Best Wallpapers for Small Spaces: How to Make a Room Look Bigger
Decorating a small space can be daunting. Who wants a living room that only has a few square feet? It can feel like you have no choice but to cram everything in, even if your room is small, but with the right wallpaper it can transform even the smallest space to look lighter, brighter, and bigger.
Wallpaper can work magic when used correctly. If you want to change the entire feel of your room, the right wallpaper can help. Patterns, textures, and colors can all make a difference to how your room looks and with some small tricks you can make any room look twice as big.
In this blog post we are sharing the best wallpapers for small spaces that are specifically designed to make your room feel larger. No matter what room you are decorating, we have a wallpaper solution for opening up your space and making the most of the room you are working with. We have perfect wallpapers for small living rooms, small bedrooms, and even wallpapers that can make narrow hallways look bigger.
1. Go Light and Bright: Opt for Light Colors
Lighter colors are your allies when it comes to making a room feel bigger. They reflect more light, creating an airy and open atmosphere, which is essential in small spaces that might lack natural light.
Best Light and Bright Wallpaper Options for Small Rooms:
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Soft Whites and Creams - Creamy whites and soft beiges never go out of style. They work wonderfully in bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, opening up the space and creating a serene and calming environment.
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Pale Blues and Greens - These colors are associated with tranquility and openness. A soft blue or mint green wallpaper can transform a bedroom or living room into a fresh and spacious retreat.
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Pastel Shades - Light pinks, lavender, and soft yellows can add brightness and a touch of warmth to a space without overpowering it, ideal for smaller, cozier rooms like home offices or reading areas.
💡 Pro Tip: Light colors with a matte or satin finish are preferable for maximizing light reflection, making your small space feel more expansive and luminous.
2. Vertical Stripes: Drawing the Eye Upwards
If you find yourself working with a small space, one of the simplest tricks you can pull is drawing the eye upwards. Vertical stripes are a great option for creating the illusion of height and helping a room feel taller and more spacious.
Why Vertical Stripes Work:
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Elongates the Walls - They can give the room a sense of verticality and height.
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Create Openness and Movement - Stripes can create a visual sense of openness and movement in a confined space.
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Subtle Patterns - They add pattern and interest without overwhelming the space.
Best Vertical Stripe Wallpaper for Small Rooms:
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Thin, Subtle Stripes - Look for soft and muted tones such as white and gray, pale blue, or light cream for a classic, understated look.
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Bold Color Combinations - For a more bold design, navy and gold or charcoal and ivory can give an elegant, sophisticated appearance.
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Tone-on-Tone Stripes - A subtle difference in shades of the same color can provide a textural effect without clashing or overpowering the room’s décor.
💡 Pro Tip: To keep the illusion of spaciousness, go for stripes that are slightly spaced out rather than too tight. A too-tight stripe may create a feeling of clutter.
3. Light, Airy Florals: Soft and Expansive
Soft, flowing florals are surprisingly good for small rooms as long as they are light and not overbearing. Bold, oversized flowers should be avoided in favor of smaller, delicate floral designs that add interest without being overpowering.
Top Wallpaper Choices for Small Rooms with Flowers:
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Tiny, Whimsical Flowers – Go for vintage-inspired or hand-painted florals in soft tones like blush pink, lavender, or mint green for a delicate and fresh look. These are great for bedrooms and bathrooms.
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Soft Watercolor Florals – A watercolor print will give you a softer look that is open and airy. These are perfect for any room you want to feel relaxing.
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Tone-on-Tone Floral Prints – Tone-on-tone florals are an option if you want more subtlety in your design. These have the flowers in the same color as the background.
💡 Pro Tip: Avoid big florals that eat up the space. You want to look at small prints that are sprinkled throughout.
4. Geometric Patterns: Clean, Sleek, and Modern
Geometric patterns can actually help visually expand the space, especially if you select designs with clean lines and simple shapes. Modern geometric designs can create a structured and organized look while adding a touch of playfulness and visual interest to any room.
Why Geometric Patterns Work for Small Spaces:
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They bring a sense of order and clarity, which is crucial in small spaces.
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Diagonal lines or angular shapes can create an illusion of width or length.
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These designs infuse a contemporary, modern vibe, making the space feel fresh and up-to-date.
Best Geometric Wallpaper for Small Rooms:
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Subtle Chevron Patterns – Chevron stripes work great to create an illusion of movement and depth in narrow areas, like hallways.
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Small-Scale Diamond or Square Patterns – These patterns can help subtly expand the room by adding a sense of rhythm and flow.
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Soft Angled Geometrics – Patterns that imply movement, such as triangles or chevrons with soft edges, add dynamic energy without overwhelming the space.
💡 Pro Tip: Stick to light tones and simple, symmetrical patterns for a cleaner and more spacious look. Bold, complex patterns may make a small space feel busier.
5. Mirrored or Metallic Finishes: Reflecting Light for a Larger Feel
If you really want to amplify the feeling of space, try metallic or reflective finishes. These wallpapers feature shimmering metallic elements or reflective surfaces that bounce light around the room, making it feel more open and bright.
How Metallic Wallpaper Works in Small Rooms:
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The reflective nature of metallic wallpaper gives off a light-catching quality, which helps open up a space.
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Silver, gold, or rose gold accents add a touch of luxury without overpowering the space.
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Subtle metallic details in the design allow the wallpaper to be elegant and sophisticated without becoming too bold.
Best Metallic Wallpaper for Small Spaces:
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Soft Metallic Textures – Think pearlescent or satin finishes that gently reflect light. These work well in bedrooms and dining rooms.
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Mirrored Wallpapers – Glass-effect wallpapers can create an illusion of depth and light, especially in smaller, darker rooms.
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Patterned Metallic Designs – Choose simple geometric patterns with metallic accents for a subtle, stylish touch that enhances the space.
💡 Pro Tip: Pair metallic wallpaper with minimalist furniture to allow the wallpaper to shine as the room’s focal point.
6. Light Horizontal Stripes: Making The Room Wider
Horizontal stripes have the opposite effect on a room’s proportions compared to vertical stripes. Horizontal stripes make the room appear wider, which may or may not be desirable depending on the room’s dimensions. In the case of a narrow room, this effect can be a lifesaver!
Why Horizontal Stripes Work:
They create an illusion of width by visually extending the room’s horizontal dimensions.
Horizontal stripes are especially useful for rooms with low ceilings because they create visual interest without making the room feel smaller.
Best Light Horizontal Stripe Wallpaper For Small Rooms:
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Soft Pastels with Thin Stripes – A soft color palette combined with narrow stripes will work well in small bedrooms or living rooms as it will make them feel more open.
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Bold, Wide Stripes as Accent Walls – For a bolder look, you can use wide and contrasting stripes on a feature wall to make the room feel more dynamic.
💡 Pro Tip: If you want your walls to look taller, you can use horizontal stripes in the lower part of the wall, leaving the top part of the wall in a lighter color to make it look higher.
The Bottom Line: Small Spaces Can Be Big on Style
When working with small spaces, the key to creating a sense of openness and lightness is all in the details. The right wallpaper can dramatically change the way a room feels—whether you’re looking to add height, create width, or simply brighten the space. By choosing the best wallpapers for small spaces, you can make your rooms feel bigger and more inviting.
At Wall Artifacts, we offer a curated selection of premium wallpaper designs that are perfect for small rooms, offering a range of styles, colors, and patterns to suit any aesthetic.
Are you eager to make your small spaces feel expansive? Check out our wallpaper collection and choose the best design for your home now!
