America’s highly competitive housing market is forcing families into ever-smaller homes—even in rural areas. With this downsizing trend comes the need to make small rooms feel bigger.

There are also trends like minimalism, which means reducing your possessions and your living space. And on the farthest end of the spectrum, there’s tiny house living.

If you’re racking your brains for ways to make a teeny room feel brighter and more spacious, it might come down more to the paint color choice than the furniture you choose. From stark white to dark navy, specific colors reflect light or embrace coziness to create the illusion of space.

Read on to learn what colors you should choose for tiny rooms.

Soft Black (Charcoal)

Charcoal or soft black paint is ideal for creating a grandeur in a small, north-facing room. By embracing the lack of bright natural light in this room, you can lean into the dark, creating a feeling of coziness and intimacy.

If you really want to boost this feeling, choose to paint the ceiling the same color as the walls.

Another option is to go to the opposite end of the spectrum and choose glossy black paint. The high sheen will reflect light around the room, creating a mirrored effect that boosts the sense of space. This is great for a bathroom since a gloss finish performs well in damp areas.

Blue

If you have a tiny room, consider using pale or sky blue. Not only can blue make a room appear more expansive, especially if you combine it with white ceilings, but it’s also scientifically proven to calm the mind.

If you’re worried about having too much blue, try applying it to only one or two walls.

Conversely, dark or navy blue can create drama in a small space, making it appear larger. You can use it cautiously by creating a dark blue feature wall or go all out and paint walls, ceilings, and trim in the same hue. Use gold-guilted mirrors and monochromatic furniture to heighten the theater.

Stark or Crisp White

Of course, white is the first option for many looking to make a room feel bigger. And it comes as no surprise! Whether you use a gloss or matte finish paint, white reflects light around a room, creating the illusion of brightness and space.

Pair a crisp or stark white with light wood furniture pops of bright colors in furnishing and artwork, and indoor plants for a light, airy feel. If you find a stark white too harsh, then look for a white with blue, pink, or green undertones to soften your look.

Taupe or Greige

Neutral is always in style, and taupe or greige makes a great alternative to white in a small room. These colors are light enough to reflect that much-needed light around a room—making it appear more extensive—and add a touch of color for those bored by whites.

White can also be quite harsh in a room, especially one that gets lots of bright sunlight. Taupe or greige paint offers a toned-down softer alternative.

Use these colors in a room with few architectural details since they tend to fade out elements and can emphasize even the most minor imperfections.

Pastel Hues

For those that love color, pastel paint colors offer the perfect way to embrace the rainbow while still making a room feel bigger. Carefully select the hue to work with the other decor elements in your home.

Blush Pink

This year, pink is a highly trending color, with Pacific pink reigning supreme in Shutterstocks 2022 color report. While brighter hues may overwhelm a small space, you can still jump on this trend by choosing blush pink.

Use it in rooms with lots of natural light to make a room feel more cheery and increase the sense of space. It’s especially great in kids’ playrooms or bedrooms.

Pastel Yellow

If you’re looking to channel a tropical sunset, paint pastel yellow on the walls of your small room. It adds warmth and looks great in a kitchen or bathroom, especially when paired with wood finishes. Another option in this spectrum is golden or soft blonde.

Lavender

While purple might seem like a left-of-field choice, it’s a beautiful color for tiny rooms in more traditional or period homes. Be sure to stick with a cooler shade of purple—like lavender—if you want to create a sense of coziness.

Try a bright purple if you’re feeling brave and want to open up a cluttered entryway or squeezed hallway. But be sure to limit this bold color to only one or two areas of the home.

Light Green

From biophilic architecture to indoor micro-farming, nature is trending in home design in 2022. So why not get in on this energetic movement by painting your rooms in various shades of green?

Greens that will make your rooms appear larger include sage, moss, and mint green. Pattern your walls with floral prints to really bring the outdoors in. After all, nature is nothing if not expansive.

How to Make Small Rooms Appear Larger

When choosing paint color for small rooms, you need to know two things: you either want to make the room appear larger or embrace the coziness factor.

Outside of that, you also need to consider which direction your windows face, how much natural light the room gets, and how cluttered the room is. And remember, high sheen paints show up wall imperfections, so it’s best to get the pros in to help you apply it.

If you’re stuck on which paint color is best for the walls of your home, reach out to the professionals at SurePro. These Austin, Texas painting experts will have your rooms looking larger in no time!