Paint Colours for Small Rooms
Ideas & Inspiration

Discover creative ways to add depth and dimension to studio apartments, alcoves, and other nooks with our small room paint ideas.

Explore the fun side of practical with paint colours for small rooms. No matter what room you’re painting, Benjamin Moore’s 3,500+ colours are here to help you get the most out of your home when space is at a premium.

How to Pick Paint Colours for Small Rooms

When it comes to paint colours for small rooms, choosing the perfect hue can feel as Herculean as choosing a palette for your whole home. With less real estate to work with, small spaces often pull double duty—for example, a home office doubles as a guest room during seasonal holidays, or a dining alcove masquerades as a reading nook on the weekends—meaning the colours you choose have to work with different décor and activities.

To start your small space colour journey, consider the goal you’re trying to achieve: Are you trying to make the room look bigger and brighter? Do you want show-stealing maximalism colour and décor, or is minimalism the style you’re after?

Whether you want to keep things light and airy or go bold with a daring colour scheme, here are 10 ways to experiment with paint colours for small rooms.

1. Light Paint Colours for Small Rooms

Painting with pale and pastel colours above eye level creates an airy effect that can visually heighten walls, especially when you paint the ceiling a lighter shade or a slight variation of the wall colour. The subtle contrast brings depth and dimension without breaking the unity of existing hues.

Small room colours we love to help make the space feel larger:

A cheery small kitchen with lavender-gray walls, red-painted cabinet siding, white-painted lower cabinets, wooden floors and a sunny bright window above the sink. A cheery small kitchen with lavender-gray walls, red-painted cabinet siding, white-painted lower cabinets, wooden floors and a sunny bright window above the sink.

2. Small Room Colour Ideas to Add Bold Contrast

In multifunctional spaces like kitchens, a spirited two-tone colour scheme can add attention-grabbing visual interest while also delineating specific areas. For extra oomph, choose a bold hue for the cabinets and stick to a neutral paint colour for the walls and ceiling.

To add contrast to your small space, try one of these unexpected colour combinations:

A fun, orange-painted accent wall separates the walk-in shower from a free-standing bathtub in a white painted bathroom with white subway tile. A fun, orange-painted accent wall separates the walk-in shower from a free-standing bathtub in a white painted bathroom with white subway tile.

3. Little Bathroom, Big Look

A pint-size bathroom offers an opportunity to use deep hues and transform a modest space into a colourful oasis. You can overlook room-to-room colour flow thanks to the bathroom’s innate closed-door policy, making it the perfect place to get creative with colour and create a cheery powder room or an upbeat en suite.

Love the look? Consider one of these hues to brighten up a small bathroom or any petite space:

4. Sample Paint Colour in Small Spaces

No (or low) natural light? No worries. To make sure you’re choosing the colour that works best for your small room, be sure to sample your choices and view them in your space over the course of a few days before you commit.

We offer a variety of samples—236 ml colour samples, peel & stick, and colour swatches—to help you find the solution for any space. Shop online or visit the experts at your locally owned Benjamin Moore store, who can help you find exactly what you need to make your small space painting project a success.

5. Accent with Colour: Small Room Paint Ideas for a Vibrant Space

A painted accent wall adds a focal point to any room. If you live in an apartment, condo, studio, or home with several smaller rooms, a bold colour on one wall easily adds architectural interest to a modestly sized space.

Consider accent wall paint colours that will instantly add a happy vibe to any room, like these:

6. Create Depth with Colours for Small Rooms

Looking to add dramatic flair to a small bedroom, alcove, or other cozy nook? Rich hues—like the deep chocolate Wenge AF-180, shown here—are perfect for small spaces, especially if you want to lend a moody touch to your home’s palette.

Statement-making jewel tones are another great choice when painting a small room. Some hues we love:

7. The Unsung Hallway

Many hallways are both narrow and dim, especially in townhouses and apartments. Add a soft glow and a feeling of warmth to what might otherwise be an overlooked area of the home with a lighter, softer hue like Subtle AF-310, Edgecomb Gray HC-173, or Lookout Point 1646, especially if they lead into more colourful spaces.

A white painted bedroom with two circular wall mirrors, twin beds with white bedding, a white shuttered window and striped jute rug. A white painted bedroom with two circular wall mirrors, twin beds with white bedding, a white shuttered window and striped jute rug.

8. Brighten Dark Spaces with Off-White Paint Colours

Off-white and white paint colours help to open up smaller spaces by reflecting natural light and pulling it throughout your home. Ensure you’re choosing the right off-white for your small space by sampling before you paint. Our peel & stick paint samples are ideal for testing white paint colours because they are easy to move from wall to wall as needed.

We love these white paint colours for small spaces:

9. Modern Paint Colours for Small Rooms

Carve out colour opportunities in small spaces to bring a modern touch to your room. Here, Solitude AF-545 adds design interest to this small living room, acting as the perfect backdrop to midcentury modern accents and abstract artwork.

Other paint colors for small living rooms to consider:

10. Attention-Grabbing Small Room Paint Colours

The best way to incorporate colours into a small room? Make them pop! Here, the cheerful combination of a Starry Night Blue 2067-20 pegboard and a Conch Shell 052 door is a friendly welcome to anyone who walks through this entryway.

To make your own small space pop, use a bold paint colour and add eclectic accents and vibrant greenery.

What Is the Best Paint for Small Spaces?

Smaller spaces are easier to repaint with greater frequency, meaning you can change the colour—and mood—more often than in a large room.

Ben® Interior paint offers effortless application from start to finish so anyone can achieve beautiful results. With a special formulation that has a longer open time for smooth touch-ups and excellent coverage and hide, Ben is ideal for small spaces. It is a reliable go-to for first-time homeowners, apartment dwellers, and DIY-ers alike.

Frequently Asked Questions


Q. What is the best colour for a small room?

A. While all colour choices are personal, we often find that lighter, airier hues are popular for small rooms, as they can make a room feel brighter and more open. We love Pristine OC-75, White Dove OC-17, and Glass Slipper 1632 for this purpose.

Those with a maximalist design style may prefer more dramatic colours to really make a statement in a small space. Bold colours we love for small rooms include Ming Jade 2043-20, Savannah Green 2150-30, and Dinner Party AF-300.



Q. Which colours should I use on the walls in a small house?

A. When painting the interior of a small house, consider a colour palette of similar undertones so colour flows from room to room. Opt for neutral and off-white hues, such as Chantilly Lace OC-65 and Revere Pewter HC-172 in hallways to connect spaces throughout the home. Go for bold pops of colour in powder rooms, alcoves, and on doors to make an impactful design statement without overwhelming the space.

Some bold hues we love in small spaces include Cinnamon Slate 2113-40, Vintage Vogue 462, and Onyx 2133-10.



Q. Which wall should I paint darker in a small room?

A. The accent wall in your home should always be the wall you’d like to bring the most attention to. Often, this can be a wall that features a window, a loved piece of art, or architectural details such as ornate trim or doors. You can even opt for the ceiling to bring the eye up.

Talk to the experts at your locally owned Benjamin Moore store if you have any questions. As always, we recommend sampling your favourite hues and living with them for a few days before making a colour decision.



Q. Should I paint an accent wall in a small room?

A. An accent wall is an easy way to create a focal point in a small room, drawing attention to windows and unique architectural details while visually expanding the space.

Popular colours for accent walls in small rooms include Santa Barbara Green 2037-60, City Scape Morning 368, and Trailing Vines 1505.



Q. Should small rooms be painted in light colours?

A. Painting with light colours in small rooms creates an airy effect that can visually heighten the walls, especially when you paint the ceiling a lighter shade or a slight variation of the wall colour. The subtle contrast brings depth and dimension without breaking the unity of the existing hues. Try Par Four 470, Venetian Marble 2114-70, or Horizon OC-53 to get the effect.



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