Paint and Room Perception

The way a room is painted has an enormous effect on the way a person perceives it. We don’t just mean visually either. Room color can change the size and emotional appeal of a room. No, paint won’t magically stretch the walls and give you high ceilings, but it can make a small room seem more spacious. Here are three different effects that paint has on room perception.

Mood

The way a room looks is probably at the top of the list of most people’s remodel projects. However, paint doesn’t just change the color on the walls; it also changes how a person feels inside a room. When you step inside a room, your brain and emotions automatically spur different reactions. This isn’t an opinion either, a lot of research has been done and scientific studies conducted on the effects of color psychology. When planning your next room remodel, think about the vibe you want the room to express. If the room is going to be a place to relax in, try using lighter colors. If the room will be a place for critical thinking, try using colors that encourage energy and creativity.

Enlarge a Space

A magician does a great job at making something regular appear as if it is something else—a master of illusion. If you use the right techniques, you too can take on the role of illusionist and completely change the perception of a room with something as simple as a bucket of paint. The paint color in a room can make the room appear larger, wider, smaller, longer; you name it! If you have a small room and want it to appear larger, try painting the walls a light color. Also, paint the ceiling a semi-white gloss and try to let in as much light as possible. All of these tips combined will allow the room to feel more spacious. The light coming in will bounce off the light-colored walls, and the white ceiling will appear higher than it really is. If you only want the space to look wider, try painting the ceiling and one wall the same color. This will highlight the space to the wall and ceiling and help it feel wider.

Shrink a Room

Believe it or not, there are instances when making a room feel smaller makes more sense. For example, let’s say there is a living room in your home that you don’t know what to do with. Instead of just constantly throwing clutter at it until it looks full, there are ways to set the room up so that it feels cozy instead of cluttered. Painting an accent wall directly across from the entrance of the room can make the room feel shorter. Another technique to use is applying dark colors on the walls and matching them to the furniture and design of the room. This allows the walls to appear closer to the furniture than they really are and brings the focus of the room to the center. Remember, comfortable and cozy rooms look much better than spacious rooms with random furniture and items thrown in there to fill space.

The paint color of a room can completely change the experience a person has with the room. However, not everyone feels comfortable or confident doing these projects themselves, even with the countless DIY videos available on the internet. If you want help on getting your project started, reach out to us! We have color consultants that have experience with projects of all kinds, and they would be happy to assist you with your home project.