By Sam Wylie-Harris
At the dawn of a new day, when you pull back the curtains or pull the blind, there鈥檚 a moment when you might ask yourself: How does natural light affect my room, and my mood?
And for purposes here, how the colour of the walls is impacted by which way your room faces.
Indeed, whether you鈥檙e tempted to try the colour drenching trend or simply refreshing a tired-looking space, the experts at Dulux say a pro tip when picking the perfect paint colour is to consider the room鈥檚 sunlight鈥 or lack of.
鈥淭he same colour can look completely different depending on the light you see it in. Just like our clothes, colours differ when we鈥檙e standing in the sun compared to the shade,鈥 explains Marianne Shillingford, creative director and colour expert at Dulux.
鈥淣atural light shifts in visual temperature and intensity throughout the day, and is also hugely affected by aspect,鈥 highlights Shillingford.
鈥淪o, when decorating, find out whether your room faces north, south, east or west, and use it as the guide to tell you which colours will work best at the time of the day you use it most.鈥
To help make decorating that little bit easier, Dulux have broken down how light behaves in north, south, east and west-facing rooms 鈥 and what colours will make them glow all-year round鈥
South-facing rooms 鈥 embrace the light
Cited as the sun-drenched stars of any home, thanks to long hours of bright, natural light throughout the day, almost any colour can work here鈥
鈥淪outh-facing spaces are a dream,鈥 underlines Shilingford. 鈥淭he quality of light is warm and constant, meaning colours appear more vibrant; so the only colours I鈥檇 avoid are those that are already quite luminous.
鈥淎nd if you want to take the edge off the heat, cooler colours help create balance and calm.鈥
She says to think soft blues, gentle greens, delicate lilac and petal pinks. 鈥淭hey bring a breezy, tranquil quality that鈥檚 especially lovely in summer.鈥
North-facing rooms 鈥 turn up the warmth
On the other end of the light quality spectrum, north-facing rooms get less natural sunlight, often leaving them feeling cooler, or slightly shadowed 鈥 and perfect canvas for warm, comforting shades.
鈥淭he instinct might be to opt for light shades in a darker room, but pale colours can end up looking a bit flat or cold,鈥 advises Shilingford.
鈥淚nstead, lean into the room鈥檚 natural character with warmer tones that add depth and cosiness.鈥
She suggests warm pinks and soft rust hues 鈥 or go all out with uplifting yellows, to bring a comforting glow to north-facing rooms which the colour expert says can sometimes feel a little cool.
Even your go-to neutrals should have warm undertones, says Shillingford, who recommends choosing shades which help create a cosy, inviting atmosphere that works beautifully with limited natural light.
East-facing rooms 鈥 rise and shine
If you鈥檙e first on the scene, east-facing rooms get the best of the morning sun, with light that鈥檚 cool, bright and crisp 鈥 but it fades as the day goes on鈥
鈥淭hese are great spaces for early risers or morning routines,鈥 notes Shillingford. 鈥淏ecause the light is cooler, especially early on, colours with a bit of warmth or softness can stop the room feeling stark.鈥
If the room is used mostly in the morning, she suggests cool, calming shades such as light olive green, fresh blues and soft neutrals. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l help create a serene start to the day.
鈥淚f your space comes to life later in the day, opt for warmer tones to balance the dimmer afternoon light and keep the room feeling welcoming.鈥
West-facing rooms 鈥 the golden hour
Cooler in the morning, west-facing rooms enjoy softer, warmer light in the late afternoon and early evening 鈥 making them ideal for winding down鈥
鈥淭he changing light in west-facing rooms adds drama and character,鈥 outlines Shilingford. 鈥淒uring the day, they can feel neutral or even a little cool, but come evening, the warm glow makes colours come alive.鈥
To keep things feeling consistent throughout the day, she says to choose shades that work well in both cool morning light and the warmer tones of evening.
Bold yet versatile colours such as raspberry tones, deep reds with a hint of pink, mid-greys or earthy greens and pale olive adapt beautifully, Shilingford suggests.
Alternatively, she says: 鈥淟ean into the room鈥檚 shifting character by adding bold feature colours, and using layered levels of lighting to highlight different moods throughout the day and night.鈥
Ultimately, no matter which way your room faces, Shilingford says there鈥檚 one golden rule. 鈥淕o with what brings you joy. Understanding a bit about the way natural and artificial light works is definitely helpful.
鈥淏ut the most important thing is how a colour makes you feel. If a shade makes you smile every time you walk into the room, that鈥檚 the right one for you.鈥
For more colour inspiration and to check your room aspect, try the Dulux Visualiser where you can order paint testers.