Choosing the Best Paint Colour for Every Orientation – North, South, East, West Facing Rooms

When it comes to decorating, light is everything. The way sunlight moves through your home can completely change how a colour looks on your walls. That’s where room orientation comes in.

A north-facing room doesn’t get the same glow as a sunny south-facing space, and east- and west-facing rooms shift dramatically throughout the day. But here’s the good news: there’s no such thing as “bad” light. Once you understand how light affects your room, you can choose paint colours that work with it, not against it, to create the atmosphere you want.

So let’s look at each orientation in turn, plus some of my favourite paint shades to try in those spaces.

How to decide which orientation room you have 

Most smartphones have a compass app already installed on them, so you can simply aim your phone at the largest window in the room and whichever direction the dial points toward, this is your room orientation!

If you’d rather take a more natural approach, you can monitor the sunlight as it pours into the room throughout the day. 

  • North: consistent but cooler, softer light.
  • South: bright, warm light all day.
  • East: bright in the morning, cooler by evening.
  • West: dimmer mornings, golden glow in the afternoon/evening.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Colour

Orientation is just one piece of the puzzle. Before you decide on a paint shade, also think about:

Purpose of the room – Is it for relaxing, entertaining, or working?

Furniture and accessories – What’s already in the space, and what tones do they bring in?

When you use the room most – Morning? Afternoon? Evening?

The vibe you want – Cosy and cocooning, fresh and airy, calm and restful?

Paint finish – Flat matt absorbs light beautifully, while satin or eggshell reflects it.

Choosing Paint Colours for North Facing Rooms

Key characteristics of a north facing room:

  • Soft, indirect daylight with a cool, blue cast.
  • Light levels stay fairly steady through the day, but you don’t get much direct sun.
  • Whites and cooler colours can read a bit flat or chilly.
  • Can feel darker and cooler, especially in winter.

Neutral paint colours with deep yellow undertones like @ourhome_upnorth’s colour match “LG Clay Deep” give North facing spaces dimension by knocking back the cold tones of the natural light and taking on a modern, ashen beige tone.

Tips for painting north facing rooms 

  • Avoid stark whites and cool-toned colours (greys, blues, lilacs) that enhance coldness.

 

  • The same can also be said for brilliant white - it’s often used as a go-to colour for North facing rooms, however because it doesn’t contain any warm pigments to provide that much needed dimension, it has the opposite effect to what is intended.

 

  • Opt for light shades with warm undertones (such as yellow, green, brown, pink, red) to brighten the space by bouncing light and adding dimension. Think neutral, off-white, beige, greige and taupe!

 

  • Embrace the dark: enveloping shade that’s rich in pigments to bring a whole new level of cosiness to the room. Blue or red based off-blacks and deep teals & greens work beautifully!

 

 

  • For a warming and cocooning space, mid-toned shades are the answer: mid-toned greige or taupe shades would be a great choice here, not leaning too heavily on a blue undertone. Think about Paint & Paper Library’s Opus which is a muted, muddy purple-grey. Compassionate and modern, DCO Off Whites Collection Pebble White, a soothing neutral based white with a delicate drop of grey, making it not too warm nor too cool. This beautiful shade is a great all rounder, pure neutral undertones make it suitable for all room orientations or try Paint & Paper Library’s Plaster V, a warming dusky pink shade with brown undertones.

 

 I love how @overatcharlies have created extra depth & dimension in their living room by using two colour matches with similar undertones: Pebble White - a soothing neutral based white with a delicate drop of grey, and NTB275 - a midtone, neutral stony grey. 

Our top 5 colours for north facing, dark and low light rooms

Mineral white - Mineral White is an organic, neutral white with a soft warmth. This versatile shade brightens and warms its surroundings to give the appearance of space and a feeling of calmness. This stony off white is an ideal alternative to brilliant white as it doesn’t have those stark undertones that could be drawn out by the cool natural light.

Morning sun - This muted mid-tone rusty orange has a warming copper undertone that we feel brings the feeling of morning sun inside - what more could you want for your North facing room?! With a beautiful softness, Morning Sun creates a stunning backdrop as a feature wall, or equally would look just as impactful displayed throughout an entire room for a truly rustic aesthetic. If you’d like something a little different, use this understated rust orange as a striking colour block shade against stony white walls (we recommend Mineral White or Flat White)!

Greyish Beige - More warmth than grey, but more depth than beige… That's greige! Get the best of both with this light, warm grey beige that reminds us of slowly setting plaster. It has an ambient yet grounded feel and its earthy undertones are perfect for counteracting that cool, North facing light.

Dried Pampas -  Dried Pampas is a mid-tone, neutral camo yellow paint colour, inspired by what is undeniably still one of the most popular interior décor trends! Olive undertones keep its yellow hues grounded, making it the perfect earthy neutral beige paint colour for any North facing room.

Sweet Liquorice - Embrace the dark side with this delicious, moody charcoal grey! Sweet Liquorice may be softer than pure black, but it still has buckets of character. Whether you’re aiming to create a bold feature wall, or you want to drench your room in mystery, this soft black paint colour has the perfect balance of drama and chilled vibes to transform your North facing space.

Choosing Paint Colours for South Facing Rooms 

Key characteristics of a south facing room:

  • Bright, warm natural light for most of the day.
  • A sunny, yellow tone that makes colours look warmer.
  • Midday light can wash out very pale shades.
  • Rooms can feel hot if the palette leans too warm.

@visitnumber7’s dressing room is painted in our colour match “Simply White” - a clean, crisp white paint colour reminiscent of fresh snowfall, which beautifully reflects the temperature of its surroundings.

Tips for painting South Facing Rooms

  • Off white, neutral and grey colours with crisp blue, green and violet undertones will bring balance by knocking out some of the intense warmth. This keeps the space feeling fresh, airy and not “too hot”.

 

  • To achieve a true middle ground neutral shade, go for cooler grey-based neutrals and mid-greys - they will neutralise in the warm light and take on a much warmer role!

 

  • Deep, moody colours take on a much more modest appearance in South facing rooms so you can afford to go darker; this will prevent them looking too powdery or washed out.

 

  • Due to the warming yellow tones of the natural light, colours with cooler blue and green undertones will work well in a south facing room. will help to balance and neutralise the warmth of the natural light and will help to create a fresher, calmer space which lends itself to a more contemporary vibe. For this look I would opt for DCO COTY Stormy Skies, DCO COTY Warmer Than White and DCO COTY Essential Greige.

 

 

 

 

  • A flat matt is going to help absorb some of the brightness in the room so is definitely the finish of choice! Remember we have scrubbable matt finishes to use if you’re decorating a high traffic area! 

@bd_home know exactly how to take advantage of the golden sunlight in their living room! Our colour match “NTB299” is an earthy, blue grey shade, which transforms into a stunning muted aqua colour as it absorbs the warmth from South facing sunlight.

Our top 5 colours for bright south facing rooms

Cool White - A wintry white with cool lead undertones, Cool White will work beautifully in the clear, bright light of your South facing room! Use it throughout the space on its own, or pair it with deep blue shades or black for a crisp, monochromatic scheme. 

Mindset - If you’re looking for a tranquil paint colour to boost your mental wellbeing, look no further than Mindset! A beautiful arctic blue softened with a hint of grey, this soothing shade has icy, true blue undertones which will neutralise in the glowing sunlight to create a calm and truly balanced atmosphere.

Canyon - Just like the distinct layers of the Grand Canyon, this earthy rust orange shade radiates warmth & beauty. Canyon’s persimmon undertones are kept grounded with a hint of copper, so will work beautifully in any space! However when placed in the warm glowing light of a South facing room, this rustic shade will illuminate the space with its energy without looking too “primary”.

Tal Tango - The perfect balance of green and blue, set with a grey undertone - Teal Tango’s dreamy turquoise hues will radiate in the warm light of a South facing room! Providing the ultimate feeling of cosiness and warmth, this striking teal paint colour would work beautifully in a number of rooms throughout your home, including the living room or even as a bold hallway colour.

Deep Breath - Just like a deep breath on a crisp Autumn walk - this soft grey is cool and fresh, with a minty undertone. If you’re looking to create a soothing space where you can truly recharge, consider embracing Biophilic design and introduce more green in your home decor. Green reconnects us with nature by bringing the outside in, creating balanced spaces that promote mental wellbeing.

Choosing Paint Colours for East Facing Rooms

Key characteristics of an east facing room:

  • Warm, bright sunshine in the morning.
  • From lunchtime onwards the light cools and softens.
  • Early shadows and changing light mean colours can shift through the day.
  • Afternoons can feel a little greyer or flatter.

@our_eclectic_victorian have used our colour match Duvet Day in their living room. This grounded, warm pale beige absorbs the cool evening light to create a calm and balanced ambience.

Tips for painting east facing rooms

  • The light changes throughout the day. This can wash out some of the colour on your walls so it's worth bearing in mind when you’re testing and sampling your colours to review them at separate times in the day! 

 

  • For green tones I would opt for DCO COTY Hushed, a subdued and muted grey green shade which would look nice and warm in the morning but will maintain its warming characteristics as the day passes over. You’ll even manage with darker tones such as DCO COTY Eucalyptus or if you’re wanting to keep with more beige/neutral tones  DCO COTY Warmer Than White. 

 

  • If you’re using your east facing room mostly on an evening you may want to opt for colours that are a little warmer and with a little more colour than a neutral shade. Again these shades will also work in the morning but they’ll be at their best in the afternoon and evening light.

 

 

@stephfrom_belmont has used our COTY 04 in her kitchen for a calm, balanced space that maximises the natural light

Our top 5 colours for east facing rooms

Deep breath - Deep Breath is a gorgeous minty green paint colour with soft, pearly undertones which would create a serene atmosphere in any East facing room where balance is needed in the morning.

Stay Grounded - For East facing spaces that need to feel balanced in the evening, Stay Grounded is the perfect statement neutral. Its earthy undertones absorb the cool evening light, making this peachy, warm shade take on a much more neutral profile for a modern appearance.

Blue Pause - Blue Pause is a grey, true blue that encourages relaxation and promotes mental wellbeing. Although it is a true blue, this shade has a tranquil softness to it, making it ideal for East facing spaces used to unwind in. Alternatively, you could utilise Blue Pause’s calming influence and bring an element of calm to busy spaces!

Tea Leaves - Tea Leaves may be ideal for warming up cooler spaces, however it can also be used to make a real statement in your East facing room! This striking, rich grey is set with an oaky undertone to create a bold shade with a difference - watch it transform from an earthy warm neutral hue in the morning to a deep, smoky grey in the evening. 

Flat White - A DCO favourite! Flat White is a balanced shade, making it a perfect option for an East facing room. Its warm brown undertones will take the edge off cooler evening light, while its grey hues will keep it from appearing too creamy or “hot” in the warmer morning light. 

Choosing Paint Colours for West Facing Rooms

Key characteristics of a west facing room:

  • Cooler, dimmer light in the morning.
  • Brighter around midday.
  • A golden, cosy glow in late afternoon and evening.
  • Colours can look muted at breakfast, then rich and warm by sunset.

Our colour match Egyptian Cotton looks gorgeous in @bungalowneutral ‘s neutral living room! It has slightly ashen tones to keep cool light at bay, while remaining neutral.

Tips for painting west facing rooms

  • Mornings: whilst the room has a cooler tone to it you may want to warm up the space. Warm neutrals with yellow and red undertones such as  Dulux Heritage Pale Nutmeg, and Dulux Heritage Flax Seed will help to balance some of the shaded grey vibes in the room.

 

  • As the light gets brighter in the middle of the day this can wash out the colour on your walls a little but it's just for a shorter period of time. Rich warm colours can be a great choice here and they will have a glorious glow to them once the warm afternoon light floods in. These shades will balance the bright, glowy light but bear in mind that they’re likely to appear quite flat in the morning.

 

  • Evenings: you might want to maximise the warmth with red, pink or brown undertones for a truly cosy home ambience. rich warm colours can be a great choice here and they will have a glorious glow to them once the warm afternoon light floods in. Shades like Little Greene Bombolone and Farrow & Ball’s Red Earth would be a great option here!

 

 

@home2style have embraced the dark side with our colour match NTB57 - a soft black - for a real dose of character! The addition of natural wood and off whites softens the overall appearance of the space, without cancelling out the impact of this bold off black shade.

Our top 5 colours for west facing rooms

Soft shadows - With ashen undertones to knock back cooler light, Soft Shadows is a perfect neutral for West facing rooms where more balance is needed earlier in the day. The crisp morning light will offset the warm undertones of this soft beige, creating a beautiful neutral shade that won’t overpower the space.

Self Gratitude - Although it is a cooler, grey toned shade, this homely green is far from cold! Self Gratitude will work beautifully in a West facing room where balance is needed to offset the warmer evening light. It is a perfect shade to incorporate into your Biophilic home décor scheme, bringing the outside in and boosting your mental wellbeing.

Sweet Liquorice - A deliciously deep, dark charcoal grey with moody undertones! Sweet Liquorice is softer than a pure black, making it a perfect choice for a bold feature wall or an enveloping full room makeover. Although it is not particularly warm in tone, its depth of colour and character will provide all of the cosiness you could ask for, while embracing the natural light in your West facing room!

Alpaca Greige - This soft, dusty neutral paint colour has captured everything that we love about greige! With more warmth than grey but more depth than beige, this versatile neutral shade works especially well in North facing rooms and West facing rooms by offsetting the light to create a more harmonious space - morning and evening!

Gypsy Beads - Far from bubblegum, Gypsy Beads is a “grown up” pink with muted rose pigments. A true DCO favourite - this rich, earthy shade is bold, but not shouty! It is incredibly versatile and will work in any space, however its powdery, yet earthy, hues make it ideal for making a statement in your West facing room.

Room orientation might sound technical, but it’s simply about noticing how light interacts with your space. Once you’ve got a feel for whether your room is cool, warm, bright or shaded, you can pick colours that enhance it, and love the way your home feels all day long.

If you’re ready to find the perfect paint for your home, explore our full paint collection at Decorating Centre Online or take our Colour Finder Quiz for a personalised recommendation.

Happy decorating!
Helen x

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