Paint is every designer’s version of a magic trick. Beyond adding aesthetic appeal to a room, the right paint hue can trick the eye in numerous ways, making your home appear taller, larger, more cozy, and even more architecturally interesting than it really is. But if you pull the wrong trick out of the proverbial magician’s hat? Well, you also run the risk of your paint pick having the exact opposite effect, making your home appear smaller or claustrophobic.
It’s not just about choosing the wrong paint shade, either. According to the pros we talked to, there are several mistakes you can make while painting your home that can make it look smaller, from accent walls to too-bold trim. “The key is to be intentional with your paint choices, whether it’s the color, sheen, or how the ceiling ties in,” says designer Becky Shea. “Every detail can affect the perception of space, so you want to ensure it all works together to create a room that feels open, balanced, and welcoming.”
Below, take note of these five common paint mistakes you should avoid if you want your home to feel nice and spacious.
You Forget About The Ceiling
Though many designers refer to it as “the fifth wall,” the ceiling can be an oft-forgotten, and under-estimated component to painting a room. Not considering it in your overall scheme can make your room feel incomplete, but more than that, it can actually shrink the overall feel of your space. “One common mistake that can make a room feel smaller is painting the walls a dark color without considering the ceiling,” says Shea. “If you opt for dark walls but leave the ceiling white or a starkly contrasting color, it can create a visual disconnect that cuts the space and makes it feel more confined.” Instead, Shea recommends either painting the ceiling in the same tone as the walls or using a lighter version of the hue. “This helps blend the space seamlessly and gives the room a more cohesive, expansive feel,” she adds.
You Paint a Single Statement Wall
Statement walls were all the rage several years ago, but these days, designers recommend forgoing them, thanks to their propensity to age your home and make it feel smaller. “While accent walls can add interest, they can also break up the flow of a space, drawing attention to the size of the room rather than creating a seamless look,” says designer Nicole Roe, founder of R. Nickson Interiors. “By only painting one wall, you create a visual ‘stop,’ which can make the room feel more closed in. Instead, consider color drenching, where you paint all the walls, trim, and even the ceiling in a single shade, allowing the space to feel more expansive and cohesive.”
You Choose The Wrong Paint Sheen
The sheen of a paint can have an unexpectedly large impact on how it appears in a room, morphing everything from the exact color to how much light is reflected throughout the room. “A paint mistake I often see is using a high-gloss sheen in small, intimate spaces where you want the room to feel cozy or inviting,” says Shea. “While high-gloss can add drama and reflect light in the right setting, in smaller rooms, it can create an overly reflective, harsh environment—almost making the space feel like a cave.” For rooms where you want a warmer, more enveloping feel, Shea recommends opting for a matte or eggshell finish, which absorbs light in a way that softens the room.
You Give Too Much Prominence to Molding
Rooms that boast architectural accents, like molding or trim, can be especially tricky to navigate with paint. If you call too much attention to them—especially in rooms that are already small in stature—you could end up giving your room a fenced-in feel. “Painting prominent crown molding a different color than the walls can actually make the walls appear shorter than they are,” says designer Linette Dai. “What you want to do instead is paint the crown moldings the same color as the walls in a different sheen, which will draw your eye up and create the appearance of added height.”
You Choose a Moody Color—When You Actually Want the Opposite
Moody hues can be a great way to lean into the petite size of a room. By going intentionally cozy and cave-like, you can play with the proportions of a room and make them work in your favor. But if that’s not actually the look you’re going for, then choosing a dark paint shade may not be the best move. “Dark colors, like navy or charcoal, have been trending for a moodier vibe, but in small rooms, they can suck up all the light and make it feel cramped,” says designer Shaolin Low of Studio Shaolin. “If you love dark shades, try using them with lighter furniture and accessories to keep the space feeling open and bright.
You Add Too Much Contrast
When it comes to deciding on a paint hue for a small room, most pros agree that the less in-your-face contrast you have, the better. The reason? It’s all about allowing the eye to glide across the space, rather than giving it too many things to focus on at once. “Painting the walls a dark color, like navy, with stark white trim and a white ceiling can create jolting points that visually shrink the room,” says Roe.
“While painting your trim a different color from your walls can make a bold statement, in a small space it can reinforce those petite proportions,” adds designer Madelaine Mayer of AD Riot. “Instead, highlight classical details with a paint color one to two shades lighter and one to two sheens shinier—think semi-gloss instead of eggshell. This will create depth without difference and add a little extra brightness and sparkle throughout the space.”