A few design tricks to make rooms feel larger that most of us are familiar with include keeping space free of clutter, maximizing natural light, and using light colors. While these are all excellent tips, many people think that light colors must be pale, neutral shades, but that’s not always true. The Benjamin Moore paint experts at Red Star Paint & Decorating have a few lesser-known ways to help you create the illusion of space in compact rooms.
Sing the Blues
Shades of blue and green can refresh your mind and body by having a calming effect. These colors also create the illusion of space by making the walls seem further away from you than they really are. You can maximize this effect by using a sheen that reflects light around a room, like satin or eggshell.
Choose the Right White
We won’t deny that white is an outstanding choice for small rooms, but the white you choose makes a difference. Undertones mean everything, so choose a white on the warmer end of the spectrum to keep the space from looking sterile and uninviting. We love the subtle pink tones in Whitewater Bay OC-70.
Create Your Sunshine
Small rooms tend to have small windows, making for dark corners. You may not be able to fake larger windows, but you can introduce faux sunshine using bright yellow paint. Shades of yellow make people feel happy and energized, and eliminating dreary, dark corners from a room makes the whole space seem bigger. We love Yellow Highlighter 2021-40 for bold interiors and Dalila 319 for more subtle styles. You can incorporate deeper colors to balance the brightness by painting the trim, doors, and accents in the same hue. A continuity of dark colors will add depth to the lighter colors they surround.
Splurge on Quality Paint
Everyone likes to save money when possible. We love finding great deals on things we need, but there are better places to pinch pennies than paint for your home. First, a quick chemistry lesson - paint is made with a solvent (water or alkyd), pigment (the color), and binder. When you apply paint, the solvent dissipates, but the pigment and binder stay behind. Bargain paint brands tend to have less pigment and binder, so you’ll need more product to get your desired coverage. You should also factor in the amount of time the project will take. It takes several hours for a coat of paint to dry, and if you’re using inexpensive paint, you’ll need more coats which means more time. Investing in premium Benjamin Moore paint will save time for other important tasks around your home.
Contact Us
Red Star Paint & Decorating has been family-owned for almost three decades, and we’re proud to be the area’s leading Benjamin Moore retailer. We have everything you need to complete your DIY paint job, including brushes, trays, and other painting supplies. You can also rely on us for your Hunter Douglas window treatment needs.
Chat with our friendly experts at 420 Bloomfield Ave in Montclair, NJ, call us at (973) 746-2468, or reach out to us online. Red Star Paint & Decorating proudly serves Montclair, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Bloomfield, NJ, and the surrounding areas.