Does Blue Make a Room Smaller?

Light and Dark Blue

• It isn't so much a question of the color blue making a room look smaller so much as the shade of blue you select. If you've chosen blue as one of the colors in your color scheme, look for a very light shade of blue if you want the room to look bigger. The more pastel the shade of blue, the more open and airy the room will appear. This color of blue is popular in cottage-style and eclectic styles of decorating. However, you are not limited to these styles if you select light blue as the room's main color motif.

Color Psychology

• According to the BBC, blue has some psychological aspects connected to it. People who want a room that promotes a feeling of serenity should choose blue. Additionally, colors are separated into warm and cool colors on the color wheel, and blue rests on the cool side of the wheel. This makes blue an optimal color for spaces like a sun room. Choosing a shade like a cool icy blue will make the room feel airy and cool.

Considerations

• Other elements in addition to color can make a room look small. A cluttered room looks smaller than one that has little or no clutter. To enhance the space that you do have, bring in furniture pieces that will help you organize the space. These include ottomans with built-in storage, decorative cabinets with drawers, and containers for your bookshelves to store items such as knitting supplies. Choose items that match the blue color scheme of the room or select items that feature blue's complementary colors such as yellow. This allows you to take advantage of two elements that make the room appear larger—a lighter color of blue and good organization.

Dark Blue Solutions

• While light blue may make a room look bigger, it may not be your color of choice for your decorating palette. If that's the case, there's another solution you can employ that won't make the room look smaller and that will allow you to use a darker shade of blue like cobalt or navy. Make dark blue a prominent accent color in the room. For example, instead of painting your entire room with a dark blue paint, create a focal wall instead. Choose one wall that you'd like to be the focal point for the room, such as a wall with a fireplace or built-in bookcase. Paint that wall the dark blue and paint the walls around it white or light yellow. This satisfies your desire for dark blue without visually shrinking the room in size.