IF you’ve ever walked into your room and felt that something was making it look shorter or more cramped than it should, you are not imagining things.
According to one interior design expert on TikTok, there’s one popular decorating habit that almost everyone is guilty of – and it instantly shrinks your space.
The viral clip by Natalie, who is known as @natalie_gisborne, which has already racked up over 127.1k views in just one day, has homeowners rushing to grab a fresh tin of paint to fix this common error.
The creator post claims that the biggest mistake people make is painting the ceiling a contrasting white while the walls are a colour.
“Everybody paints the ceiling white, it’s so common to paint your ceiling white, most people do it,” she explains.
She notes that when your ceiling is a different colour to your walls, it creates a “hard line” across the room.
She claims that this horizontal break tricks your eyes into thinking that it’s shorter than it actually is.
Essentially, the white ceiling sharply defines the room’s top boundary.
The eye catches that line, instantly stopping the upward flow and making the walls appear cut off, causing the room to feel boxed in and its height reduced.
She reveals that the solution is incredibly simple and offers an immediate fix for increasing the feeling of space.
Natalie revealed that painting the walls and the ceiling the exact same colour.
The designer confirms that if you want your room to feel taller and space look bigger, then people should paint the walls and ceiling in the exact same colour as it removes the hard line and “instantly increases the feeling of space”.
By painting everything the same shade – as shown in the video’s example where the walls, built-in shelving, and ceiling are a calming, continuous soft greige – the eye flows seamlessly upwards.
As the creator warns, once you try it and see the difference, “you can’t unsee it!”
Natalie’s video gained 185 comments, as many people rushed to share their thoughts.
Colour drenching
One person commented: “I live for colour drenching.”
And a second asked: “What kind of paint would you use? Matte finish?”
Natalie replied: “I would for the ceiling, yes, lower the sheen more, it absorbs imperfections (undulations, cracks etc) that are common in ceilings, but you could also use a higher sheen if you’ve gone with that already.
“That said you may need more durable finishes for bathrooms and kitchens where you need to deal with specific problems like steam and need to wipe/clean.
“I love the little green intelligent matte for this.”
Someone else asked: “What about a dark colour ceiling?”
And Natalie replied: “Because colours read differently horizontally to vertically, less light up there.
“On dark colours you can balance the lack of light by adding a bit of white, many brands have colour scales or architectural colours, which is the base colour with white or black.”
10 DIY hacks for under £1 each
These simple and affordable DIY hacks can help you get creative while saving money
Homemade Air Freshener:
Mix baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Place it in a small jar with a perforated lid to keep your home smelling fresh.
Upcycled Tin Can Planters:
Clean and paint empty tin cans to use as stylish planters for herbs or small plants.
Custom Phone Stand:
Use a sturdy piece of cardboard or an old plastic credit card to create a custom phone stand. Decorate it with washi tape or paint.
DIY Lip Scrub:
Combine sugar and a bit of honey or coconut oil to make a natural lip scrub. Store in a small container.
Personalised Bookmarks:
Use old greeting cards or decorative paper to create unique bookmarks. Punch a hole at the top and add a ribbon for a finishing touch.
Decorative Mason Jars:
Paint or decoupage old mason jars to use as decorative vases, storage containers, or candle holders.
Easy Cable Organiser:
Use empty toilet paper rolls to organize cables and cords. Decorate the rolls with colorful paper or tape.
Magnetic Spice Jars:
Attach small magnets to the lids of small jars and stick them to a metal board or fridge for easy-access spice storage.
Handmade Coasters:
Cut out squares from old corkboard or felt and decorate them with paint or fabric to create custom coasters.
Natural All-Purpose Cleaner:
Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. Use it to clean surfaces around your home.
