Skip to Content

These Paint Colors Will Make Any Small Space Feel Way Bigger

From classics to wild cards.

By
preview for 4 Need-to-Know Tips for Decorating a Small Space

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

If you're lacking a ton of square footage, you probably feel like you need to pull out every trick in the book to make your room appear larger. But the simplest solution might be in the swatch book: Paint. It's no secret a new paint job can do wonders for a space, and that's true with making it appear larger as well. And while we definitely have some clever maximizing tips to help you to do so ahead, the truth is that there really is no one-size-fits-all solution—it's more about finding the right paint color for your style (and the light you get!) and then choosing a strategic layout. Since the experts know best, we rounded up some of our favorite designer spaces that showcase great paint color ideas for smaller homes and rooms, no matter how neutral or vibrant you lean. You will quickly learn that while white is the obvious choice, it isn't the only option. From bold and dark to light and bright, these are the best colors for every room in a small house, from a cramped hallway to a tiny living room, or bedroom. Grab your brushes and get ready!

🏡Love finding new design tricks. So do we. Let us share the best of them.

1

Navy

navy blue small bathroom
Heidi Caillier Design

Navy blue paint adds personality to this small bathroom. Heidi Caillier Design used the same color for the custom vanity base and the walls for a camouflaged look, but keeping the top section of the walls cream prevents the space from getting swallowed up by the darker tones.

BUY NOW Clare Goodnight Moon, $59

2

Olive Green

green, room, interior design, furniture, living room, property, building, house, home, ceiling,
Lisa Romerein

When used in an allover treatment like Benjamin Dhong did here, an earthy tone sets a soothing backdrop.

BUY NOW Backdrop Saged, $45

3

Crisp White

bedroom with white walls
JOSHUA McHUGH

Let's start with a crowd favorite before we move into more obscure territory. There's a reason white is so popular: It reflects light and makes the walls recede, which helps make a small space seems larger. While whites can have undertones of blue, pink, or even green, this bedroom by Raji RM features white in its purest form without any color. It's not stark or cold, just light and airy.

BUY NOW Beyond Paint Bright White, $129

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4

Teal

small blue bathroom with paneling
Eric Piasecki

Since it's got many undertones, a rich teal like this will enliven a small space—and can even hold up to a patterned wallpaper, like Robin Henry chose for this powder room.

SHOP NOW Farrow & Ball Hague Blue, $115

5

Chocolate Brown

design fiona lynch
paint rich biscuit, dulux
Amelia Stanwix

In this modern bedroom by Fiona Lynch, an unexpected shade on the brown results in sculptural shadow play.

BUY NOW Graham & Brown Hanami, $90

6

Purple

purple hallway paint
Ngoc Minh Ngo

Wild, loud colors, like purple, might actually be better in small spaces. Could you imagine how in-your-face this shade would be all over a giant living room? By limiting it to an entryway, you still get a pop of color without overwhelming your house.

BUY NOW Sherwin-Williams Opulant Purple, $4

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Pearl Gray

light gray living room
Nicole Franzen

Gray can be dull, so choose one that has some luminosity to it. The color fluctuates with the shadows and time of day, so it's always intriguing and looks more sophisticated and unique than a simple white backdrop.

BUY NOW PPG Diamond Silver Blue Pearl, $115

8

Sage

small space with green paint
Heidi Caillier Design

Choose a neutral with mossy green undertones in a small space that gets plenty of natural light. In this walk-in closet/pantry-turned home office, Heidi Caillier paired the sage paint color with a floral motif pattern to complement the greenery outside and make it feel like a natural extension of the view beyond.

BUY NOW Glidden Essentials Soft Sage, $16

9

Pastel Yellow

light yellow kitchen
Amy Neunsinger

Nickey Kehoe opted for a cream and pale yellow color scheme to lean into the warmth of the wood counters and terracotta floor tiles in this small pool house kitchen.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Dayroom Yellow, $125

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10

Greige

small bedroom paint colors
James Merrell

Neutral never goes out of style. This is for everyone who doesn't want basic white but isn't ready to incorporate bold color into their space.
BUY NOW Behr Coastal Beige, $28

11

Soft White

shawn henderson's greenwich village apartment
Stephen Kent Johnson

Shawn Henderson unified the two surface textures in this bedroom by painting them the same shade of soft white, which sets a perfect backdrop for the neutral accents.

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore White Dove, $21

12

Mink Brown

mink brown walls
STEPHEN KENT JOHNSON

This medium-toned shade of gray-brown in a home designed by Mally Skok is surprisingly calming, versatile, and sophisticated. Bright blue and red fabrics and gold accents brighten it up without interfering with the peaceful mood.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back, $125

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Mint Green

small mint green kitchen
Julian Wass

This misty green in a kitchen by Gary McBournie feels beachy, but it's also classic. Neutral décor, like a sisal rug and fresh marble counters, strikes the balance between casual and formal in an open kitchen, too. That contrast is the key to making a tiny space feel dynamic.

BUY NOW Clare Two Scoops, $54

14

Khaki

living room with taupe walls
Paul Raeside

Designer Garrow Kedigian defines a neutral as "anything that isn't jarring," which is a super helpful way to reframe things if cream, white, or gray simply isn't cutting it in your living room and you can't figure out why. Certain spaces just call for something outside the box, whether it's because of an architectural style, light exposures, or existing furniture. Here, the walls are painted Benjamin Moore's Rattan.

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Rattan, $50

15

Dark Green

small space with green painted walls
Nicole Hollis Studio

Remember when we said there were no hard and fast rules for small house paint colors? Here's proof. Deep, dark green sets the scene in this modestly sized dining nook designed by Nicole Hollis Studio.

BUY NOW Sherwin Williams Rainforest Canopy, $4

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
16

Soft Blonde

small bedroom with cream painted walls
Robert McKinley Studio

A soft blonde or golden color will add warmth to any small space. Pair it with nature-inspired, minimalist decor and eye-catching artwork, as Robert McKinley did in this bedroom.

BUY NOW Glidden Light Autumn Brown, $25

17

Glossy Black

black bathroom
AMY NEUNSINGER

Glossy black paint turns this small Mark Sikes and Michael Griffin-designed bathroom into a glamorous jewel box. Reflective paint and mirrored walls bounce light, too.

BUY NOW Sherwin-Williams High-Gloss Black, $20

18

Sky Blue

small space paint colors
Robert McKinley Studio

Nothing soothes in a room like a dreamy sky blue tone. This soft shade of blue helps your space feel a bit more expansive and peaceful, no matter the size. Robert McKinley only applied it to half the walls, as to not overwhelm the space.

BUY NOW Behr Ethereal Mood, $44

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

Electric Red

hallway colors
JANET MESIC MACKIE

A hallway reading nook nestled into the window is brought to life with fire engine red paint. The plaid cushions and carpet complement it beautifully.

BUY NOW Backdrop Negroni, $45

20

Medium Gray

small bedroom with gray walls
AMY NEUNSINGER

Play up the cozy factor of a tiny room with a rich gray tone. This shade in a small bedroom by Commune Design, with its hint of greens, creates intimacy (with an edge) in the small bedroom.

BUY NOW Backdrop Italian Plaster, $45

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Small Spaces

tiny houses on amazon

15 Prefab Tiny Homes You Can Order on Amazon

coffee table in a living room

10 Coffee Tables With Stools You Can Order Online

sofa bed in living room

Stylish Small Sleeper Sofas Your Guests Will Love

exterior of shames residence doorway, interior design by tom callaway looking over fountain to iron doorway

45 Tricks for Maximizing a Small Patio

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below