Small living spaces.?

Question

Recently we bought a small house that has no decorating or life to it what so ever. I have a living area that is fairly small and is boxed like a normal bedroom. I'm hoping to remodel and add some style, however first I need some paint tips on what colors would suit a room like this. Inspirational lavenders and pinks are what I was hoping to paint however I want a almost dark hazelnut color in as well. These colors could be the total opposite of what I actually paint, but I need your help and ideas. thank you.

Answer 1

If you want your room to appear bigger, you should use a monochromatic theme. Although you may think that beige makes the room larger, in reality, the color that makes a room look the largest is robin's egg blue (which is sorta a light blue... look up at the sky... doesn't it look big??) To make the room appear even larger, paint the ceiling the same color as the walls or tone it down one notch but don't paint it a completely different color as this will make the ceiling appear to fall down on your head. Use the dark hazelnut color as an accent color... furniture, decorative items, etc.

Your inspirational lavendar would look good too, just don't use a dark version of it. If you paint all the walls, the trim and the ceiling this color, your room will appear larger than it actually is.

ALso, if you can, don't push all the furniture up against the walls. Leaving space behind furniture gives the room a more vast look.

To save on space, use the space that is usually lost: Make shelves in a triangular shape and put them up in the corners of the rooms, from just above the floor to the ceiling.

Use furniture with legs, even for the couch. If your furniture goes all the way to the floor, this makes a room stuffy. Seeing wood legs and the space between makes the room appear much airier and larger.

Don't use oversized furniture. That's a no-no in a small room.

Use mirrors to decorate. Not only do mirrors reflect light and make the room brighter, but they also make the space seem larger. you can use a large mirror as a focal point or you can use lots of little mirrors all around the room.

Keep clutter to a minimum as nothing kills space like clutter.

Hope this helps......

Oh... You can also go to http://www.sico.ca/En/Extras.asp and check out their virtual decorator, which allows you to visualize paint colors in rooms BEFORE you paint...

Enjoy your new home!

Answer 2

I painted my bedroom a dark park bench green (one of my favorate colors) and it made it very small and dark. Very un-attractive. Not what I was looking for at all.

Light colors are best for a room of any size. You can use dark colors for trim for a nice contrast.

With a small home, keep in mind that you have limited space. Throw out everything you don't need. Don't keep anything you have two of. Pick one and toss the other one.

Space is a premium. Don't waste it with clutter.

As for the walls, I really like white. If its an old place, use a high gloss to make it seem newer. It will shine.

But if its newer and you have no kids or pets, flat paint looks the nicest.

Don't compromise. Do semi gloss or the flat.

Answer 3

Remember that dark paints make a room smaller. The lavenders/ pearl pinks will be gorgeous and will "open" your small space even more. Those are wonderful colors for decorating, too. I am in the process of painting over old paneling. I am going with tans and blues... and it will really give those dark rooms a lift and new life.

Answer 4

It might also be nice to just paint the trim the dark hazelnut color, paint one accent wall a nice light pink, and the rest of the walls a nice warm white (not a cool white, though).

Or even just paint the trim hazelnut and the rest of the walls a warm white.

Answer 5

Pink and brown is a popular combination these days...you could paint your walls pink and then the trims (around doors, floorboards, etc.) brown. The light color of the pink will make the room seem bigger, but the brown will bring in an interesting contrast.

Answer 6

Keep the inspirational lavenders and pinks for the walls - keep them light and maybe do them on seperate walls - n & s in pink, e & w in lavender or just do one wall in lavender - i.e. north and the rest in pink. Bring the dark hazel you want, in the room in the furniture. I'd try to keep it to a minimum - maybe coffee & end tables.
Since the room is small, for storage you should build up - built-ins in white trimmed in nice molding, with doors at the bottom for electronic equipment, shelves for books and maybe a higher cabinet for your tv depending on it's size.

Answer 7

Rats are the best small pets I have had. They act a lot like little dogs really. Male rats are cuddly, females are very energetic. They can be taught tricks and litter trained. You need to get them in pairs, and they require a cage that is at least 4 cubic ft.

Answer 8

Bright colors DO make small living spaces look and feel bigger... dark colors are depressing and make rooms smaller...try thinking you live in a small R.V. like I do and make you and your small space Happy!