Creating the right ambience in a room through paint colours isn’t just about selecting your favourite shade but also considering the lighting of the room. Get the knowledge you need to harness your home’s natural light and pick the perfect colour for your room’s ambience, first time.
Light can have a huge impact on the mood and feel of a space as it plays differently with every colour, depending on the time of day and the direction the room’s windows are facing. Follow this Dulux guide to help you choose the perfect shade for your room.
South-facing
South-facing rooms like the one above enjoy intense, warm sunlight all day long, so most colours will work well. Pale pastels will bounce light around, creating a spacious and airy feel. Try cool bluey greens for calming living rooms and bedrooms, or yellow hues for happy kitchens. The colour featured here is Willow Tree.
North-facing
The light streaming into north-facing rooms can be cool and blue-toned. For lounges, bedrooms and kitchens, warm neutrals and pinks will reflect the light and stop it feeling gloomy. Go for terracotta undertones to create an intimate atmosphere. The colour Floating Petal, featured above, works well for this living room setting.
East-facing
These rooms receive warm sunlight in the morning and cooler, shady light later on. Enjoy throughout the day by painting in pale blues or greens – their soft, soothing quality will look beautiful in any room, morning, noon and night. A colour featured here is Mineral Mist.
West-facing
Thanks to the setting sun, west-facing rooms are dramatically lit in the evening. Depending on what the room is used for, go for pale greys to keep it relaxing; or warm, earthy palettes to create an invigorating space. Avoid painting with blue shades, which can make west-facing rooms feel cold. The colour Perfectly Taupe sets the scene in the photo featured above.
Artificial light
Halogen bulbs give off a clear white light that won’t distort paint colours, while incandescent bulbs produce a yellow light that intensifies warm tints – perfect for living spaces. LED bulbs are a versatile option, with many shades of white light available to suit any setting. The Dulux Colour of the Year 2019, Spiced Honey, features here.
Try colours out beforehand with a colour tester
To get the best results and find colours to suit your home’s natural lighting, paint a small test area of the room you are decorating to see how your chosen colour looks in different lights. A top tip is to paint onto A4 pieces of paper, stick one piece of paper onto each wall and then check on them at different intervals during the day. To see how your chosen colours will look you can order your Dulux colour tester here.
Source: Dulux
