A “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” Paint Hack for Making Small Rooms Look Big
Photo by Bobby Lin
Interior designers Jesse DeSanti and Lauren Svenstrup share the same advice when it comes to painting small spaces, and it’s a tip that also feels like permission: Color outside the lines.
“Ditch the white trim and paint everything the same color,” Svenstrup says. “If you want your space to feel larger and more cohesive, then you need to make those lines disappear.”
It may seem like standard procedure to think of paint’s canvas as just the walls—not the trim, doors, or even the ceiling, too. But if those walls contain cramped quarters, then it’s worth it to expand the shade throughout the room. DeSanti and Svenstrup, the respective founders of Jette Creative and Studio Sven, note that sticking to one hue is a simple design secret that they use when square footage is tight. This solution allows the eye to travel more easily, thus giving the illusion of more space.
