How to make small rooms feel bigger using paint

House building trends in the UK haven’t changed for years and it’s common for homes to have different sized rooms. Not all of the dimensions are, let’s say, generous but we have to work with what we’ve got.  

Essentially, selling property is selling space and the aim is to present every room as somewhere bright and usable. So what do you do with a box bedroom, a small study or a bijou bathroom?  

Moving internal walls to make a room bigger isn’t practical ahead of a sale but choosing the right paint colour can help a room feel bigger than it is. Quick and relatively cheap, a new colour really can make all the difference.  

The objective is to make the walls and ceiling feel further away than they really are, and to seemingly increase the amount of natural light in the room. How? There’s a certain degree of optical illusion at play but the good news is it’s not rocket science.  

Create light with colour

Light colours are the order of the day as they ensure the atmosphere in the room is open and airy. Pure brilliant white is the obvious choice but if this feels too clinical, get some tester pots for the palest of greys, creams and even blues.  

The same colour everywhere

If you want to make a small room feel bigger, you may have to veer away from the traditional style of decorating. Consider colour drenching, where you apply the same shade of paint to every surface – ceilings, walls, radiators, skirting, architrave, dado and picture rails included. This will push back any features that may ‘jump out’ if they’re painted in a different colour or stained, in the case of wood.  

Choose the right finish

The finish of paint you buy will also make a difference to how big the room feels. Anything that’s chalky, matt or described as ‘flat’ will soak up natural or artificial light. Instead, opt for mid-sheen, silk or semi-gloss as these will bounce the light around. Dulux’s Light + Space Matt is manufactured using Lumitec technology, so it reflects up to twice as much light around a room.  

6 tips for once you’ve painted

Once you’ve applied your light, bright paint, you can help create the illusion of more space by following these interior design tips:-

1. Ensure clutter and rubbish doesn’t sneak back into the room

2. Only keep the furniture you really need

3. Keep curtains and blinds open

4. Consider covering a dark carpet or floor with a light-coloured rug

5. Style with reflective surfaces to increase the amount of light

6. Add lamps to any dark corners 

We’d love to visit your property and give you a current valuation. Alternatively, please contact us for home selling advice.