Paint Color for East-Facing Room

11 years ago

I've read conflicting advice. Some articles say since the light coming in tends to be cooler, use cool blues and greens that work with it. Other articles say use warm colors to counteract the cool light. Anyone care to weigh in? TIA!

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Lori A. Sawaya

11 years ago

Well, thank you. This might be the last place on the internet where words with more than one syllable, long paragraphs, and posts with just words and no pictures are still acceptable. (I have issues with 'the rules' of blogging if you can't tell)

Speaking of words. . . with north light, maybe balanced is a better fit than neutral. North light in North America will always be indirect light spilling into the house, it never *beams* in like a south exposure. North light has the most balanced spectrum weighted in blue and green wavelengths and less in the 'warmer' wavelengths. Which is where the perception of a 'cool' characteristic comes from. This plus the fact that it is indirect and produces no glare renders a feeling of "dim" and gives us the nature of north light.

South light is the opposite. It is direct (summer more than winter) and reaches farther into the space than indirect north light. It beams in bigger than all the other exposures so it's fuller, stronger, renders closest to pure white light because of its broad and robust spectrum. It starts ramping up with the sun, hits its highest note of intensity at midday, and lingers through the afternoon.

Many points of opposing spectral characteristics but oddly north and south exposures have the most in common with regard to partnering with color characteristics. In different ways they each negate saturation. And so for different reasons, it's often wise to reach for bolder colors to partner with north and south exposures. If you remember, I said that saturation is a whopping 50% of the nuance equation. Which speaks to why my mantra is you have to partner the perfect pitch of nuance with quality/characteristic of inherent light.

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Comments (9)

Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
I think you should pick a color based on something else and try the samples in the room and see how you like them.
LuAnn_in_PA
11 years ago
Work with colors YOU like... and the room will be gorgeous!
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You are right about the North facing rooms being difficult to make look brighter. Usually White Paint in a North room doesn't work. White paint needs light in order to make it look white! That's prob why you have difficulty. plus, it's usually a cooler, bluer light from the north. AS you can see, your winter white is a gray/green undertone. not the best color to have in a bathroom! Definitely not a warm white! Vanilla Milkskake is a warmer white. leans on the yellow/green spectrum though I tried White Dove in my room (west/south) and couldn't stand it. too dingy looking. I painted over it w/Simply White. White Opulance is a nice white. but it's a red undertone, not a warm yellow. (has a very slight pink hue. This one would actually be better in your bathroom) You should read those links I posted above. she talks about diff light from diff directions and gives paint advice. https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-most-popular-benjamin-moore-paint-colours-north-facing-northern-exposure-rooms/
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Lori A. Sawaya
11 years ago
It doesn't have anything to do with temperature -- unless color temperature is significantly meaningful to your personal color tolerance. i.e. a preponderance for warm colors and you choose to meet that tolerance.

It's about nuance. Partner the perfect pitch of nuance with inherent light source. In a nutshell, that's what color consultants do. 99.9% of them don't know that's what they're doing, but it is. They think they're matching color, pulling color, aligning undertones, aligning color temperature, aligning tone, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Deconstructed the essence of every color quest is about how to get color right to work with natural and/or artificial inherent light.

You can choose any hue, either color temperature and any lightness value for any exposure of intermediate / cardinal direction. As long as the pitch of nuance is right. Nuance is a focus and consideration of two dimensions of color at the same time. Saturation + Lightness Value (LRV) = Nuance.

How you determine what hue, color temperature and lightness value is to identify the kind of atmosphere (or mood) you want to create. Because Hue + Color Temperature + Lightness Value (LRV) + Nuance = Atmosphere.

Easy peasy, right? ;)

Light quality influences and defines in situ color but in situ color does not influence quality of light. Because the light is boss. Always.

Been online in #SoMe for many years, I read a lot of blogs, FB pages, sites, etc. and I've never once seen anyone speak to this aspect of color correctly. Most of it's the same stupid bullsh1t repeated over and over. Stuff like north light is blue so it will turn yellow paint color green. Ridiculous. It's like that old game Telephone - a game of Telephone gone horribly, horribly wrong. Unfortunately, urban legends, myths and totally bogus color tips and tricks are all a big part of what makes blogosphere go 'round.
stinky-gardener
11 years ago
"I've never once seen anyone speak to this aspect of color correctly." Many people understand a subject well, but can't write about it with clarity. But you, Funcolors, write as beautifully as you understand and work with color!

I love reading your posts, not only because they offer so much good information, but because they are written so well. Good writing enhances understanding of any topic for the reader!
bronwynsmom
11 years ago
Funcolors, I always learn so much from your explanations.

Do you think it's fair to say that northern light is cooler and more neutral, and southern light warmer?
stinky-gardener
11 years ago
"Light quality influences and defines in situ color but in situ color does not influence quality of light. Because the light is boss. Always."

Good to know. Light is always the boss.

Which is why the paint color that looks fabulous at my sister's house, which is flooded with natural light and located on the water, looks not so stunning in my house which is not similarly situated. By the same token, the pink that looks soft and pretty on my living room walls may look garish on hers. Our lighting is SO different.

So finding that swatch on the paint deck that we fall madly in love with is only a small part of the adventure? It's vital to then try it on for size...in the light, in the room, it will be in, and see if the love affair continues.
Nat Ben
5 years ago
Lori, I have been reading your comments all day. wondering if you could help? i need a trim paint color that look warm (not dirty) white ( it not cold) in an east facing room. I have a green/gray/brown on my walls. any ideas? I painted the trim pure white and it looks really gray to me at time.
suew5659
5 years ago
I would like that question answered also.

Paint Color for East-Facing Room

Lori A. Sawaya

Comments (9)

Annie Deighnaugh

LuAnn_in_PA

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Lori A. Sawaya

stinky-gardener

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