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April 12, 2007
Pain and Room Size
I have a smallish dining room 14x14 that I would like to paint a nice ward red, but I am being told by friends that it the color will make the room look a lot smaller than it is.
Any painting experts out there who can advise of whether this is true. The room get a lot of natural light so i will not appear dark at all.
Thanks,
Comments
I was much more intrigued before I realized there was a typo in the title.
Posted by: anon at April 12, 2007 6:17 PM
There are typos in more than just the title. This person is on crack.
I'm kind of worried about the OP appearing dark and small because of their ward red pain.
Posted by: Crack Baby at April 12, 2007 7:01 PM
Typo police are out tonight!
To answer the OP's question, no, dark colors do not make small rooms seem small. In fact they make small rooms seem bigger. It doesn't even have to be all that dark a color - I painted a room an intense orange and it looks bigger because of it. Only thing to know about red is you shouldn't use a white primer. Tell the paint store person you want your primer tinted red. And even then you're probably talking at least 3 coats of paint, so buy plenty of it. Good luck!
Posted by: Anonymous at April 12, 2007 7:31 PM
Stop hitting the Post/Submit button!!!!
Don't you people know how to read?????
Posted by: Stop at April 12, 2007 8:19 PM
My dining room is about the same size as yours. I painted it an incredibly beautiful P&L red above the chair rail (sorry, can't remember the name of the color) and BM Chestertown Buff below the chair rail. All trim is BM Bavarian cream. IMO, and that of every person who has seen it, my red dining room simply rocks. And, no, the room definitely does not look smaller, just more warm and inviting. I also agree with the earlier poster who advised that you use a tinted primer and that you will need several coats of the red. Red is just a very tough color to get right. My painter (a perfectionist) actually used in excess of 5 coats.
Posted by: Brooklynista at April 12, 2007 10:19 PM
Stop hitting the Post/Submit button!!!!
Don't you people know how to read?????
Posted by: Stop at April 12, 2007 10:57 PM
Stop hitting the Post/Submit button!!!!
Don't you people know how to read?????
Posted by: Stop at April 12, 2007 10:58 PM
Awesome.
Posted by: Archie at April 12, 2007 11:17 PM
I disagree. I feel completely claustrophobic in rooms painted with dark colors.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 13, 2007 8:45 AM
Our dining room is about the same size and painted a beautiful pumpkin orange. We love it. The room faces north and doesn't get a lot of light, but the color makes everyone look good. I have a friend that painted her hallway a lovely deep magenta. It is fabulous. If you like colors, go for it. These houses can handle it and are all ready to be "dressed up". And remember, color tastes are highly subjective.
Posted by: Anon on Greene at April 13, 2007 9:34 AM
I painted my office (10x10") red, above the baseboards to the picture rail, and it looks incredible. It was painted white previously, and looks infinitely better now
It's Benjamin Moore currant red, and decorator white above/below.
It took 2 coats plus the primer also tinted to the same color, and looks fabulous.
Posted by: Diana at April 13, 2007 3:44 PM
I love intense colors too on my walls (and I have north-facing windows, white floors and trim). In theory, warm colors like red can make a room FEEL cozy, not necessarily LOOK smaller. I think if people notict that your room looks fabulous in a color, they won't analyze what how much they think the room's square footage is.
If you're intimidated by all that color, paint only one or two walls. It's usually still enough color for impact.
As other posters have said, use tinted primer. Using good quality paint with enough pigment (Benjamin Moore is a nice and affordable brand) helps too. Also, take note of the paint finish: I like matte because it seems to make the colors look soft. If you use satin or glossy, it gives you more reflections of light. Glossy on whole walls will probably give you a little hard-edge and rock and roll look.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 16, 2007 11:54 AM
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