How Does Lighting Affect Paint Colours?

When it comes to interior painting projects, it can be extremely difficult to choose the perfect colour for various rooms in your home. In addition to choosing the perfect colour and sheen, it is crucial to consider natural and artificial light. As a leading provider of interior painting solutions, the team at Dunbar Painting knows how influential lighting can be. That is why we have provided an overview of natural and artificial light considerations to help you make an informed decision for your project.

Learn how to choose the right interior paint colour for your project.

Natural Lighting

Natural light can drastically influence the colour of paint based on the direction it is coming from and the time of day.

North-Facing Rooms

North-facing rooms can be tough to work with as they tend to get less light. Light from the north is cooler and tends to have a dulling effect on colours. If you do not want your space to look dark and dingy, it is best to choose colours with warmer undertones.

South-Facing Rooms

These rooms are typically the easiest spaces to work with. Since they are filled with light for most of the day, most colours will look great in these spaces. To truly take advantage of the light, go for lighter and warmer tones.

East-Facing Rooms

East-facing rooms have the opposite experience of west-facing rooms as they experience the glow of morning light and get progressively darker throughout the day. This means that you will need to consider whether you want to highlight the morning light or want to make the space more inviting during the evening.

West-Facing Rooms

Rooms that face west get a few different types of light throughout the day. Since they do not get much morning light, colours tend to be a bit grey or dulled at this time of day. As the light shifts, the room will warm up and make bright colours more vibrant.

Artificial Lighting

Artificial lighting becomes a larger factor during the evening or for rooms that do not get much natural light.

Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent bulbs give off a blue-tinted light that works well with cooler colours like blue and green. This type of lighting tends to dull warmer colours, so you may need to go a bit brighter to balance it out.

Halogen Lighting

Halogen lights are the closest to natural light. Since they give off a white light and do not change the appearance of most colours, they work well with both warm and cool colours.

Incandescent Lighting

Incandescent bulbs give off a warmer light with yellow or amber undertones. This can enhance warmer colours like red, orange, or yellow and make them seem brighter while making cool colours like blue and green appear duller and muted.

To learn more about lighting and paint colours or to discuss the details of your interior painting project, get in touch with the team at Dunbar Painting. We can be reached through our online contact form and will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our services.