How to use bold colors to strategically open up your space, particularly when adding an accent wall or utilizing patterns How to test<a class=\"read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/blog\/interior-house-painting\/6-ways-to-make-small-room-look-bigger\/\">Read the full article <em class=\"fa fa-angle-double-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[412],"tags":[422,203,210,424,423],"class_list":["post-13555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interior-house-painting","tag-accent-wall","tag-interior-painting","tag-painting","tag-painting-tips","tag-small-room"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13555"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13555\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}