Best Paint Colors
The Best Paint Colors For Small Spaces
Published on November 3, 2020
When a reader has a design question for us, we’re quick to come up with a solution! So, when someone asked for our advice about the best small space paint colors, we couldn’t say no. One of the biggest myths about decorating compact quarters is you can’t use bold or dark colors. We’re here to prove why that’s not true. From Kelly green to cherry red and smoky lilac, we rounded up the best paint colors for petite pads plucked straight from our small spaces issues!
Kelly Green
Make a memorable first impression with a bold Kelly green lacquered door, which brightens up a small Toronto home’s neutral main floor.
Get the look: Grassy Fields (2034-30) by Benjamin Moore
Blush Pink
A pale pink wall reads as a neutral in this fashionable bedroom inspired by the sherbet-like colors of the Caribbean. Amp it up with a blue mohair headboard and mint vanity.
Get the look: First Light (2102-70) by Benjamin Moore
Gray-Green
This small kitchen gets an on-trend makeover (for less than $600, we might add) with a coat of muted green paint. Green kitchens are all the rage right now, and it’s an easy way to give your cabinetry new life!
Get the look: Cool Current (6199-42) by Sico
Black
Designer Cynthia Ferguson will have no trouble falling asleep in her memorable bedroom. Black walls highlight her home’s beautiful architectural detailing, while patterned drapery, headboard fabric and wallpaper on the ceiling add whimsy.
Get the look: Black (HC-190) by Benjamin Moore
Cherry Red
This bold entryway may only be three by three feet, but that didn’t stop Cynthia from taking the plunge with color. A front door is a great place to take daring design risks!
Get the look: Lyons Red (CC-68) by Benjamin Moore
Dusty Rose
H&H‘s Tess Ciarloni created a DIY statement headboard to give her bedroom the focal point it deserved in her 350-square-foot condo. “Sulking Room Pink was the right mix of rich, muted and dusty, and I absolutely love how the color came out,” she says.
Get the look: Sulking Room Pink (295) by Farrow & Ball
Sunshine Yellow
A custom barn door designed by 1925 Workbench is like a burst of sunshine in this compact mudroom.
Get the look: Lemon Glow (2025-80) by Benjamin Moore
Smoky Gray
A smoky lilac-gray hue gives this petite bathroom serious style points and ties in the mosaic tiles beautifully.
Get the look: Smoky Lilac (PPU26-20) by Behr
Spiced Orange
DIY expert Alexandra Gater created a scalloped wall using a warm pumpkin spiced hue for a fun architecture-inspired detail.
Get the look: Maple Glaze (PPU3-16) by Behr
Navy
To keep this light-filled living room from feeling crowded, designer Erika Floysvik painted one wall a rich navy, which blends seamlessly with the black-framed windows.
Get the look: Hague Blue (30) by Farrow & Ball
Light Blue
“It’s watery, serene and relaxing,” says homeowner Robert Tanz of his monochromatic blue bedroom. This soft shade turns a small bedroom into a sleep sanctuary when used on the walls, bedding and upholstery.
Get the look: Skylight (205) by Farrow & Ball
Terracotta
Designer Sabrina Albanese embraced the color of her front door (which was painted orange by the builder) by adding a whimsical floral rug and colorful Herman Miller coat racks.
Get the look: Before Winter (M190-6) by Behr
Millennial Pink
Designer Autumn Hachey’s former basement apartment got a dose of playfulness with pink paint above the subway tile backsplash. It makes the open shelving really pop!
Get the look: Fruit Salad (M200-2) by Behr
Moss Green
In designer Valérie Morisset’s compact bedroom, less is more. With a muted moss hue on the walls, she kept the rest of the look simple with neutral linens, delicate drapes and meaningful mementos hanging above the bed.
Get the look: Green Smoke (47) by Farrow & Ball
Crisp White
In this personality-packed living room, an all-white envelope feels anything but boring thanks to a gilt coffee table, tufted L-shaped sofa and statement accessories like the Juju hat and blush pillows.
Get the look: Chantilly Lace (OC-65) by Benjamin Moore
Parchment
There is something about parchment-colored walls that make a small space feel like a grand home, especially when paired with abstract artwork, touches of warm wood and antique furniture.
Get the look: Archive (227) by Farrow & Ball