AboutRebecca Bushner Expertise Specifying paint/coating colors or materials for interior or exterior of buildings including residential and commercial spaces. I also do graphic design & color marketing. I'm the current immediate-past-president of the International Association of Color Consultants/Designers North America (IACC-NA), a former Color Marketing Group chairholder, and an award-winning fine artist.
Experience I've been officially a color consultant for 7 years, a designer and researcher (tableware design) for about 10 years. I have my own color consulting/graphic design business in Arizona.
Organizations IACC-NA: International Association of Color Consultants/Designers, North America.
Publications NAFEM (North American Association of Food Eguipment Manufacturers, Ceramics organizations.
Education/Credentials BA in fine art, MBA, and have taken the full International Association of Color Consultants/Designers seminar course and oral exam.
Question I am attempting to have my hallways appear wider and would like painting ideas. Currently one long harrow hallway from the kitchen is 40" wide x 20 feet long x 8 feet high with 5 doorways leading from it, and a 36" wide x 17 feet long x 8 feet high hallway leading to one side room and then a doorway at the end to the master bedroom. Kitchen is light yellow with white trim, hallways have honey oak molding and floors, and master bedroom is light yellow. Other colors in the house are brick red, butterscotch and sage green.
Answer Hi Jennifer
It's not necessarily about what colors you pick but how light or dark they are and how you use them.
The best way for widening long narrow halls is this:
Very light (pastel) colors on the walls and ceiling (can be the same color) and a much deeper/more saturated color on the end walls.
The light colors should be an LRV (Every paint color has an LRV...."light reflectance value"....should be on the color ship or ask in the paint store) of 70 or higher; the end walls should have an LRV of 30 or lower. The lighter color expands the space and the deep or bright end colors shorten the hallway by appearing to advance. Keep all hallway doors the same or similar colors as the walls to increase the effect. Full-spectrum lighting and lots of it will also help.
Good luck!
Rebecca
