![]() In the interest of fairness, it needs to be admitted that although my investigation failed to uncover any proof of the "light walls make rooms big" theory, there is an equal dearth of material proving the "dark walls make rooms big" counter theory. ![]() Accordingly, the gray walls would seem to be farther away, giving the impression of more space between myself and the walls – to wit: a bigger room. Now, if I'm in a room and all the walls seem to be closer to me, I would say that makes the room "feel" smaller. ![]() Īpplying this principle to an interior space, light colored walls (let's call them white) would seem to be closer to a person standing in the room and dark colored walls (let's call them gray) would seem to be farther away. In design textbooks, this finding has been converted into the mantra "light colors advance and dark colors recede.". Additionally, bright objects appear larger than dark objects. Psychological studies on human perception and distance (the earliest study I found dates to 1898) have consistently found that observers perceive bright objects to be nearer than the same objects in darker colors. Second, scientific studies conducted during the last one hundred years shows the opposite to be true. First, there is no scientific paper or study suggesting either of these statements to be true. Two things concern me about these statements. Occasionally, this dictum will be supplemented by the corollary: "Warm colors will make a room feel smaller and cool colors will make it seem larger." The recommendation goes something like this: To make a room "feel bigger," paint it a light color. Thanks to an explosion of free DIY advice circulating on the Internet, we can now add "misinformation" to the list of reasons people avoid rich or deep colors in architectural interiors. And while I appreciate a white on white on white interior for its minimal purity, I've often felt architects and designers too often forgo color out of fear or lack of imagination, rather than in pursuit of an aesthetic principle. Since that time, I can't help but walk into a home with all white ceilings and quietly lament the missed opportunities. Still a design naïf, and a product of Midwestern split-level society, I had honestly never met a ceiling not painted white, covered in knotty pine or encrusted with cottage cheese crystals. No fancy tracery or pendant lights – just a flat sheet of plaster trimmed in glossy white cove molding and painted a saturated, penetrating periwinkle blue. Paul, Minn., that a classmate had been renovating, and being awestruck by the living room ceiling. I remember, back when I was a young architecture student, walking into a small Tudor stucco house in St. Some of the most powerful design lessons can't be taught in school. Using studies of human psychology and visual perception in his defense, Phillip counters the misconception that light colors make a room feel bigger.
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