There are so many theories out there about paint colours and how to use them within small spaces. In this blog we will take a look at some of our top tips on how to use paint to maximise your space; you might be surprised!
“Dark colours will enclose my space” - This isn’t exactly always true. Sometimes going darker on the walls, depending on the colour, can actually make your walls recede and make the lighter trims pop. If you have thought about going bold with a dark colour I generally find that cooler tones will recede while warmer tones can intrude into the space. If you have high ceilings then I would say go for gold! However if your ceiling is lower, keep in mind that a dark wall colour is going to emphasis the lack of height in your room where it meets the white ceiling and trims.
I love this black on the horizontal paneling! It makes the art work pop, the polished concrete floors sing, and the browns in the side table and cushions look rich and vibrant.
White textured bed linen looks so classy against this charcoal wall. White wash floor boards provide some contrast and light.
Once again this grey tone wall looks stunning against the white furniture. This whole dining suite stands out by itself with very little styling!
The subtle touch of mustard compliments this grey tone so nicely. If you want to create a intimate bedroom scheme keep it simple, add a darker wall shade, and you are good to go!
Balance dark toned rooms out with light furniture and accessories. Keep the colour pallet simple and introduce texture and pattern to soften and inject some personality and life into the overall space.
If you are working within a space, such as a bedroom that is an internal room, which has no natural light, it is important to remember dark colours will absorb light, not reflect it. So in that case I would agree with “dark walls will enclose your space” – however, with a great lighting scheme you can create a dark, moody hideaway, which can look fantastic if done correctly! On the other hand, you might have an abundance of natural light – this would be the ideal scenario if you were thinking about introducing a dark colour, as natural light can provide some relief to create that perfect harmonious balance.
We are loving Teal at the moment. These beautiful jewel tones create a rich, warm and welcoming environment, ideal in a cozy bedroom! A simple art piece like this breaks up the darkness of the wall and helps reflect light.
Theres that Teal colour again! This time with a more muted pallet. Blush pink compliments this shade perfectly and large windows provide some much needed light with a ceiling this high.
If you are working with a shorter ceiling height and a cramped space, a simple trick when selecting paint colours is to paint your skirting boards, architraves and cornices the same colour, and the ceiling a shade of two lighter, to visually extend the height of the room and blur the lines between where it stops and starts. By using this technique you are creating a blank canvas so when you introduce furniture the emphasis is on the objects providing a nice distraction from the boundaries of the space.
The reason we paint the ceiling a shade or two lighter than the walls is when you look at the same paint colour on a vertical wall and then on a horizontal plane, the ceiling will always look darker due to how the light works within a room. By going lighter on the ceiling we can make the colours appear more equal.
I think this is a great example of using the one colour technique - this long, narrow hallway feels large and bright by using all one shade of white. The colour makes the hallway appear much more spacious than what it really is by blurring lines.
I think this interior also uses the one colour technique well. Although it has high ceilings this transitional space feels welcoming and airy, and flows well into the next room. The walls extend upwards into the ceiling, although there is intricate architraves and cornicing, it doesn't break up the space like a multi-tone scheme would.
A lot of homes and offices have some sort of open plan styled living/functionality. When working within a small open plan space, such as an apartment or small commercial office, consistency is key. By pulling the wall, trims and ceiling colour through every space you create a space that has flow and appears at its maximum possible size. If you were to paint different ‘zones’ alternating colours, you break the space in to visual blocks, which will make your space appear smaller than what it actually is. In medium to large sized offices you can get away with breaking the space up with colour to signify way finding and an indication to where differnt zones are, such as meeting rooms or communal spaces.
I love how this all white office uses a bright blue ceiling to add a playful element to their workspace in an unconventional way. The way it extends all the way down to one wall makes this medium sized office look much longer than what it actually is - a great example of how darker colours can make your space look larger!
This small office encompasses the one colour in open plan idea perfectly. Paired with clear partition walls, this narrow hall way and meeting rooms look extremely spacious and bright. Had they of been broken into different colour zones there is no way this expansive appearence would have been achieved.
White is always a fail-safe option. I personally love the ‘white-out’ look which is as the name suggests, is all white. All furniture and accessories also white, but heavily textured to insert some personality and life. I think this look makes any small space reach its full potential in scale and creates a dreamy atmosphere that’s bright and positive to be in.
This gable ceiling could of been a disaster! but by going all white the ceiling doesn't feel as enclosing as a darker colour might of in this situation. A darker colour with a white back wall would of emphasised the narrowness at the top of the apex making it feel enclosed.
I adore this all white laundry. Clean and bright, even though it is a very small space it doesn't feel cramped. The white tile splash back gives some light reflection which is an added bonus in small spaces. Going for a light floor tile is ideal in this situation as it doesn't draw attention to how small the floor space actually is.
Now this is small design! This apartment kitchen looks as big as it possibly can by using an all white scheme. White glass splash back reflects light, and a white oven front means there is no visual breaks in the cabinetry which is so important for visual flow!
A walk in wardrobe is such a dream for many home owners. This all white walk in maximises space visually buy using fittings and fixtures the same colours as the walls and ceilings to make everything blend into one another as much as possible - less visual blocks = less visual clutter.
At the end of the day, there really are no 'rules' as to what you can and can't do, only guidelines and suggestions. Paint is an amazing way to inject your personality and sense of style into your home or office! you can use it in so many different ways depending on what you want to achieve in your space. If you need any assistance with colour consulting, we are here to help! We can assist with colour selections for residential and commercial projects, inside and out. Get in touch with us today to book your colour consultation!
Lucy Sargent.