These basic rules of the use of color apply to any room, large or small. Keep in mind, though, that a small room painted in a dark color can look dramatic, not cramped. And a large room with light-colored walls and a high ceiling can look sophisticated and contemporary. Decide what your goal is before you select your paint.
Dark colors tend to recede while light colors jump out to the eye.
Just as a round woman would not want to wear horizontal stripes around the largest part of her body, neither would you want to use horizontal stripes or patterns to circle a large room. To achieve a look of greater height in a room with a low ceiling, draw the eye upward with vertical stripes or a pattern that rises. Or in a room with very high ceilings, you might use a contrast color stripe just below the ceiling or on a crown molding. The contrast color will draw the eye down, away from the highest spot.
There are many interesting paint finishes for walls that help eliminate that flat, boring look. Using a decorative painting finish such as sponge painting or faux painting can help to camouflage flaws in the wall's surface or create a focal point to draw the eye away from a less-than-beautiful feature of a room.
When sponge painting remember that a dark base with lighter top coat tends to have a bold look, while a lighter base with dark top coat looks more subtle. Experiment with your chosen colors to get the look you want.
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