Enlarge a Room with Color

Part I: Choosing Colors
We’ve all dreamed of a bigger bedroom or perhaps a larger living room or den. Adding extra space isn’t always a reality. However, creating the illusion of a larger
room is.

A clever application of the right paint colors can easily and inexpensively make a room look and feel larger – all without changing a single foot of floor space. Best of all, even a novice can paint a room in just one weekend.

So how do you get started? We know it can get overwhelming to do it on your own - especially if you want to use visual wizardry to increase your space. Don't worry. Below are all the tips, tools and advice you need to help you enlarge a room with color and paint like a pro.

Choosing a Color in a “Word”
What Decorators Know About Color
Saturation Without Distraction
Monochromatic Colors - Take the Tint
Warm and Cool Colors - Lighter is Usually Larger
More Tricks - Dark and Light
Bringing Your Ideas Home

Choosing a Color in a “Word”

Choosing your paint color is the most fun and creative part of your painting project, but it can also be the most confusing. Do what decorators do - choose a “word ” to describe your favorite style, like “seaside”, “sunny” or “peaceful,” and come up with colors to match. Then use the Color Inspirations Color Selection Tool on TrueValuePaint.com to see how your color choices look in different rooms.

Visit the paint department of your local store to find Idea Cards with the latest colors and palettes. Full-color brochures also provide inspiration, and even include removable Paint Chips to help you visualize potential choices in your own home. Experiment with different color combinations -- even ones you've never considered - by sticking them on different walls to see how they look at different times of the day.

Remember, our Certified Color Experts are available to offer professional color advice, expert tips, and answers to all of your questions. He or she will also recommend the tools you need to do a quality job, as well as the True Value EasyCare® paint that best suits your project needs.

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What Decorators Know About Color

Decorators know that the way we perceive color is very personal and emotionally charged. Depending on our experiences and culture, colors can make us feel calm or energized, happy or sad, edgy or relaxed. They can affect the mood of a room as well, making it seem open and airy or small and cozy.

Here are some basic color terms you may hear during your decision process: Hue is another name for color. When you add white, you get a tint. Add black, you get a shade. How intense is the color? That's saturation.

Saturation Without Distraction

If you want to use several colors in your room, it will appear larger if you choose hues of the same saturation (intensity), no matter if they're pale or bright. To determine similar intensity, look for colors similarly positioned on their individual color swatch strips. This creates the illusion of space because similar levels of saturation seem to flatten out, with no distracting focal points to spoil the effect.

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Monochromatic Colors - Take the Tint

Another effective space-creating choice is a monochromatic color scheme, which uses different tints and shades of one color family, like light, medium and dark blue. To heighten the effect, paint trim and doors to match the walls, and add matching tone-on-tone fabrics and textures to your furnishings.

Warm and Cool Colors - Lighter is Usually Larger

Warm colors, like red, orange and yellow, are the colors of sunshine and fire. These hues advance (come forward) so walls feel closer and rooms feel smaller. A better choice is to use cool colors, like the blue, green and violet of water and ice. These colors seem to recede or move away, making rooms seem larger and more open. However, if you have your heart set on a yellow (warm colored) room, select a washed out tint.

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More Tricks - Dark and Light

Small, square rooms look larger if you paint two opposite walls the same color, especially one that's deep and dark. Why? The intensity of color will create depth in the room and visually open up its dimensions. And remember, every room will look larger if it's brightly lit (even artificial light does the trick).