Ask interior designers how to make a small room look bigger, and you’ll get a lot of different answers—especially when it comes to paint. Some swear that using one of the best white paint colors is the only way to go because your walls will reflect light, which can make your space feel more open and airy. Other designers will encourage you to try a darker or bolder color like one of these best blue paint colors or best green paint colors. Their reasoning: Darker colors can help create a perception of depth, which can also make a room feel larger than it really is.
When it comes to picking out a bedroom paint color for your smallest guest room or choosing a bathroom paint color for your tiny half bathroom, you really can’t go wrong as long as you choose a color you love. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite paint colors for small spaces here with shades from Benjamin Moore, Behr, and Sherwin-Williams, just to name a few. Scroll through our gallery to get some inspiration for your next home painting project, and be sure to check out our ultimate guide to how to paint a room before you get started.
1
Sweeten Up a Small Kitchen With Bright Yellow
David Tsay
In order to complement this exciting tile backsplash, these kitchen cabinets needed a fresh coat of paint that shined just as bright. Honey Bees by Sherwin-Williams did just the trick to finish out the ultimate country color combo of blue, yellow, and white in this 98-square-foot kitchen.
2
Texture Makes an All-White Kitchen Feel Warm
David Hillegas
Ahhh finally, an all-white kitchen that we can actually live in! In this 100-year-old home designed by Heather Chadduck Hillegas, the ceiling and walls are painted with Swiss Coffee by Behr and the windows are trimmed with Shaded White by Farrow & Ball.
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3
Update Paneled Walls With a Muted Purple Paint
Haris Kenjar
Add some life to wood-paneled walls with a coat of Brassica by Farrow & Ball. This muted purple shade with brown undertones ensures that your powder room feels sophisticated, not stuffy or hemmed in.
4
Add a Pop of Light Blue with a Statement Ceiling
David Hillegas
In the South, legend has it that a light blue ceiling on the front porch brings good luck to those who live inside. In this South Carolina river home, a dining room mimics the same effect with a ceiling painted in Lullaby by Sherwin-Williams.
Colorful kitchens instantly bring joy! Feeling bold? Try an out-of-the-box color like Eco Green by Sherwin-Williams for a bright kitchen with serious wow-factor.
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7
Add a Burst of Yellow to a Small Mudroom
BRIAN WOODCOCK
Mudrooms get short shrift. It's the often-too-small room where kids drop their book bags, dogs drop in to eat and drink, and everything from sports gear to rain gear piles up. Sunny up a small utility room with Egg Cream by Behr, and the family might be inspired to keep things a little neater. Even the dogs.
This curated bathroom strikes the perfect balance between masculine and feminine. A vintage wall sink vanity and a stainless steel rolling table look thoughtfully placed against a black beadboard wall. For a similar look, try Ink Black by Behr.
10
Rock a Royal Blue on Kitchen Cabinets
Grace Mitchell
Distract the eye from low ceilings with a bold blue paint color on kitchen cabinets. Polished silver hardware shines against doors painted in Philipsburg Blue by Benjamin Moore.
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11
Opt for Olive in a Mudroom Corner
Eric Piasecki
With floors these gorgeous, the walls in this mini mudroom need to pack just as big of an impact. A soft olive green like High Strung by Sherwin-Williams sets the scene for a day full of fun outdoor activities.
Make a Statement on a Small Porch with a Lilac Front Door
BRIAN WOODCOCK
We all need a little more lilac in our lives! You'll have the prettiest front porch on the block with a front door painted in Novel Lilac by Sherwin-Williams.
Contrasting colors like a whitewashed ceiling and an accent wall painted with Dusty Laurel by Behr make this lofted bedroom feel larger. Repurpose a vintage trunk as a nightstand for even more added storage.
16
White Shiplap Always Stays in Style
Matt Albiani
A small bistro table set in a hallway creates a mini makeshift dining room. Bright white shiplap painted with a coat of Oxford White by Benjamin Moore makes the ceilings of these tiny quarters soar.
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17
Cozy up Tiny Sleeping Quarters with a Calming Color
BRIE WILLIAMS
We can't think of a better place for a midday nap than in Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins' backyard barn in Nashville, TN. A warm forest green paint color, like Outdoor Oasis by Behr, and vintage nature prints make us feel right at home.
18
Add a Pop of Blue to a Sloped Ceiling
ANNIE SCHLECHTER ...
Emphasize the slope and height of a low ceiling with a peaceful blue paint color. Fantasy Blue by Benjamin Moore takes this bedroom ceiling to new heights in a charming Cape Cod cottage.
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19
Add Forest Green to a Small Cabin Kitchen
BRIAN WOODCOCK
It never hurts to take color cues from the great outdoors—especially when you've got views of rolling hills, pretty pastures, and trees galore. In this small kitchen, cabinets in Jasper by Sherwin-Williams positively pop against white tile, exposed beams, and beautiful wood floors.