In this article we’ll give you some tips on how colors change the perception of interior spaces.
To provide the desired spatial sensations, there are tricks that allow you to alter the perception of spaces without changing a centimeter of wall. This can be done by painting surfaces, using materials or applying different coatings. Lighter, cooler colors make the space appear larger. Darker colors make them more closed in and smaller to the eye. The arrangement of colors or textures in a room alters the perspective, making the room appear taller, longer, wider, or highlighting a particular element.
To give the room a feeling of spaciousness, the best way is to use light colors on most of the surfaces, which will reflect natural light, making it larger to the eye.
On the other hand, when the idea is to make the room more compact, smaller and cozier, opting for stronger colors on the surfaces can work well. They will absorb most of the natural light, giving a sense of enclosure that can be beneficial for certain functions.
There are times when lowering the height of the ceiling can make the space feel more pleasant and welcoming. Painting it a darker color than the walls will give the impression that the ceiling is lower.
In other situations, the opposite is true. There are apartments whose minimal ceilings give the spaces a claustrophobic feel. Painting the walls a darker color and leaving the ceiling white gives the feeling of a higher ceiling.
Painting the background wall and the ceiling in the same, darker colors, while leaving the side walls lighter, will make the space appear wider and more spacious. This technique is often used in hallways or narrow rooms.
Painting the two side walls opposite each other, leaving the background and ceiling in light colors will make the space narrower to the eye and can improve the proportions of rooms with unbalanced dimensions.
If you have a very large room in your house and want to give the feeling of closeness, invest in dark tones on the background wall in contrast with lighter colors.
To make one wall stand out, it’s best to keep it in a lighter color, while the others are darker. This draws the eye to it.
If the idea is to make the walls less long, you should apply a darker tone to the lower part of the wall and you’ll see that it works.
Original Article by Eduardo Souza Architect
