Designers Share the Best Paint Colors to Make Any Room Feel Bigger

There’s an art to small space living. I’ve lived in some tiny apartments, and there are so many tips and tricks for keeping the space from feeling cramped. Perhaps decluttering and small space furniture come to mind first, but there’s one trick that is often overlooked. Did you know there are certain paint colors that make a room look bigger?

The right paint shade has the power to open up, brighten, and completely redefine a room—especially if you’re working with a smaller footprint. Whether you’re trying to make a cozy living room feel expansive or give a narrow hallway a more open feel, the perfect color can create the illusion of space. Here, designers share the best paint colors that make a room look bigger, plus their expert styling tips for keeping your space cozy and bright.

image above from our interview with Clare V, by Michelle Nash

Soft White

All of the designers I chatted with agree—lighter paint colors are best for making your room appear open and spacious. An easy option to start with? A soft white. “Sherwin Williams Alabaster is my go-to white,” Kelly Neely of Kelly Neely Interiors shares. “It’s a creamy white without a yellow undertone.”

Cool tones have been on the outs for a while now, and a warm white will keep your space cozy and inviting. Using paint to make your space bigger also goes beyond just painting the wall. “Pro tip is to paint walls, trim and ceiling the same color,” Neely suggests. “ It will help draw the eye up without a harsh stopping point at the crown or ceiling.” 

Creamy Beige

If white works well for small space, creamy beiges are also naturally some of the best paint colors that make a room look bigger. “Soft, warm tones tend to reflect natural light and create an open, airy feel,” says Julie Mays of Julie Mays Interiors. “Go for light-colored neutrals like Benjamin Moore OC-19 Seapearl or Sherwin Williams SW 7012 Creamy.”  

Choosing a finish can be tricky, depending on the room you’re painting and the look you’re going for. If you want your space to look larger, Mays has a suggestion. “Paint light colors in different finishes, like a flat finish on the ceiling, gloss or semi-gloss on baseboards and crown molding, and matte on walls,” she recommends. 

Greige

Cool grey is on the outs as warmer tones have made a big comeback, but those who still want a bit of grey in their life have greige—a mix of grey and beige. Designers are even on board, and the neutral is a great choice for making your room appear larger. 

“I would say first and foremost, lighter and more reflective colors tend to be the best options when trying to visually expand a room,” Luke Siegel, CEO & Founder of Raydoor says. “I find soft whites, pale grays, and even warm beiges can really help bounce natural light around a space which helps create a more airy and open feel.” Siegel’s favorite greige? “Farrow & Ball’s Ammonite,” he says. 

Seigel also agrees with Neely as far as painting your entire room one color. “I typically recommend using one continuous color across all walls, trim, and doors,” he muses. “I find this eliminates visual breaks and helps make a space feel seamless.”

Pale Blues and Greens

If you think all the best paint colors that make a room look bigger are neutrals, think again. Color can also give the sense of spaciousness, specifically soft blues and greens. “When designing sliding wall systems, we will also often use soft blues and pale greens to help create a sense of depth but also keeping a fresh and inviting aesthetic,” Seigel says.

Alexandra Peck of Alexandra Peck Designs remarks that sage is one of her go-to paint colors. “This lovely earth tone is warm and rich in depth, but has an ethereal & light quality to it that’s excellent to employ when wanting to make a space feel larger,” Peck says. “I recommend pairing it with cream, tan, and pale blues to create a bright, inviting space.”

Soft Pinks

Small spaces can have limited square footage, but they can also have low ceilings. Luckily, there’s a paint solution to help.  “A fantastic tip I have learned over the years is painting the ceiling a slightly lighter shade than the wall to create an illusion of a higher ceiling,” Seigel shares. 

This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to stick with similar shades either. If you want a bit of color to go with your bright whites, Michael Kramer, Lead Interior Designer & Co-Creative Director at Little Gem Resorts paired rosy mauve cabinets with a white ceiling to create depth in a cozy kitchen with low ceilings.  

“We chose to do the cabinets in Farrow & Ball Sulking Room Pink and keep the ceilings white,” Kramer says. “By adding vertical lines to the cabinet doors and laying out the cabinets so there are tall cabinets on all four corners, we were able to trick the eye and make the ceilings appear larger and still do a fabulous color.” 

If you’d like to create a more spacious feel in your home, choosing the right paint color is the perfect place to start. Whether you opt for a crisp white, a soothing sage, or a warm neutral, embracing these expert tips will help you maximize your home’s potential and create an environment that feels both expansive and effortlessly stylish. And spring is the perfect time for a little refresh, don’t you think?