Make Your Tiny House Sexier with a Coat Of Paint.
When we were finishing our tiny house build in 2012, we didn’t have a ton of examples to follow. We used plans designed for tiny homes on wheels, which accounted for the weight on the trailer with interior finish choices. Since our house was on a foundation, we didn’t necessarily need to use the same materials, but we didn’t know what else to do.
So, we bought thin, pine tongue-and-groove boards and installed them in the entire tiny house. That meant every single surface, except for the wood countertops we stained green, was caramel-colored wood. We could have lined the walls with 14-karat gold or marble tiles, but we didn’t want to bite off more than we could chew, so we stuck with what we’d already seen.
After we moved to our bungalow, we would only stay in the tiny house whenever we wanted time at our mountain retreat. But in the summer of 2018, we would be living in it again for a month and a half, and we decided we needed to change things up a bit. We wanted to brighten up the house, so we bought white paint and gave the interior walls a facelift.
If you’re thinking about sprucing up your tiny home, think about what a fresh coat of white paint can do to a small space.
Why Choose White?
With unlimited colors to choose from, you may be wondering why I’m recommending white. And if you know me, you know that I love color. In previous homes, I painted rooms dark red, bright pink, and various shades of orange. Green, blue, gold…I’ve done it all.
But there is something about using bright white in a small space to help it feel open. Of course, white isn’t a monolith. If you visit a paint store, you’ll see countless white options, including hints of warm or cool colors. Go with whatever you like. Just keep a few things in mind.
Consider the Lighting
When choosing white, it’s essential to consider the lighting in your room. Bright white looks best with a lot of natural light. Otherwise, it just stays blah and shadowy. If your tiny house has plenty of windows that let in the natural light, white is a perfect choice. If not, a color to add interest or other wall material may be a better option.
When White’s Not Right
When is white not the right color for your tiny home interior? There is really only one reason that matters: you don’t like white on interior walls. The alternatives are endless. Choose another color. Use wood for a more rustic look. And there are some pretty cool peel-and-stick wallpapers or tiles that would be perfect for a tiny space.
Choosing Your Tiny House Color Palette
If you want to go with neutral, light tones, consider a couple of things about white paint. White can be either true white with no added undertones or have a color temperature. Off-whites are generally colors with a warm tone, and shades of light gray are colors with cool tones.
Visit your local big box home improvement store or a mom-and-pop shop that sells paint and start looking through the paint swatch samples. Let your eyes fall on the colors that draw your attention.
And always remember. White offers you the option to add color in other ways. In our tiny house, we have turquoise, teal, and green accents for pops of color. We also left the wood natural on the ceiling, trim, and cabinets.
Here’s a practical tip for painting: if you’re painting over wood inside your tiny home, use a good primer to seal the wood. We used Kilz primer on our walls.
Whatever you choose for your tiny home will be perfect. And if you decide to paint, it’s easy to change again in the future.
Written by: Laura LaVoie for Tiny House Magazine Issue 104
