Have you ever walked into a room and marveled at how large it seems, only to realize that it’s not particularly spacious? It’s no magic trick. It’s simply the clever use of color.
Certain hues can deceive our eyes into perceiving more space than there actually is. Not all colors are created equal when it comes to visually enlarging a room.
The wrong shade can make a room feel cramped and claustrophobic, while the right one can make it seem airy and expansive.
Whether you’re revamping a tiny bathroom, a compact bedroom, or a small kitchen, the paint color you choose can make a massive difference.
To visually enlarge a room, light and neutral shades are key. Classic white, with its pristine brightness, effortlessly reflects light and expands a space.
Soft grey provides a neutral backdrop, subtly enhancing room dimensions, while light blue adds a touch of serene expansiveness, mirroring the sky’s openness. Utilizing these colors makes any room feel airy and more spacious.
Discover the 17 colors that can turn your cozy corners into spacious chambers.
Explore our color visualizer tool below, allowing you to experiment with various color options for your space.
Note: The color codes below are recommendations. We have tried to match the color code to the walls in the images, but in some cases the colors may vary.
17. Delicate Pastel Green (#ACD1AF)
Delicate pastel green serves as a breath of fresh air for a small room. Its soothing hue is reminiscent of nature, creating a calming and expansive atmosphere.
Its light undertones visually open up the space, reflecting light effectively and lending an inviting warmth to the room.
The color’s understated elegance works particularly well in living rooms and bedrooms, especially when complemented with white or light wooden furniture.
With pastel green, you’re not just making a room look bigger—you’re making it a serene sanctuary.
Quick Tip: Use this color in a room with ample natural light to enhance its spaciousness effect.
16. Soft Grey (#D3D3D3)
A soft grey hue strikes the perfect balance between white’s stark brightness and black’s overwhelming darkness.
Its neutrality enhances the spaciousness of a room without making it feel cold or impersonal.
The color plays well with both contemporary and traditional decor styles, offering a versatile backdrop for various color accents.
When paired with strategic lighting and mirrored surfaces, soft grey can seemingly double the size of your room.
15. Lilac Gray (#9896A4)
Lilac Gray is a sophisticated blend of both the warmth of purple and the coolness of gray.
The unusual color scheme makes your room look larger while adding a touch of class and uniqueness.
Lilac Gray’s muted tones also help bounce light around the room, further enhancing the sense of space.
Whether used in bedrooms or living areas, this color can bring an airy, expansive feel while maintaining a chic vibe.
14. Light Blue (#ADD8E6)
Light blue channels the openness of the sky and the expansiveness of the sea, making any room feel larger and more inviting.
This hue creates a serene and tranquil environment perfect for relaxation, making it an ideal choice for bedrooms or bathrooms.
Light blue can also brighten a room significantly, reflecting light in a way that mimics the natural outdoor light, enhancing the illusion of space.
Quick Tip: To accentuate the room’s spaciousness, use darker shades of blue as contrast in the decor.
13. Pale Pink (#FFD1DC)
Pale pink might not be your first thought when choosing a color to enlarge a room, but this subtle shade can work wonders. It emits a warm glow that can make any room feel open, airy, and light.
Its warm undertones can brighten the room, making it seem larger, while its soft touch can add a romantic and calming atmosphere.
This color is perfect for creating an intimate yet spacious feeling in bedrooms or sitting rooms.
12. Cream (#FFFDD0)
Cream is an excellent alternative to stark white. It has the same light reflecting properties but provides a warmer, more inviting atmosphere.
Cream color makes the room feel like a blank canvas, open and ready for any decorative style. The light color helps to bounce light around the room, making it appear larger and brighter.
Furthermore, cream has the versatility to complement almost any decor or furniture color, making it an attractive option for all rooms.
Quick Tip: Use cool-toned decor to balance the warm vibes of cream.
11. Lavender (#E6E6FA)
Lavender, a soft purple shade, exudes tranquility and elegance. Its lightness makes it perfect for visually expanding a room, while its unique tone brings in a luxurious feel.
The color’s calming influence makes it a fantastic choice for bedrooms or meditation rooms, where relaxation is key.
When paired with light, neutral furniture, lavender can make any room appear airy and spacious.
10. Mint Green (#98FF98)
Mint green, with its fresh and light appearance, can effectively open up a small room. It reflects plenty of light, making the room appear brighter, and consequently, larger.
This color also promotes a calm, soothing environment due to its affiliation with nature, perfect for a peaceful bedroom or bathroom.
When used with white or light-colored furniture, mint green can truly transform a room, making it feel spacious and serene.
9. Sky Blue (#87CEEB)
Sky blue, as the name suggests, creates an illusion of infinite sky within the four walls of a room. The color is light and airy, offering a feeling of openness and freedom.
Its ability to mimic natural light helps to brighten the room and create the illusion of a larger space.
Sky blue is perfect for creating a relaxed and spacious feel in living rooms, bedrooms, or even home offices.
8. Taupe (#483C32)
Taupe, a shade lying between brown and gray, offers depth and warmth. Its neutral character can provide an expanded feeling without being too overbearing.
The earthy, cozy vibe of taupe gives off a homely feeling, while still creating the illusion of extra space.
This color is a great option for areas that need a cozy, inviting feel, such as living rooms or dens, without compromising on the perception of space.
7. Aquamarine (#7FFFD4)
Aquamarine’s crisp and fresh hue instantly brings a sense of openness and vibrancy to any room. The color recalls the expanse of tropical waters, creating an illusion of depth and space.
It’s excellent for areas with little natural light as it can help to brighten up and enlarge the space.
Whether it’s a bathroom or a compact kitchen, aquamarine can lend a beachy, spacious vibe.
6. Beige (#F5F5DC)
Beige is another neutral color that excels at making a room look larger.
Its warm undertones help create a welcoming environment, while its lightness allows for effective reflection of light, enhancing the sense of space.
Beige can act as a perfect canvas, offering a lot of room for creativity with decorations and furnishings while maintaining the feeling of spaciousness.
Quick Tip: Mix textures within the same color palette to create depth without crowding the room.
5. Coral (#FF7F50)
Coral is a beautiful blend of pink and orange that can give your room a sunny beachside feel. This color is warm and welcoming, creating an impression of additional space and brightness.
It’s a playful and uplifting color, perfect for living rooms and kitchens where you want to instill a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.
Coral pairs well with white or neutral decor, which helps maintain a balanced look while accentuating the feeling of spaciousness.
4. Pearl White (#EDEAE0)
Pearl white stands out as a subtle and sophisticated alternative to pure white. It reflects a lot of light, making any room look more spacious and open.
The slight warmth in its undertones prevents it from looking too stark, creating a comfortable and inviting environment.
Pearl white offers the perfect blank canvas for your decor ideas and matches effortlessly with any color scheme, making it a practical choice for any room.
3. Sage Green (#9C9F84)
Sage green is another color that can make a room look larger due to its light, earthy tone. It evokes feelings of nature, tranquility, and openness, making any space feel more expansive.
Sage green is also a very versatile color, blending seamlessly with a wide range of decor styles and other colors.
Its calming effect makes it a popular choice for bedrooms or studies, where a peaceful ambiance is essential.
2. Powder Blue (#B0E0E6)
Powder blue is a pale shade of azure that can instantly brighten and enlarge a room. It is reminiscent of clear, sunny skies and imparts a sense of vastness and tranquility.
Its inherent lightness helps reflect natural light, enhancing the feeling of space.
Powder blue is particularly effective in bathrooms and bedrooms, offering a serene and spa-like atmosphere.
Quick Tip: Use bold-colored decor pieces as accents against powder blue walls for a striking contrast.
1. Classic White (#FFFFFF)
It’s no surprise that classic white tops the list. The color white reflects light better than any other color, effectively making a room appear larger and more open.
It creates a blank canvas effect, allowing the freedom to decorate without worrying about color clashing.
Despite its starkness, it can provide a clean, airy, and expansive feel, especially when paired with strategic lighting and decor.
Whether it’s a bedroom, kitchen, or living room, white remains a classic choice for visually enhancing room size.
Read more: Best colors for dark rooms