The Best White and Pastel Colors for Every Kind of Natural Light
Understand how sunlight affects your rooms and get tips on choosing paint colors for each type of exposure
The best type of lighting in your house probably comes from the outside. Natural light gives our homes a radiance that you can’t get from any kind of lamp or overhead lighting fixture. It can also help lower energy bills.
However, on one hand, too much sun can make a room look and feel intensely bright. On the other, the lack of sunlight can make a space appear cool and shadowy. In either situation, natural light can distort a room’s paint colors, which can be frustrating. Before you select a wall color, read these tips for how to work with your room’s natural light.
However, on one hand, too much sun can make a room look and feel intensely bright. On the other, the lack of sunlight can make a space appear cool and shadowy. In either situation, natural light can distort a room’s paint colors, which can be frustrating. Before you select a wall color, read these tips for how to work with your room’s natural light.
If you prefer a neutral color for your south-facing space, gray is the natural choice. Just remember that grays, like all colors, can have warm undertones. It’s best to avoid ones that “read” taupe or greige. Instead, look for a gray that leans toward blue. In fact, depending on the time of day, this type of gray could appear as if it’s actually blue. However, with a bluish undertone, you’ll know that you’re getting a neutral that will cool down your sunny space and provide a contemporary look.
A similar color to try is Wind Chill from Behr.
A similar color to try is Wind Chill from Behr.
Northern exposure. A north-facing room gets very little, if any, direct sunlight, and the light that does filter through is cool and less intense. The room also appears darkened by shadows. I’ve had many clients who’ve been frustrated by the lack of sunshine in their northern-exposed spaces, especially since certain paint colors seem to just disappear on the walls. In this case, a great hue to use is a peach or an off-white with peach undertones. This color mimics the sun’s rays and will make your space feel as if it’s drenched in warm natural light.
This paint color is Happy Valley from Benjamin Moore.
This paint color is Happy Valley from Benjamin Moore.
To bring even more coziness to a north-facing room, pair a cream wall color with natural wood window casings. Choose a midtone stain that has a delicious honey hue. This will give those cool rays a jolt of warmth. Go even further and install hardwood flooring in the same tone. Your space will feel harmonious and coordinated, and the flooring will reflect light, which will make the space seem brighter.
This paint color is Gentle Cream from Benjamin Moore.
This paint color is Gentle Cream from Benjamin Moore.
Western exposure. West-facing rooms are my favorite because they receive the afternoon’s orange-tinted natural light. Also, if your windows are perfectly positioned, you get a spectacular view of the sunset. For large rooms that face west, I often specify an off-white that has a slightly mauve undertone. It’s a great way to amplify the sun’s rays as they turn peach late in the day.
A similar color to try is Everyday White from Sherwin-Williams.
A similar color to try is Everyday White from Sherwin-Williams.
I love using uncommon colors to create feature walls in a space. In west-facing rooms, I tend to use an accent in the purple or pink family because these shades look the most radiant in the afternoon sun. Paired with crisp white, a lavender hue appears sophisticated and glamorous.
The lavender paint color used here is Beach Plum from Benjamin Moore. A similar white paint color to try is Decorator’s White from Benjamin Moore.
The lavender paint color used here is Beach Plum from Benjamin Moore. A similar white paint color to try is Decorator’s White from Benjamin Moore.
Eastern exposure. Rooms that face east receive morning sun. These spaces get direct sunlight that is warm and clear with yellowish undertones. Light tans and other soft earth tones work well in these rooms. These toned-down hues allow your room to look bright and light-filled in the morning without feeling too intense. And in the afternoon, when the room is covered in shade, you’ll have a cozy space that’s perfect for taking an afternoon nap.
A similar color to try is Awakening by McCormick Paints.
A similar color to try is Awakening by McCormick Paints.
In my opinion, nothing is better than starting a summer day with a cup of coffee on the porch. For an east-facing outdoor space, a warm white paint color will maximize the sun’s crisp morning rays. For a serene monochromatic look, paint the entire area — columns, siding, ceiling and even the outdoor furniture — with the same hue.
A similar color to try is White Flour by Sherwin-Williams.
Tell us: What colors have you used to maximize your room’s natural light? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Myth-Buster: The Right Way to Test Paint Colors
How to Choose the Paint Color You Really Want
A similar color to try is White Flour by Sherwin-Williams.
Tell us: What colors have you used to maximize your room’s natural light? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Myth-Buster: The Right Way to Test Paint Colors
How to Choose the Paint Color You Really Want
A similar color to try is Bastille Blue from Glidden.