The Only Color You Should Ever Use in a Small Space (2024)

"This is a small space off the family room that we set up for the kids to do their homework. Yellow is not a color I use much, but this is a gentle yellow, more like straw. It's fun for the kids but it doesn't look juvenile. Shelves show off their artwork, and we covered a bulletin board in bright fabric. When the mirrored doors are open, it's chic and surprising." —Suzanne KaslerMore: The Paint Makeover That Can Make You Look Younger

"This rich Oriental red works wonderfully in an entry that you pass through into lighter rooms where you spend more time. It makes a small space more memorable. It's a warm, inviting, and very stylish color." —John Barman

"I love bold color and, in my opinion, room size should not limit your palette. In a studio apartment, we chose this deep cerulean blue because it was vibrant, but at the same time peaceful and relaxing. Moroccan tile in blue, red, green, and yellow bordered the wood floor, and we used the yellow tones as inspiration for the fabrics." —Carl D'Aquino

"Some grays are battleship cold, but this is not. It's warm and intimate. It reminds me of a very good men's suit. I'd do the trim in white, and the upholstery in shades of gray silk and linen velvet. Bring in a polished-nickel mirror, an ebony side table. All the color in the room would come from the art." —Heather Moore Plus: 12 Colors That Are Modern Now

"I used this on the wood-paneled walls in a small book-lined study. Crazy how this odd pea-soupy hue bathed the room in sunlight, even on the grayest day. I added an upholstered chair in a clashing shade of dark-green-on-oyster toile, an Oushak rug in burnt oranges and browns, and a sofa in a nubby pumpkin-color weave." —Robin Bell

"In my country house, I turned a stair landing into a special place where I could sit and watch the sun set. The paint color — a light mossy green with a bit of gray in it — comes from the trees outside. I thought it would blend in with the foliage in summer. And in winter, when it's icy and dreary, it reminds me that spring is on the way." —Matthew Patrick Smyth

"Not too yellow and not too red, this orange feels good, just like my favorite cashmere sweater. I used it as an accent wall in a guest room for a bold statement, yet it was also warm and flattering to every skin type. People felt pampered and chic, inspiring dreams of shopping at Hermès in Paris and taking home goodies in those iconic orange boxes!"—Kelley ProxmireRelated: 12 Relaxing Paint Colors

"My philosophy is, the smaller the space, the darker the shade. I recently used this charcoal in a powder room from floor to ceiling. It's modern and sophisticated, yet still cozy and chic. And don't be afraid of using oversize artwork in tight quarters, either. It makes the space seem bigger than it really is!" —Hillary Thomas

"Imagine opening the front door and seeing this bright kelly green in a high-lacquer finish. It's fun and unexpected. Or it would be amazing in a bedroom, with white bedding and white furniture. It would make a small room feel special. Be fearless and add hot fuchsia, orange, or teal." —Gregory McGuire

"I'm obsessed with this deep purple with chocolate undertones. It's the kind of color that reveals itself in different ways, depending on the light. People think using a dark color in a small room makes it seem smaller, but that's a myth. If you do everything in it — walls and trim — the boundaries get blurred and you can't see where the room ends." —Jeff AndrewsPlus: The 12 Best Paint Colors for Your Foyer

"In a small room, my instinct is always to go jewellike. This dark peaco*ck blue is one of my favorites, especially when it's on all of the millwork as well as the walls. A gloss finish makes it feel instantly grand. Add a drippy chandelier and a pair of chairs covered in platinum leather for martini sipping." —Heather Garrett

"I think powder rooms should be like jewelry boxes — a tiny space that gives you a precious experience. This purple with an undertone of red would make it feel as if you'd lined the room in velvet. Add a Chinese red-lacquer vanity with a polished marble top, a gilt mirror, and two gilt-and-crystal sconces for a regal look." —José Solís Betancourt

These small space decorating ideas, storage solutions, and smart finds will help you maximize each square foot, regardless of the size of your house.