Adding colour to small living space

Living in small, compact spaces designed with efficiency – that’s the definition of the trendy phenomenon known as micro living. For many, a micro home is affordable, environmentally conscious and often clever in its use of space and storage solutions. People in big cities tend to live in relatively small apartments, but the trend of micro living is blossoming outside cities with tiny houses and trendy and decorated campervans.

Maximising functionality and choosing a delightful colour scheme will help to make a tiny living space comfortable and liveable. If you opt for simplicity, affordability and a smaller environmental impact, a small micro living apartment might be just for you.

The aesthetics of micro-housing go beyond functionality. Those living in tiny homes are creating spaces that are visually pleasing, with clean lines and a cohesive colour palette. What's currently trending in micro spaces is personalisation. Despite being small, the space can still reflect the homeowner's personality through colour, art, and decorative items.

Many think that the only possible colour palette in a small apartment is light, composed and white. Light surfaces do reflect the light more effectively, and choosing light colours is a good option if you want to maximise the light and create an illusion of a larger room. Light colours help to make small spaces feel more open and airy.

Still, you can introduce colour to your space while keeping it light-coloured. For example, consider the combination of beige and grey, V484 Driftwood, or a beige leaning more towards a golden tint, X394 Expance. Soft neutrals and subtle pastels will keep the overall feeling spacious and calm.
 

Keeping things light and minimalistic isn’t the only way to go in your micro living space. Embracing colour in a small house can mean, for example, choosing a key space where to use colour. In the image by @naakankoti, the small kitchen is the hero of the apartment. The intensive blue chosen for the kitchen cabinets, M354 Ara, helps to both hide and highlight the area. The bright blue J356 Sky tone of the dining table ties the room together.

If your heart beats for colour, don’t be afraid of using it in small spaces either. For example, you can create a monochromatic scheme that will keep the look cohesive. @hongankoristaja painted a compact kid’s room  with L396 Beeswax, an interesting burnt tone between orange and yellow. 

Adding pops of colour to your micro living space will enhance the look and feel of even a tiny apartment, and painting a wall or a piece of furniture is an affordable way to freshen up the space.

If you’re up for an affordable painting project, try painting your kitchen cabinets or other cupboards. Incorporating colour in smaller elements than entire walls will help you add a visual appeal without making the overall feel too intensive.

The kitchen cabinet doors painted with J446 Flannel pair nicely with soft Y458 Merino on the walls. When looking for more colour, combine the elements with a stronger colour on the wall. @mustakoti painted her cabinet with L478 Kestrel and used V447 Serpentine in the background.