In a predominantly white room, using a paint palette with black on the lower portion of the walls behind the banquette connotes a feeling of seclusion and intimacy. This attractive contrast between light and dark calls attention to this corner as a perfect place for some quiet conversation.

Turn a small room into a compact office. Give it moxie by painting a brightly colored focal wall with a horizontal stripe to match. Choose simple, clean-lined furnishings in white to coordinate with the other wall color and balance the impact of your bold accents.

Live large in a small space by adopting a monochromatic scheme. By unifying fabric, wall and floor color, your eye takes in the volume of space rather than focusing on any one object. These cozy grays and warm beiges instill a look that’s casual, comfortable and classic.

One room can pull double duty when you use color to define a space within a space. Choose a dynamic hue for one corner and carry it onto the ceiling to create the illusion of a separate alcove. This color canopy technique is a fun way to make one small room more interesting.