How to Choose Paint Colours for a North-Facing Room

A north-facing room receives little direct sun, so the light is cooler, flatter and often greyer than in a room that faces south. Colours that look warm and inviting on a swatch in the shop can look dull or cold once they are on the wall. The good news is that a few simple principles make the choice easier, and there is no need to fight the room.

Key takeaways

• North light is cool and steady, so colours tend to look bluer and greyer.
• Warm undertones usually balance the cool light better than stark whites or cool greys.
• LRV tells you how much light a colour reflects, but it is only a guide.
• Test large samples on more than one wall, and look at them morning, afternoon and evening.

Understanding north light

Direct sunlight has a warm tone. North light is indirect, which makes it cooler and more constant through the day. That consistency is why many artists prefer it, but in a living room or bedroom it can make pale colours look flat. Artificial lighting changes things again, because warm bulbs in the evening pull colours towards yellow and cool bulbs towards blue. Your room has to work under all of these.

Look at LRV and undertones

Light Reflectance Value

LRV is a scale from 0 (absorbs all light) to 100 (reflects all light), and most paint makers publish it for each colour. A higher LRV generally looks brighter in a dim room. But a high LRV is not a cure-all, because a very pale colour with a cool undertone can still look chilly. Use LRV alongside what you see in your room, not instead of it.

Warm undertones

Every colour has an undertone. A white may lean blue, green, pink or yellow. In a north-facing room, softly warm whites, creams, stone and gentle earthy tones often feel more comfortable than crisp brilliant whites or cool greys. The aim is to add warmth without making the room look yellow.

Test properly

Small swatch cards can mislead because they are seen against the white of the card and the colour around them. Better practice is:

1. Paint a sample board or a large area, at least A2 size, rather than a small patch.
2. Move it to different walls, including one near the window and one in the darkest corner.
3. Look at it in the morning, at midday, in the evening and under your normal lamps.
4. Live with it for a few days before deciding.
5. Check it next to your flooring, curtains and woodwork, since surroundings change how a colour looks.

Consider the sheen

Sheen affects how light behaves on the wall. A flat matt finish gives a soft, velvety look and hides minor imperfections, while higher sheens reflect more light and can add a little life to a dim room. On walls, a matt or a soft-sheen emulsion is common. Higher sheens show every flaw in the surface, so they depend on good preparation. Woodwork typically takes a satin or eggshell finish for durability. If you are curious about how finish choices affect the result, our article on what makes a professional paint finish different goes into more detail.

Consider going darker

It feels the wrong thing to do, but dark colours can work well in north-facing rooms. Deep greens, blues, inky tones and rich neutrals embrace the low light rather than fighting it, and can make a room feel enclosed and cosy. A study, snug or dining room suits this approach. A north-facing space will never feel sunny, so sometimes the better answer is to make it feel intentional. Dark colours do need careful preparation and sometimes more coats, so discuss it with your decorator.

Do not forget the ceiling and woodwork

The ceiling reflects light back into the room, so a bright, warm-leaning white can help. Using the same colour on walls and woodwork, or a slightly different shade, is a way of creating a calm, continuous look. There are no rules, only what suits the room and how you use it.

Getting a second opinion

Paint manufacturers offer tester pots, colour cards and sometimes consultancy, and their websites, which we list on our links page, are a good start. If you would like practical input from someone who will be doing the work, mention it when you contact us. You can find out more about our interior painting and decorating services, or go straight to requesting a quotation and tell us which rooms face north. We will talk through the options with you.