The direction a room is positioned in your home, be it north, south, east, or west; plays a huge impact on how it affects the interior color scheme. Design professionals and interior colorists realize how the impression light plays, and how it can dramatically change the tones and hues of colors in a room. When developing a color scheme for a room, interior designers take into account the direction a space faces and the degree of exposure to natural light plays on the colors.

For example, a kitchen that faces east will get lots of natural light in the morning, but in the afternoon into the evening with the use of ceiling and task lighting, colors can greatly change its temperature intensity.

The direction a space faces in a home, should be taken into consideration when selecting colors.

Natural Light Exposure

Certainly, an ideal position is not always possible for everyone. Apartments may enjoy little natural light, being enclosed on two sides. A north-facing room can expect less sun than a south or west facing one; but whatever the view, with clever lighting and color scheming the interior can be made to feel welcoming and appealing.

Contemporary homes with roomy open-plan interiors and large windows will be considerably altered by the exposure of natural light and seasonal changes. If a dining room with a patio deck attached is used as an additional seating area during the warmer months, the color palette will have to be flexible enough to accommodate the changes.

Experiment with Colors

For people in doubt over lighting and color schemes, design professionals suggest getting a paint sample of your color choice prepared at a paint or home improvement store. Paint a small area of the color on a wall and observe how it changes over the course of several days.

Put color samples flat on the floor and move them around the room to see how different positions and lighting conditions can affect the color.

To actually see how light affects the color and how it may change during different times of the day and the seasons, will help you clearly see if that color works before making a final decision.

Apply These Light & Color Principles

Now that you have a better understanding on how light plays a vital role in a room’s color scheme, keep the above tips and principles in mind and to use on your next painting project. Exploring the effects light has on a space is an important factor to consider in order to create the perfect color scheme for your home.