Can a color change the size of a room?

[Lizzie]

Hello everyone,

I have to say, I do like a splash of color here and there. 

When you think about it there are so many different shades of paint out, that basically every time you paint a room you have a new opportunity to create a completely different style, a new environment that will mark the personality of the room. I always wonder though how often a person actually changes the colour dramatically say from a soft green to a bright purple! 🙂

There are lots of things that you might consider when selecting a color, one of them being, does this color favor the size of the room? Although there are many beautiful colors, not all help to make a room look bigger.

What type of color do you use for your guest's room? Do you choose colors that bring warmth through bright shades or perhaps the calm of the pastels? Are you looking to make the room look larger and bright for your guests or do you prefer to add character with defined colors?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Lizzie

[Clara116]

@Lizzie That's a great topic and I am just now in the process of painting my main bedroom/living space in the cottage. this room is 200 sq. ft. 

I only had time inbetween guests to do one big wall and will finish ceiling and all the rest of the room in another week or two when I have plenty of time.

I wanted to make this room feel and look bigger and so I began to study up and learn. Seems White is the color to make small spaces look larger so I am going from a warm yellow to bright clean white.  I do love color and esp. like one wall with an accent color. BUT when thinking of Airbnb I want to please most guest and they all have different taste so I'm going for more neutral. The living room is a milk toast/ tan color and the bathroom is Terra Cotta. The white change for me is the summer look and fun as well with beachy colors and accessories. Iam enjoying the new look and the feel of it for sure. And I think it does make it feel bigger - it always makes things look so clean too. Happy Hosting all, I'll be excited to see what others post. Best to you Lizzie, Clara

yellow wallswhite wall - still have 3 walls and ceiling to go

 my cottage: airbnb.com/rooms/18711133 

[Lizzie]

Your room looks so peaceful and relaxing @Clara116. The artwork looks interesting, are you a painter? 🙂

[Clara116]

@Lizzie thanks Lizzie. It is indeed peaceful ....after 15 yes of massage in that room it soaked in to the walls. No not a painter but love photos and travel to far away lands . the one pic is ladies in Egyp making bread..in the desert when I was there. I do enjoy sharing parts and people from other lands. It would be fun to do a sharing of favorite shots from other places. Thanks for all you do Lizzie! Blessings, Clara

[Sandra126]

My personal view is that a house which has architectural integrity can be white, no problem. But a house devoid of charm or features can be disguised with colour, to trick the eye into believing it has more interest. I don't mind dark spaces, see no need to brighten things up. Also depends on where you live. A room of primary brightness will perhaps look a little strange in the softer northern lights, and a room of weak pastel hues might look washed out in a location of intense sun.

I think we are often overly cautious with colour. It isn't a problem, you can always paint it again! I used to be a fan of a grey-blue, and I mean a big, huge fan. In later years I find myself mostly drawn to greens, I think this might be a mellowing of age. We perhaps go through various phases in life, colour-wise as well as in other ways.

I like the buttery yellow of the wall above, especially with the stronger yellow lamplight. We are all more attractive by yellow light, it is flattering.

[Willow3]

@Sandra126 - I hadn't thought about latitude affecting a color choice, but as soon as I read it, it was an "aha" moment.  I'm a Northern girl myself... and my home reflects that.  But you are absolutely right, when I lived in San Diego - I decorated in much more saturated colors, and when I lived in Hawaii, MUCH more saturated colors.  My current color palette would feel "off" in those places.  

[Willow3]

It most certainly can change our perception of a spaces size!  I strongly prefer a monochromatic space - the first photo makes me anxious!  

I recently repainted my guest space to a green undertoned grey.  With heavy white trim and flooring painted two shades lighter, it's a very airy and soothing space now.  Previously it was a medium brown/grey with beige carpet.  I like neutrals, just not brown based neutrals, lol.  

[Clara116]

@Willow3 I too had a very intense reaction to the very bold colors  in the opening post - like toooooo much!

[Oomesh-Kumarsingh0]

@Lizzie Technically speaking no a colour cannot change the size of a room but it certainly have a psychological effect on the human mind that may create an illusion thus giving people the impression that a room looks more spacious.Colours can also affect the mood of people so choose wisely.

[Rachel0]

I have to say that the main photo at the top of this post is terrifying - too much colour and too much contrast.  Looks like a fairground!  However, that is just my taste and some people may think it is wonderful.  I have decorated my guest bedroom and their sitting room/study in a milky coffee colour on 3 walls in each room with a darker shade of the same on the 4th - slightly darker in the bedroom and much darker in the sitting room.  Have had a lot of compliments about my decor so I am happy.  What is vital is to use paint which can be wiped down to remove finger marks and scuffs made by luggage - these marks are just part and parcel of hosting but are annoying nonetheless.  Lighting is important as well - nothing worse than just a harsh overhead light in the room.  I have recently bought two new bedside reading lights to replace the ones in my listing photo and they give a beautiful glow to the bedroom at night.

[Helen3]

That's interesting @Rachel0 

I loved the beautiful blue/green colour.

Shows how personal taste is 🙂

[Sarah977]

Well, I'm not a purple fan, but can appreciate it if done right. I seem to be the only one so far who thinks the colors in the topic photo look great, although it's not something I'd want to live in.

What I find bizarre about that photo is that there is no space for anyone to sit on the couch with all those pillows- one ot two for accent, sure, but that staging does not look at all comfortable or inviting. Where would the pillows end up if you actually wanted to sit down? I feel the same about the trend to stacking layers of throw pillows on the bed until it takes up half the length of the bed. What exactly is the point of that?

And what use is a coffee table if every square centimeter of it is piled with books?

Okay, back to color- I have a lot of color in my house in Mexico, though nothing bright or gaudy. When I had my house in Canada, I also had a lot of color accent and colored walls. Friends would come over, say they were about to do painting at their place and that they loved the colors and were going to try it as well. In the end, they all chickened out and went with white or beige.

[Christine1]

Such a refreshing read.

Made me chuckle.

Regards Christine 

[Sandra126]

Alright, @Sarah977, I will join you in talking about this room. Do not want to criticise anyone, because someone lives there, right? Maybe it is @Lizzie's house?

But: The blue is wonderful, although I am not a fan of purple in any situation. The Duraflame (?) carton to the right I find very distracting. I would like to see the floor different, or with a rug, as it is orphaned by the colours and bear no relation. The cushions are too numerous. Two is enough, one at each end. I would like to see a standard reading lamp at the sofa as I would sit there and read the piles of books awaiting me. A rug like the one below will happily marry the floor to the wall.

[Rebecca181]

@Lizzie Great topic! Color is also associated with temperature. When I bought my home at the beach on the Oregon Coast that includes a separate Cottage, the Cottage's main 1st floor living area (a Master ensuite) was painted a very deep, bright mustard yellow. I knew I needed to paint the room to tone it down and introduce cooling, soothing tones, because most people coming out to the Coast are looking to 'cool down' in the summer. I hope to take out the carpet and put in hard wood floors this Fall or Winter. I will then be changing all the bedding, but will stay with a nautical theme. On the 2nd floor, I decided to stay with the colors that were already there (for now), because they are warmer colors, and there is a wood stove. This, then, becomes the main area for guests during the fall / winter months, when it is cold / rainy / stormy; the room offers a sense of warmth. Attached is a 'before' photo of the yellow 1st floor Master ensuite, and an after photo - I used four different shades of gray to create subtle illusions of depth. The last photo is of the 2nd floor living / dining area - And I have had guests tell me they appreciate the 'warm' colors in the winter. I have a nautical theme at the Cottage, and I incorporated a sailing theme in the 2nd floor living room as yellow and red are coast guard colors (I only needed to add blue, which I did with the furniture). 

Before painting Master ensuiteAfter painting Master ensuite2nd floor living / dining area