When you live in a smaller space, decorating your home is a matter of trying to make it appear bigger. It is not a good idea to feel suffocated in a tiny house, regardless of how cozy it may feel. But too big a space is also not so pleasant since it can make the room feel empty. The task of making an area appear larger or smaller is not straightforward. You can only save space by rearranging your furniture, and you cannot break down walls either. This problem cannot be solved by adding or removing things from it; it must be solved by transforming the space itself. Have you ever thought about painting your HDB flat?
If your HDB flat is small, you can make it look larger by painting it. Choosing the right color for your home can change the way you perceive its size and shape. The wrong paint color can also make a small space seem even smaller.
However, you should not be intimidated by that when you begin designing your home. The trick to maximizing a smaller space is to learn some essential tips and tricks. I have listed six ways for you to paint the interior of your HDB to make it more attractive.
Tips on Painting your HDB Space
- Go Monochrome
When we say you should paint your HDB flat monochromatically, we don’t mean it should be painted the same color in every room. Instead, use colors within a similar spectrum. Red, blue, or white are good examples.
The end walls of a room can be painted darker than the other walls to create a sense of closeness. They are usually large in these spaces. When left bare or painted a single color, they will only accentuate the empty wall. By painting the darker shade at the bottom, the wall will be broken up.
Use the same color on the ceilings, trim, and doors throughout your home. In a small space, make sure the color is lighter than the walls. This will make the eyes less aware of where the ceiling begins and where the wall ends. Large ceilings are not uncomfortable in larger homes. A darker color can give the impression that the ceiling is lower.
Painting the bathrooms or bedrooms a different color may be tempting, but refrain yourself from doing so. Using a single color throughout your HDB flat will create a seamless look and smooth flow from room to room.
- Contrast Your Colors
Using contrasting colors can help make a small space look bigger even if you do not want to paint your HDB flat in one color. An accent color painted on a wall can create the illusion of drawing the eye to a single focal point.
You can experiment with different contrasting colors. Using contrasting neutral colors will keep your space monochromatic, even if you add accent colors. It can, however, be used to combine two colors with high contrast.
If you have a rectangular room, paint the two long walls with a darker color, instead of painting just one wall. It emphasizes the room’s length and makes it feel bigger.
- Choose the Right Finish
Aside from color, the right finish is essential in painting your HDB flat. Finish refers to the surface texture the paint creates and how much light bounces off the painted surface. The two primary paint finishes available out there are flat (no shine) and high-gloss (nothing but shine)—other finishes such as eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss fall between those two.
Generally, eggshell or satin finishes are used. For smaller spaces, a slightly glossier finish makes the room look more prominent as it reflects the light. Make sure to paint with higher gloss on surfaces that can catch the natural light so that it will scatter throughout the room. For the trims and doors, choose a semi-gloss paint.
Furthermore, glossier paints are more durable and easier to clean. That is why these types of paints are recommended for spaces like the bathroom, kitchen, and other high-traffic areas in your home.
- Consider Undertones
If you want to achieve the most optimum results, you have to be meticulous in selecting the color of your paint. When looking for paints, choose a color with the right undertone. Undertone refers to the blend of pigments used to create the final color paint.
For the right undertone, look at the fixed elements of your home, such as the flooring and cabinets, and choose a color that matches them. Undertones come in a wide range of colors, from neutrals to violet or green. Bring home paint chips of different colors so that you can compare them to the elements of your home.
Choosing paint based undertones is not that easy, and it takes practice to have a trained eye. With that said, you can ask paint experts to help you.
- Go Light or Dark
When we talk about painting your HDB flat, the conversation of light or dark color paint always comes up. Different paint colors create different perceptions in a room. Generally, light colors make surfaces appear far away, while darker colors create surfaces that appear to move towards you.
However, don’t think that you can’t use dark colors for smaller spaces. Using a dark color can help blur the edges of the walls and create the illusion of a more spacious room. Darker shades of paint also work to open up space when paired with trims colored with clean white.
If your room has a decent amount of natural light, you may consider using warmer tones so it will reflect throughout the space. On the other hand, if the interior relies on artificial light, painting your HDB flat in lighter colors is a safe way to go. Make sure to test how the paint color impacts the artificial light of the room; this can be done to both light and dark colors.
- Don’t Fear Patterns
If you want to create an exciting and fun atmosphere in your interior, you can utilize patterns, such as stripes. Painting your HDB flat with a stripe pattern can help in changing the perception of your space. Vertical lines make a room appear taller, while horizontal stripes make the room feel longer or broader.
HDB Painting in Singapore
Now that you have more information about paint colors, you can now create better decisions according to your needs. However, it may still be overwhelming to do this all yourself. Eliciting professional help will make sure you are getting results that are both safe and aesthetically pleasing.
Singapore Waterproofingis one of the leading house painting contractors in Singapore. For 9 years, the company has built a strong clientele through its excellent services, both in safety and aesthetics. Singapore Waterproofing also offers an on-site analysis to figure out the solutions that will best suit the needs of your property.
Aside from house painting, the company also offers other services such as waterproofing, minor works in construction, and other general contract work, to ensure that ceiling leak will not be a problem for a long time. Singapore Waterproofing is a reliable company that delivers high-quality service every time.
