A small living room is a blank canvas for design innovation. Careful color selections can give the illusion of expanded space and elegance, even before the placement of furniture.
Selecting a green paint on a living room wall made of hard edges and short on number will effectively shrink the room. Create space in your small room with soothing colors.
Color selection is a relatively cheaper and easier design element to change, yet often more challenging to choose. A few principles will save you the cost of a paint change. Two of the most challenging principles to grasp are the use of best colors for a small living rooms.
Best Color Palettes for Small Living Rooms That Work
Light-colored paint will reflect more light and create the illusion of the walls receding more than dark colors. Conversely, dark colors paint will absorb more light resulting in the feeling of a closed cozy room.
Neither approach is wrong, but more dependent on the room’s light and height. You can create a calming effects in a room with muted shades paired with soft lighting and textured fabrics.
When Darker Colors Actually Help
Darker colors do not have to be avoided when dealing with small rooms. Dark colors should certainly not cover every wall. Consider using darker shades as accents and ground intricate patterned flooring.
Pairing Color With Lighting and Texture
Best colors for a small living room should be accented with creative use of light and warm fabrics to create a relaxing and calming small living space.
Colors to Consider for Small Living Rooms
- Soft neutrals can be a great starting point when selecting a paint color for a small living room. Some ideas are:
- Soft white, ivory, or light gray paint reflects light and warms up the space.
- Blue-gray paint in a paler shade can calm the room.
- A calm shore of sage green or blue-green as a backdrop can be a nice accent
- Warm, lighter shades of beige
These paler toned neutrals can help create a sense of space. When the shades of paint across the walls, trim, and ceiling are similar, it’s easier for the eyes to see one continuous space instead of a collection of disconnected boxes.
For more design ideas and tips, be sure to check out our full guide on small living room decor.
Considering Darker Tones
It’s a common misconception to think darker paint colors should be avoided in small living spaces, but when used properly, darker shades actually help bring out more depth in a room and make a space feel more finished, not smaller.
For darker tones, a space should:
- Have good natural lighting during the day.
- Have the same dark shade on both walls (and trim) to avoid creating separated space with an accent dark wall. • Have light furniture.
It’s commendable and not overly done to have a dark living space as long as it’s used sparingly and more at night when lighting matters less.
Color + Texture + Lighting
When it comes to choosing a paint color, everything has to work together. What a certain shade of paint looks like on the wall is a combination of that color, the lighting, and the texture of the room. So choosing from a small paint chip means less than testing a swatch at multiple times of the day.
Here are some ways to think about color as a part of your room:
- Warm lights make beige and cream walls, cozy.
- Cool lights make blues, grays, and greens pop, without making them dull.
- Curtains or rugs with textured patterns will add character to a dull room.
The light bulb recommendations on the ENERGY STAR website will help provide bulb options that enhance your wall color choice instead of dulling it.
For more room expanding ideas beyond just painting, our guide on making a small room look bigger outlines other natural tricks that pair with a great paint choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are light colors always better for a small living room?
For a living space with poor natural light, lighter paint colors will work best, but dark colors can work as well with good natural light.
Can I paint a small living room a dark color?
Dark wall colors can work well in a room, but we would recommend using dark colors consistently across walls and trim to avoid a half wall accent.
What is the Best Colors for a Small Living Rooms?
Warm white, pale grey, and beige are safe bets that go with a lot of combinations. They’re also not going to go out of style anytime soon. It’s also a good opportunity to test out furniture arrangements and lighting for the room you’ve always wanted to try.
Do I really need to worry about ceiling colors for a small room?
Yes. To give the illusion of a taller room, ceiling color can be the same as the wall color or even a little bit lighter. It gives the wall a ‘continued’ look, rather than a hard line that separates top and bottom.
How can I see what a room color will be like for sure?
I like to test a color by painting a big, 2-foot wide section. Then, I leave it. I have to leave it to see how it looks at every hour of the day (and how it looks with every light in the house).
Conclusion
Small living room users shouldn’t fear dark room colors. The biggest indicator for the right palette in a room is how the light in the room interacts with different colors. The right answer is almost always a combination of testing room options and consulting personal style. A smart color selection gives a small living room the ability to take on a lot more than most decorating choices.