Considering the Orientation of a Space

When selecting paint shades for your home, the orientation of the room is a big consideration.

The amount and direction of light entering a room can completely alter the appearance of a colour. Once you have created a shortlist of colour options from our colour card, we always recommend ordering sample pots. Sampling the colours in situ is the best way to ensure you select a colour that sits comfortably in your room.

You might have a space that’s bathed in natural light, or the light might vastly change throughout the course of a day. You should always consider the orientation of each room separately to ensure you pick a shade that complements that space.

South-Facing Rooms

Choosing colour for south facing rooms can be tricky because south light is the brightest and warmest light and, therefore, it can be a little bit intense. So, cooler colours are often better for this kind of environment.

South-facing rooms tend to experience warmer light, which can cause both colours and neutrals to appear more yellow. This means cooler whites such as 'French Grey – Pale' or 'Gauze' will read as more neutral whites. Whereas warmer whites such as 'Silent White' or 'First Light' can appear quite cream in tone.

Strong, bold yellows like 'Yellow-Pink' or ‘Giallo’ will radiate warmth in south-facing rooms, creating a joyful and engaging environment. Consider using dark blues like 'Royal Navy' and 'Hicks' Blue' in place of greys and blacks to achieve a scheme with more depth and character.

Read our Creative Director Ruth’s guide to choosing colours for south-facing rooms.

North-Facing Rooms

Colours in north-facing rooms tend to appear consistently flatter and cooler than they would do bathed in natural light.

Our Creative Director, Ruth Mottershead suggests: "North light tends to be cold and blue-toned. For this reason, we recommend colours with warm undertones for north facing rooms, where that would be a yellow undertone, brown or pink."

Paler blues and greens may appear cold but experiment with stronger green-blues such as 'Air Force Blue' or 'Canton' for a warming impact for a warming impact. If you're looking for something more neutral, shades with a pink or yellow undertone such as 'Rolling Fog' or 'Stock' provide an uplift when used in an all-over scheme.

Explore Ruth’s recommended paint shades for north-facing rooms.

West-Facing Rooms

The natural light in west and east-facing rooms can change dramatically throughout the course of a day. As such, these rooms offer a wide range of possibilities when it comes to choosing colour. The function of the space is an important factor as you decide on a colour scheme. Neutrals are a timeless choice to help you create a scheme that feels comfortable and easy to live with.

To maximise the changing light in a west-facing room, consider varying the strength of shades throughout the space. The 'Colour Scales' card provides families of tonal hues using the same pigment, which you can use in combination for a harmonious scheme. Utilise bold accent colours on architectural features, furniture or woodwork for a strong highlight.

East-Facing Rooms

If you have a bedroom or perhaps a kitchen that faces east, make the most of the morning light with a strong or radiant colour. Consider inviting hues like ‘Sunlight’ or ‘Bombolone’ to create the perfect environment to wake up to.

In east-facing rooms, neutrals with blue or green undertones will help to create balance in the bright morning light. Consider shades like ‘Green Stone’ or ‘Portland Stone’ that will appear subdued and restful in the evening light too.

Learn more about selecting colours for an east-facing space.

Order sample pots to test within your space or read our guide to sampling in situ.