How to Paint a Small Living Room

Create the illusion of more space in a living room with paint colors.

Choosing the right living room color could be the most important decision you make in your home. The wrong color can make a small living room feel dark and cramped, while the right one can make it feel spacious. Select living room colors you are comfortable with and reflect your personality. For example, if you are a bit conservative, opt for neutral shades. Think of the mood you want the living room to have. Certain colors can evoke specific feelings. Many decorating tricks exist that can make a living room look larger.

Things You'll Need

• Interior latex paints
• Paint brush or rollers

Instructions

1. Paint the walls white or off white. White still is a popular color for a small living room because it makes the room appear larger and brighter than it actually is.

2. Select an earth tone if you want a conservative look. Paint the walls one color to create a unified look. Opt for light-colored, earthy shades such as light browns, tan, taupe and light gold.

3. Select blue hues to create a calm living room. Use medium blue for the walls, deep blue for the trim and light blue for the ceiling. This combination of blues will make the walls appear larger and taller. If you prefer other colors, you can get the same effect using other shades such as purple, grey, green and red.

4. Use accent colors on the walls closest to the windows to create the illusion of space. Paint an accent wall with bronze, mustard yellow, soft red or bronze for a sense of drama in a neutral-colored room.

5. Give the room an illusion of depth by painting the wall opposite the exit a rich, deep shade of color. Use a light color on the rest of the walls and on the ceiling.

Tips & Warnings

• Use accessories with a lot of color if you have painted the room white so it doesn't look sterile and boring. Using accessories that are silver, metallic or gold add elegance to the space.

References

• GharExpert: Living Room Color Schemes