May 7, 2021
12 Paint Colors That Make A Room Look Smaller
This article is dedicated to discussing the best paint colors that can make your space look smaller and cozier. I have personally handpicked 10 Best Sherwin Williams Paint Colors that can ultimately make your space feel warm and small. So, is your bedroom so huge that it somehow always feels colder and uncomfortable? Maybe you’re done with furnishing and even the humongous pieces of furniture don’t do justice to your space. Well, I know that you are craving for a cozy and cohesive space and this is when DARK and WARMER paint colors come into use! Yes, paint colors have a major role to play when it comes to making your room look smaller and more intimate!
But how is that possible? Well, DARK paint colors make your walls seem to come closer while giving a bold and daring backdrop! If you paint a dark paint color on the walls, all the corners seem to come together and create an illusion of the size becoming smaller than it actually is! Let’s discuss how to make your room look smaller using paint colors…
How To Make a Room Look Smaller Using Paint Colors?
Darker Colors: Paint Colors That Make a Space Feel Smaller
Did you check out my latest post about Light Reflectance Values? If you didn’t, I would recommend you read that HERE! So, basically, Light Reflectance Values or LRVs are what help determine the darkness or lightness of the paint color. The lower the value, the darker the paint color is!
And since the paint colors with low LRVs absorb most of the light received, they tend to look darker! If you have amazingly huge areas, I recommend painting all the walls, trims, and ceilings in a darker color, so the space looks smaller! Or else, just simply paint the focal wall in a dark paint color and your space will automatically look cozier and smaller!
- Beige, Greige, Taupe, and Tan colors add a cozy factor
- Avoid undertones such as blue, green, and purple
- Avoid light grays and prefer medium-toned warm grays and beiges
- Even blue-green colors are good to go
- Bold and Moody Green-Gray, Blue-Gray, Charcoal Gray, and Black can add a touch of accent
Warmer Colors: Help in Making the Room look Smaller
Warmer colors too have proved to add a touch of coziness and comfort to a space. Warmer colors are all those with red, orange, pink, beige, cream, or yellow undertones. So, if you blend the darker paint colors with warmer tones – you give your walls a double mix of coziness and comfort. Let’s see the best dark and warm paint colors you could choose to make your space feel smaller. Consider paint colors with LRV lower than 25 (in the case of darker colors)! If choosing a monochromatic scheme or painting all the walls in a darker shade, choose paint colors with LRV between 35 to 62!
- Warmer hues such as red and burnt orange work tremendously well
- Dark Warm whites with yellow, red, beige, and orange undertones work well
12 Sherwin Williams Paint Colors That Make A Space Look Smaller
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Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige is a neutral beige paint color with a touch of ‘gray’ undertone. It isn’t an overly warm beige paint color – hence, it can ultimately offer a classic and timeless appeal. Well, it’s also not a ‘traditional’ beige color and can work beautifully in modern and contemporary backdrops. With an LRV of 58 – you can even choose to paint all the walls, interior doors, and trims in this color for a seamless appeal.
So, if you’re looking to invite a touch of warmth and coziness – this color should definitely be on the top of your list!
Check out my FULL Paint Color Review Here – Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige!
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Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray is one of the best-selling paint colors by Sherwin Williams. This classic greige paint color is neither too warm nor too cool – hence, it can also make your awkwardly-sized spaces feel cozy and warm. Agreeable Gray is definitely less warm than Accessible Beige! With an LRV of 60, this color will equally make the room feel smaller and yet not so intimidating.
Pair this beautiful greige paint color with Pure White on the trims, moldings, and ceilings for a timeless appeal. This color will definitely bring the walls closer together!
Check out my FULL Paint Color Review Here – Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray!
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Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan
@Allard + Roberts Interior Design, Inc
Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan is a darker off-white paint color with a notable yellow and khaki undertone. This warm and cozy paint color will work phenomenally with the dark hardwood finishes and flooring – thus, further making your space cozy and confined. This color is more likely to feel ‘traditional’ and you must allow ample incoming natural light so the wall color doesn’t appear dull and dingy.
With an LRV of 64 – you must paint all the walls of your room in this specific color. Moreover, this warmer-toned hue can work beautifully in north and east-facing rooms as well!
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Sherwin Williams Egret White
Sherwin Williams Egret White is a beautiful warm, off-white paint color with a deep stone gray undertone. This is definitely not a very warm paint color but can equally make your space feel calm and cozy. Especially for a smaller bedroom size, this medium-toned, off-white paint color will not create a suffocating and congested look.
With an LRV of 70, this darker off-white color can create a visual contrast with Pure White on the trims, moldings, and ceilings. So, if you’re truly fond of the whites to make your space look smaller and cozier, SW Egret White is something to have an eye on!
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Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray
Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray is a slightly cooler-toned greige paint color that has a considerable amount of warmth as well. This is a medium to darker-toned color that can immediately intimidate a space and make it feel much smaller and cozier. Especially if you have an awkwardly shaped large basement space or a room – this color will help pull the walls inwards. However, I would recommend that you allow considerable incoming natural light at all times.
SW Mindful Gray has an LRV of only 48 – hence, quite a dark and bold paint color. You can even choose to use the color as an accent and further choose off-whites for cabinets, etc.
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Sherwin Williams Shoji White
Sherwin Williams Shoji White is a soft, warm white color that can readily make your space look cozier and smaller. With an LRV of 74, this color is light, airy, and it can pull the walls together. This creamy white color almost borders on greige and may or may not showcase a ‘yellow’ undertone. Pair it with SW Pure White on the trims and ceiling for the best results!
So, if you have a smaller space and are looking for a cozy vibe – Sherwin Williams Shoji White will definitely play a wonderful role. Also, this off-white color is quite versatile and can blend with any interior design style and color palette.
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Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze is a warm brownish-gray, earthy, and organic paint color that can make your space appear smaller. You can choose to paint all the walls, trims, and interior doors in this color for the utmost dramatic and moody appeal. Else, you can even choose to add an accent wall in SW Urbane Bronze and make the space feel cozy!
With an LRV of only 8, Urbane Bronze can also work for any transitional and modern setup. So, if you’re looking for a warm and dark, moody paint color – this is definitely something to have an eye on!
Check out my FULL Paint Color Review Here – Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze!
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Sherwin Williams Dovetail
Sherwin Williams Dovetail is a warm and soothing, dark greige paint color that can exhibit a rich and sophisticated vibe. Well, this is definitely one of the best paint colors that make a space feel smaller – especially when used as an accent. Whether it’s the bathroom vanity or kitchen cabinets – SW Dovetail can truly make a beautiful statement.
This color can be quite intimidating so I’d recommend choosing it for a space that may be well-lit or has ample incoming natural light. It has an LRV of 26 – hence, falling on the medium to the darker end of the scale.
Check out my FULL Paint Color Review Here – Sherwin Williams Dovetail!
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Sherwin Williams Dried Thyme
Sherwin Williams Dried Thyme is a bold green-gray paint color that can exhibit a refreshing vibe indoors. With just the slightest touch of warmth, this sage green paint color can make a perfect statement on the accent wall as well as the cabinets without looking cold or crisp. Hence, a great way to make a space feel cozy and confined! SW Dried Thyme has an LRV of 21 and can make a moody statement as well!
Also, if you’re looking to make a space feel smaller – Dried Thyme can be used as an accent or even a base to achieve a desired look.
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Sherwin Williams Mount Etna
Sherwin Williams Mount Etna is a beautiful, bold, and moody blue-green paint color with notable slate gray undertones. This color definitely feels cool but can readily make your space look cozier, energetic, and confined. So, you can definitely add an accent wall in SW Mount Etna and make your room look smaller again! And since it only has an LRV of 6 – you can achieve the best of both worlds.
In particular, this color can look flawless on the fireplace wall, accent cabinets, and bathroom vanity or built-in shelves. Also, this color looks flawless with walnut or white oak finishes and tan furniture to go!
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Sherwin Williams Redend Point
@Sustainable Nine Design + Build
Sherwin Williams Redend Point is a reddish-brown paint color that can exhibit the utmost warmth and earthiness. This blush paint color can be used to make any space feel smaller and cozier. Whether it’s the bedroom or the bathroom – Sherwin Williams Redend Point is a beautiful, feminine paint color that can also invite an organic vibe indoors.
With an LRV of 30 – this is a medium-toned paint color – hence, not too light nor too dark! Moreover, it’s such a pretty warm-toned hue that it will immediately make a space feel cozy and earthy!
Check out my FULL Paint Color Review Here – Sherwin Williams Redend Point!
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Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige
Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige is a warm and neutral beige paint color with a dominant orange undertone. This warm neutral will readily make your space feel warm, cozy, and confined. With an LRV of 57 – this color falls on the medium end of the scale. So, don’t mind painting all the walls of your room in SW Kilim Beige.
Furthermore, pair this color with SW Pure White on the trims, moldings, and ceilings. This color will also work well with red oak flooring and traditional-style homes.
Final Word – Paint Colors That Make a Room Look Smaller
Another tip and trick to make your room look smaller is to use many colors in your room! Basically, have a neutral, a base, and several other accents that will create an overwhelming experience! Sometimes, you also need to consider the interior décor elements and decorative accents to make your space look smaller!
So, are you excited to play with darker paints this time? Don’t be scared – just follow the basic principles and undertones and you should be GOOD! Analyzing the size and scale is important too – so make sure that you’re not suffocating yourselves and your rooms! Let me know your experiences in the comments below or have a look at my interior decoration and color consulting packages so we can get one-on-one and discuss how to make your space look smaller and intimate!
Benjamin Moore Best Paint Color List E-Design Paint Color Consultation Sherwin Williams
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