Five Color Schemes that Brighten up Your Small Apartment

Those looking to brighten up a small apartment may be looking for interior paint ideas that will complement their less ample spaces. A variety of unique interior design ideas, including color schemes, fill innumerable interior design websites and magazines. Here are some of the top suggestions for opening up a small space with eye-popping colors.

1. Warm and Hot Colors

Colors like yellow and red are often referred to as warm when they are applied in moderation and hot when they are used more boldly. It can be a great idea to include a yellow or red in a color scheme. However, lots of experts suggest that the bolder yellows and reds can actually trigger anxiety in some people. That’s why most interior design advisers would go with some muted form of one of these primary colors, along with another complementary shade that can tone down some of the more extreme choices.

2. Complementary Colors

Complementary color schemes such as blue and orange are sometimes the basis for interior design contrasts that can brighten up a room without overwhelming visitors. These classic color pairings can be applied in any combination of shades and nuanced tones.

3. White

Another common choice is to use white in conjunction with one of the above colors. Almost anything will go with white, and the austere nature of white space helps balance many color choices. In addition, color contrasts like white and light blue create powerful associations with cloudscapes that can have a great effect on a small interior space.

4. Brighter Earth Tones

One interesting development in interior design is that more people seem to be going with some lighter, brighter versions of classic earth tones like brown and green. A very light brown or a very light green can open up a space. These colors don’t have to be deadening, heavy choices. The key is to choose a light enough shade to create the illusion of brightness in the interior, especially where there’s not a lot of access to natural sunlight. Darker browns and greens are often bad ideas for a living space, unless specifically balanced with other brighter colors.

5. Purples and Blues

Again, lighter shades of these colors can open up spaces. However, some shades of blue have generally been linked to reduced appetite, which is why lots of interior designers suggest limiting them in dining spaces. This is just a general point to think about when looking at the use of blue in your interior.

The above are just some of the many ideas that renters or homeowners can choose for making their smaller apartment space more than the sum of its parts. Great use of natural sunlight or attractive interior lighting installations can also help show off the color schemes that you have selected. Keep color swatches on hand to visually experiment with the choices you feel are best matched to your space, and check them against furnishings and other installations to get the best results for your apartment.