Small house interior color schemes


How How to Choose House Paint Colors for a Small Home

By

Ronique Gibson

Ronique Gibson

Ronique Gibson wrote for The Spruce for more than two years, covering home design and home staging topics. She is a trained architect and is LEED AP certified. She also launched a home lifestyle site in 2009 and has written for such publications as Better Homes & Gardens Kitchen + Bath and Houzz.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 05/13/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

A Welcoming Front Entry with Natural Light and Color is Essential

Choosing house paint colors for a small home is not an easy task. This is because little spaces have the ability to carry a lot of weight. Hallways, foyers, and mudrooms can determine the look and feel of a home. Before you go out to buy paint for your small home, take the time to establish the effect you want to achieve. Here are some ideas to help you in your endeavor.

Invite Buyers Into Your Home With Living Room Paint Ideas

The living room is the first room home buyers see when they walk into a home. If it isn’t impressive, they won’t linger. Paint your living room walls white to increase its brightness and to make the walls visually move away. If you feel that white will be too stark and cold, try taupe. It is a calming sand color that enlarges a space and makes it feel warm and welcoming. It is also a great backdrop as it takes on the color of natural light while keeping its integrity. You can also try cream, ivory, or beige.

Ensure Your Kitchen Uses Neutral or Welcoming Colors

Consider using natural wood stain colors for your kitchen Getty Images

Create a Sanctuary With Bedroom Color Ideas

The bedroom is a place of relaxation and must be a total haven. Use white and other relaxing colors to make your bedroom appear bigger. Blue’s suggestions of the sea and sky make it innately relaxing. In fact, research shows that people sleep for longer periods in blue bedrooms. If you don’t fancy blue, try icy gray-green that’s a great take on neutrals.

Homeowners with small bedrooms like to use earth tones and neutrals like gray, yellow, or green. These hues make walls visually recede into the background, highlighting the accessories in a room. White also works well in a small bedroom, but avoid using stark white since it can make a bedroom look bland. Ivory, cream, and butter are good options. Paint the ceiling white as it’s the best choice for a small room.

Consider Neutral or Accent Wall Kitchen Paint Ideas

Are you looking to add more pizazz to your kitchen - kitchen paint colors could do the trick. Ever wondered why most kitchens are painted red or orange? It’s because these colors stimulate the appetite. If you think they might be too bright for your kitchen, paint your walls a soft pumpkin or kumquat. These colors are vibrant but not intense. If you want something gentler, try white, pale blue, or cream. Also, consider a neutral palette color tone where wood stains become the color choice as opposed to a definite color. Wood stains bring out a natural sense to the kitchen and keep your kitchen feeling warm and welcoming. 

Create a Tranquil and Relaxing Bathroom with Color

Ensure your bathroom uses soothing interior colors Getty Images

Bathroom Colors Should Be Tranquil and Relaxing

Bathrooms look great with soft colors. Soft colors make people feel relaxed and also flatter the skin tone. Buyers fall in love with bathrooms painted ivory, gentle rose, or buttery tan. If your bathroom doesn’t get a lot of natural light, paint the walls pale yellow or straw-like yellow as they mimic sunlight.

If your bathroom is very small, paint it white or lemon to make it appear bigger. You can also create a coastal vibe with sky blue paint. Paint the walls and ceiling a similar color to visually enlarge the space. Buyers’ eyes will travel effortlessly, and they’ll think the room is bigger than it is.

 Avoid Bright Wall Colors Where Possible 

Bright walls are a turnoff for buyers. If you want your home to sell fast, paint the walls a white or off-white color. This will enable buyers to easily repaint when they move in. White paint also gives a home a bright and clean appearance. Make the most of the numerous brochures and paint selections at your local paint store and seek an expert’s advice on the color schemes you can use.

Home buyers have strong feelings about bold color. To please them, use neutrals like white, beige, or cream. Painting the large rooms a neutral color will help buyers to visualize their belongings in the space. Buyers are attracted to neutral interiors both online and offline. Your neutral rooms will look better in listing photos, and more buyers will book a showing.

Choosing house paint colors for your home sounds simple, but it can be one of the toughest choices to make. Follow these tips, and you’ll be sure to choose the best interior paint.

No-Fail Paint Colors for Small Spaces

From Ho-hum to Hue-tastic

Photo by Courtesy of Benjamin Moore

Little spaces have the potential to carry a lot of weight. "A small space can be a wonderful jewel box," says Sonu Mathew, senior interior designer at Benjamin Moore. Foyers, hallways, and mudrooms can establish a mood. Tiny studies, bedrooms, and even baths often serve as retreats.

Before picking a paint color for a small room, ask yourself what effect you're after: Do you want the room to feel light and airy (try a cool color) or warm and cozy (veer toward richer and warmer)? Or maybe you're craving a little drama.

Shown: Castleton Mist, a yellow-green in Benjamin Moore's Historic collection, is a favorite of San Francisco interior designer Arthur McLaughlin, who also stages properties for sale. "This play on celery green has some energy to it," he says. "It can lift the mood, which is what you want in a small space that might otherwise be overlooked. "

Read on for more of our experts' favorite small-space-enhancing shades and strategies.

For a Light and Airy Feel, Go Cool

Photo by Courtesy of Restoration Hardware

Conventional wisdom holds that pale colors expand a space visually by making the walls recede, and it's true. But white can feel bland, and pastels can lack nuance. There's also a huge range of pale shades, both in terms of color intensity and temperature.

Blues and greens, and grays, browns, and lavenders with blue or green undertones, can make walls recede and a small space seem larger. Examples include grayed-down Atmosphere Blue from Restoration Hardware, which is among architectural color consultant Bonnie Krims's top picks because of the way it establishes a tranquil mood.

Bring the Outdoors Indoors

Photo by Laurey W. Glenn

Pittsburgh Paints' Dill would also do well in a foyer or mudroom as a transition from the outside, or in a windowed room where yellowish green can make a space feel as if it extends outdoors. "It looks great with white trim, and it works well with any amount of natural or artificial light," says Dee Schlotter, who tracks research on color and design for PPG Pittsburgh Paints. "Unlike some neutrals, it's saturated enough to not take on other colors when the light changes."

Shown: A saturated green, Pittsburgh Paints' Dill wakes up a small crafts room and expands the space, in part by leading the eye to the greenery outside.

For a Cozy Glow, Choose a Warm Hue

Photo by Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

A bright or deep color in a diminutive space offers a chance to enjoy a hue that might seem over the top in, say, the living room. Strong colors also can give a small room a distinct identity, helpful if the space has no strong architectural elements.

To emphasize the intimate feeling of a foyer, alcove, or den, consider warm colors—yellows, reds, oranges, and reddish purples and browns—which colorists describe as making walls advance. Painting the ceiling with a related hue will make the space even more encapsulating. Sherwin-Williams's June Day is a great choice for an entry or home office, Krims says, because this sunny yellow is "optimistic, welcoming, and cheerful"—in other words, a friendly greeting for visitors or a nice reward for paying bills. It's also a yellow that underscores the natural warmth of wood floors and furniture.

Spice Up Your Living Space

Photo by Anthony Tieuli

C2's Live Wire, a fresh, clean orange, is another logical candidate for small spaces. This warm hue feels friendly and intimate, making it a perfect fit for an entryway or mudroom where guests will gather.

Shown: C2's Live Wire draws the eye to the walls and the backs of cubbies rather than the stuff stowed inside.

Go for Rustic Reds

Photo by Courtesy of Pittsburgh Paints

Veering more to a red, Pittsburgh Paints' Orange Vermillion would also be a great choice in a foyer or mudroom, where "big colors" can not only raise the temperature but also draw the eye away from clutter, says Schlotter.

To Add Volume, Make It Seamless

Photo by Robbie Caponetto

"Paint walls and ceilings the same color; it allows your eye to travel around the room without stopping and makes a small space seem bigger," says color consultant Doty Horn. Think about proportions, too: "Anytime a room is higher than it is wide, a good option is painting the ceiling the same color as the walls," says Walker. "It makes the room feel better proportioned, yet cozy." Even with a white ceiling, you can create a continuous flow by painting baseboards and trim the same color as the walls. Behr's Calm Air is a warm natural shade that can enhance this effect; plus, it creates a nice transition from outdoor spaces to interiors, says Erika Woelfel, an expert in color and design at Behr.

Shown: Painting walls, doors, trim, and ceiling a single warm neutral, such as Behr's Calm Air, creates a spacious feel.

Streamline the Space

Photo by Courtesy of Fine Paints of Europe

Similarly, "Fine Paints of Europe's AR19 is a creamy off-white that can soften the lines in a room while picking up the qualities of hues in adjoining spaces," says Krims.

To Widen a Narrow Room, Break It Up

Photo by Courtesy of Behr

There are also ways to trick the eye by covering every surface with a single color—or just the opposite, by treating one or more walls differently.

To make a skinny space, such as a converted sunporch, appear squarer, Schlotter suggests painting one side a different color from the other; cool colors, especially, can make opposing walls feel as if they were moving apart. For tight passageways, she offers another trick: "Paint the wall at the end of a hall an entirely different color. It creates a destination and erases the tunnel effect."

For a small entryway, consider a single saturated shade, like Behr's Waterscape, "which makes a transition area more interesting because it's bold and unexpected," says Woelfel.

Go Against the Grain

Photo by Courtesy of Pittsburgh Paints

A bright, rich blue that looks great with both dark wood and white-painted millwork is Pittsburgh Paints' Blue Tang, says Schlotter—it would make a nice choice for a cozy TV room, powder room, or bedroom.

If you're worried that such a strong color won't transition well to other parts of the house, rely on the paint collections that manufacturers assemble; those color groupings will help you create a cohesive palette based on the first color you choose. "The great thing about a small space is that it is such a doable project," says Mathew. "It's a nice way to start."

How to choose a color scheme for the design of a small room: 60 photos

Of great importance for the visual perception of space is the choice of color palette. As a rule, for design small rooms use light colors that create a feeling of spaciousness and freedom. The most optimal white color and the entire palette of its shades are considered an option, capable of blurring the boundaries between vertical and horizontal lines that create the walls and ceiling. Thanks to this, the room seems larger and brighter, how actually exist.

The popularity of white is also due to its versatility. It goes with almost any style. design and has a high degree of compatibility with other colors. In addition, white and all its shades are considered the most aesthetically attractive, and this is no coincidence, since from the point of view of psychology they associated with purity, well-being and peace.

Interiors in white are perfect, impeccable and refined. They look fresh and nobly. You can verify this by looking at the presented gallery of interiors.

White elegant bedrooms

White luxurious living rooms

Children's room design in white

Unlike white and its shades, dark colors close the space, so for little ones it is better not to use them. In case of their preference, it is recommended to use cold tones, that can visually distance objects. You can experiment with them if the room faces sunny side and literally flooded with bright light.

When deciding on the color palette of the interior, you should follow the rule: if the room is dark warm colors are preferred if the windows are located to the south and there is a lot of light in the room - cold.

An acceptable option, if the room is located on the south sunny side, will be shades pale blue, soft lilac, emerald green, light green and pale turquoise. They are will give the space a refined and attractive look, fill it with a feeling of freshness and coolness.

Pale lilac bedroom

Bedroom in green tones

Pale blue bedroom

Blue bedroom design

Pale turquoise room for a teenager

If there is little light in the room, then it is better to abandon cold tones in favor of warm ones that create a feeling of the presence of summer and the sun. The interior, made, for example, in yellow color scheme, which is considered the most optimistic and cheerful.

A feeling of joy and cordiality will be given by a room decorated in tan, peach, rich cream and caramel yellow.

Living room in beige tones

Bedroom in brown tones

Living room design in shades of yellow

Mustard color in the design of the living room

orange bedroom

If we talk about the popularity of colors in modern design, then such colors can be called especially in demand. shades like pale blue, light green, light green, peach, beige, coffee with milk. According to designers, they are ideal for small spaces, as they are able to create an optical illusion. Even the smallest rooms decorated in this color palette will seem more spacious. interiors, presented in the photo, easily convince of this.

Delicate blue and white bedroom

Luxurious bedroom design in shades of beige

Green color in bedroom design

Children's room for a teenager in beige tones

Peach color in the design of a children's room

Sensual bedroom with café au lait color

blue living room

The classic combination of white and black colors has not lost its relevance for many years. This the color concept is universal - it fits any style and any size of the room. However, when using this combination, you should remember the need to maintain a balance between colors.

In black and white, one color must prevail and be the background. Determining the leading color it must be remembered that the white color visually enlarges the space, makes it lighter, black, on the contrary, it visually reduces the room, however, at the same time, it forms the depth of space, gives it geometric clarity and rigor. Which color to choose as the main one will depend on the design idea. and taste preferences.

Black and White Bedroom Design Ideas

Design ideas for a black and white living room

The red color and its numerous shades are quite in demand in modern design over a hundred. This is one of the brightest and most emotional colors that can create many effects, revive interior and cheer up. However, an abundance of bright red can be irritating, so it is best used in combination with calmer shades, such as neutral gray.

The ideal option would be a combination of red with shades cool tones, such as green or blue.

Living room design in gray and red colors

Dynamic duet of blue and red in the design of the living room

Duet of red color with shades of warm tones, for example, yellow, will make the interior stylish and respectable. beige or brown.

The combination of red with shades of brown in the design of the bedroom

Bedroom in beige and burgundy colors

Children's room design using shades of brown and red

Beige and Burgundy Bedroom Design

Another option is to prefer calmer shades of red, among which are very beautiful and, at the same time, time, not so aggressive: burgundy, wine, muted coral, alizarin, terracotta. These paints are indispensable in creating respectable and elegant interiors. They will look elegant and combinations of red with calm related shades - pink, burgundy, purple.

Coral color in bedroom design

Design of a children's bedroom in shades of pink

Bedroom design in shades of red

Children's room for a girl in a pleasant pale pink color

However, it is worth remembering that the red color visually reduces the space, therefore, in the interior of a small room, it should be used as an addition to the main color or as accent.

Red decor as a color accent in the design of a white living room

Red armchair - a color accent in the design of a black and white living room

Red accent wall in bedroom design

Red accents in the children's room

Of all the combinations, perhaps the most cheerful and charismatic is the composition of red and white. Such duet visually enlarges the space, gives the interior dynamism, depth and solemnity, raises tone and tune in to the positive.

Stylish red and white living room

Luxurious red and white bedroom

The interior looks stylish based on the contrast of red and black. But this oversaturated it is better to dilute the color composition with shades of white or gray. This will make the design softer and calm.

Black and red bedroom interior

The interior will get an incredible effect when using, perhaps, the most colorful combination - red, black and white colors. This is today the most common color triad that can transform any room. Which color to choose as the lead depends on personal preferences and design ideas. Knowing the features of these colors will help you choose the right proportions.

So, black color will make the interior more strict, give a feeling of special comfort, but its excess can make the room gloomy and dull. Red is associated with success and respectability, but in a large number causes tension and even aggression. White color is universal. It creates the illusion of purity and natural freshness, visually enlarges the space and brings a feeling of spaciousness, and it does not exist a lot of.

The combination of white, black and red in the design of the living room

Red-white-black bedroom interior

The combination of white, black and red in the design of the children's room

When using certain colors and shades, you should follow the professional recommendations of designers in choosing colors and determining the balance between them. For example, it is recommended to use at the same time not more than 3 colors. At the same time, it is important to observe the proportion - the main color, or base, takes about 60%, additional - 30% and accent - 10%. The main color, as a rule, should prevail on the walls.

In small spaces, it is best to use light colors as the main color. Furniture in the interior can be the main or one of the additional colors. The accent color is the brightest and expressive, it is usually used in decor items and accessories. Enough in modern design often an accent color is used in one of the pieces of furniture, such as a colorful chair or sofa.

How to use the three color rule in small spaces

The use of white as the main color, pale blue as an additional color in the design of a children's room for a teenage girl

Living room design with bright yellow color accent

Turquoise accent in the design of a gray living room

How to choose the right colors to create a harmonious and stylish interior, the table will tell color matching.

Interiors showing harmony of colors

When it comes to designing a small space, besides choosing the right color palette, what matters is the use of certain design techniques that help to distract from small the size of the room and work to visually increase the space. The most common of these is using a rich color or pattern for one wall. This technique will help to add a feeling to the interior depths.

Interior accent wall - interesting ideas

Design options for an accent wall in the design of a children's room

choice of finishing materials and colors

Ideas for interior design of a cottage, designer's advice, choice of finishing materials for the home. Organization of convenient storage systems, choice of textiles and interior colors. How to create a comfortable lighting scheme, how to choose the right style for a cottage.

Author: Anastasia Gorbenko

An expert on expensive sofas. He will tell, select, plan the correct placement in the interior.

2021-12-30

Content:

Many people buy a private house built according to a standard project. At the same time, the interior may not meet the needs and tastes of the new owners. Features of the layout and modern finishing materials deprive the living space of individuality and charm. In this case, you can radically change the interior of your cottage with the help of designers' recommendations.

Get an additional discount on sofas and soft beds from OneAndHome!

Modern interior living room in a private house

Combined wall decoration will create a stylish and modern interior

Interesting ideas

You can recreate the cozy and soulful interior of a real Russian hut in an ordinary typical cottage. To do this, you can use wood for wall decoration, natural flooring and a neutral color palette.

Wooden wall decoration creates a cozy atmosphere in a private house

Often the cottage is a vacation spot for families with children. In the house, many seek to create an atmosphere of warmth, comfort, lightness and natural naturalness. The interior of a country house should be organically combined with the surrounding nature.

In the interior of the dining room, you can use a large table made of natural wood

For wall decoration, you can use wood, which is strongly associated with the Russian style. The staircase in the cottage can also be made of wood. A calm neutral range is recommended to be diluted with spectacular color accents. They will bring the necessary dynamics to the interior.

Wooden ceiling beams are an original interior solution for a private house

Finishing materials

Wood is ideal for interior decoration. This material creates a special atmosphere of a country house. The walls in all rooms can be painted with the condition of preserving the natural texture of wood.

The wooden ceiling is in perfect harmony with the stone accent wall in the interior. It can be supplemented with ceramic tiles in the wettest areas of the cottage. Tiles with bright ornaments will add original accents to the interior.

In the attic of a private house you can create a cozy guest bedroom

Fireplace in a private house can be decorated with brick or masonry

Organization of storage systems

One of the important elements of a country house are storage systems. To systematize the placement of various items in the hallway, hallway and utility rooms, you need to use spacious cabinets.

A wardrobe in the bedroom with mirrored doors will help visually expand the room

In a large cottage, you can make a separate room with additional dressers and drawers. It can be used as a guest room or for convenient storage.

Books and decor can be placed on open shelves

White full-wall cabinet blends harmoniously into the interior of the living room

3

3 Lighting scheme

To create a harmonious and cozy interior requires the use of several lighting scenarios. In each room, you can install a central chandelier that will give a soft and diffused light. It is ideally complemented by sconces and floor lamps, as well as built-in lamps for individual functional areas.

The original floor lamp in the form of a spotlight is a spectacular interior decor

Bright accent chandeliers can be placed in the kitchen-dining room and living room. They may differ in color and material from other interior elements.

A spectacular chandelier can be placed above the dining table

A small floor lamp can be placed near the sofa for reading books in the evenings

Color range

In the interior of the cottage, you can use a warm color palette of neutral shades. At the same time, you can add your own contrasting color to each room. It is he who will dictate the mood and dynamics of the interior.

Light colors will make the room visually larger and cozier. In the children's room, red details can be used as contrasts, and orange is perfect for the kitchen-dining room and living room.

We advise you to read: How to choose the right color for the bedroom interior

Gray kitchen set with smooth fronts is a modern solution for a private house

Gray kitchen set with smooth fronts is a modern solution for a private house

surfaces in the interior can be supplemented with bright details. Doorways can be used as an accent. Floor tiles in some places can also differ in color and create the desired accent.

Beige sofa goes well with the overall interior of the living room

Special offer for upholstered furniture and beds from OneAndHome for you!

Combination of white and beige in the interior of the kitchen-dining room

Textiles and decor

Textiles in a cottage should not carry an accent load. It is recommended to choose soft curtains made of natural cotton with lining.

An ornamental carpet can be used as decor in a classic living room

If you use a lot of bright details in the decoration of rooms, then you can not use a lot of decor. Motley tiles and bright doorways will already take all the attention. The use of contrasting textiles will only overload the interior of the cottage.

Bedspread and small pillows are ideal for bedroom decor

The interior can also be designed in the style of a hunting lodge. At the same time, it is recommended to create a fabulous atmosphere in the children's room and use more bright accents in the form of textiles and decor.

Paintings and curtains with patterns can be used as interior decor

The original kitchen island is an accent interior element

3 Choice of interior style

You can use modern eclecticism with hints of Scandinavian and Russian style to decorate the cottage. In this case, you can get a harmonious and cozy interior, helping to tune in to a measured rest outside the city.

Wooden furniture will help create a cozy interior that invites you to relax

Wall decoration made of logs creates the atmosphere of a Russian hut Cottage design tips

Before starting interior design, it is necessary to study the surrounding landscape, feel the atmosphere of a country house and a village. Building materials and architectural features of the cottage deserve special attention. Based on this, it is necessary to think over the basic concept of interior design. It is imperative to take into account the wishes of all family members and their interests.

Modern cottage interior in light beige

Around the fireplace, you can put a sofa and armchairs to create a cozy recreation area

Wooden supports look stylish in the interior of the White room

In a two -story building, various color accidents can be applied for each color accent. rooms according to its purpose.

The accent wall in the room can be highlighted in dark red

Dark brown kitchen set goes well with light finishes

Enrich the interior and give it a special flavor and personality will help the use of materials of different textures. You can combine ceramics and painted surfaces, natural wood and plastic products. This allows you to make the interior layered, give it depth and create a little intrigue.

Wicker chairs are perfect for a wooden table

The modern interior of the bathroom in a private house

Wall with brick masonry is perfectly combined with a wooden ceiling

You can create a creative approach, and you can create a some cottage.

Shades of gray create a stylish and modern bedroom interior

Under a dark brown bed, a nightstand with a metal base is

Golody's high bar chairs can be used as an interior accent

In the design catalogs, you will find the design catalogs and home. for decorating a cottage. At the showroom in Moscow, you can order a comfortable bed, a bright sofa for the living room and a functional storage cabinet. The company's specialists will help you create a stylish and harmonious interior in a private home.

The wall for the fireplace can be made accent and decorated with black

In a spacious living room in a private house, you can place several chairs, sofa and PUF

9000 9000

Distil black color perfectly matches the white interior of the dining room

Cozy atmosphere in the house: ideas and advice from professionals

Each bang imagines a cozy home in his own way, for someone it is a rigid framework of minimalism and impeccable order, someone likes lace napkins, trinkets dear to the heart. Designer repairs and trendy and expensive furniture sometimes create an unpleasant dissonance in the apartment, but everything can be corrected with the help of some interior elements. Let's try to "sort through" the basic things that create a homely atmosphere in the home.

  • Apartment
  • Design tips
  • Private house

What rooms are in a private house

Modern apartments are mostly rented without internal partitions so that the owners can plan the placement of the premises at their discretion, but we will talk about private households, where the number and functionality of rooms is developed at the construction planning stage. Country houses are more spacious and even with a standard set of premises they can satisfy the needs of a large family.

  • Private house

Hall interior design

Literally, holl is translated from English as a hall, and in an apartment or private house this room is more than just a hallway. The hall requires special design attention, because it often combines the functions of the entrance and staircase area, and with sufficient space and a living room.

  • Private house

Living room design in a private house

The living room in a house or apartment is the main room where all household members gather, receive guests and even conduct business negotiations, therefore its atmosphere depends on the correct design and placement of the situation in this room and comfort.

  • Living room
  • Design tips
  • Private house

Interior of a house made of timber

Life outside the city dictates its own rules and if you decide to move to a permanent place of residence in a private house, then let it be made of timber. In order not to turn the interior of the house into a medieval hut, it is important to take into account some factors of interior design and use the recommendations of professional designers.

  • Dacha
  • Design tips
  • Private house

Rustic style in the interior of a country house

Rustic style is very popular among Americans and Europeans, while in the Eastern European part of the mainland it is only gaining momentum. Rustic means unity with nature, rough village life and simplicity of forms. Designers have adapted the main features of the rustic style to modern needs, endowing it with comfort and aesthetics, combining the originality of the direction and innovative items of modern life.


Learn more