Posted on January 23, 2021 by KylieMawdsley
The Most Popular Paint Colors for Rooms with Northern Exposure
Have you ever walked into a room and gotten the chills? Even a room that’s well-decorated can look cold and uninviting if the exposure has been ignored, which happens ALL the time – and I’m here to put a stop to it.
A north-facing room won’t get any direct warm sunlight throughout the day, which means that it won’t benefit from the visual warmth that natural sunlight offers.
The Two Types of North-Facing Light
1. NORTH-FACING ROOMS WITH LOW NATURAL LIGHT
North-facing rooms with low light most often have small windows. However, the low light can also be caused by an overhang/patio above the window, close neighbor, or dense landscaping that blocks the natural light from coming in.
North-facing rooms naturally have a grayish light with a subtle blue cast. A north-facing room without much natural light can suffer from being more shadowed and having to deal with the gray undertone of the natural light offered – giving the room a more shaded and cold look. And be sure not to confuse ‘shadows’ (which need sunlight) with shaded – shaded means grayed-out.
2. NORTH-FACING ROOMS WITH A LOT OF NATURAL LIGHT
Bright north-facing rooms tend to have large or multiple windows with no patio/landscaping blocking the flow of natural light. But beware, just because these rooms are ‘bright’ doesn’t mean they’re warm looking.
This next photo shows a room with a pretty warmth – but that’s courtesy of the light bulbs, not the exposure! Look at the room to the right of it, and you’ll see the cool cast of the natural, northern light coming in.
A north-facing room with A LOT of natural light will have the same grayish cast but will at least have the support of ‘light’ to counteract the gray cast and brighten things up. However, the natural light itself can slightly wash out (gray out) some paint colors due to the color of the light while slightly enhancing cool tones such as blue, green, and violet.
You can also have a north-east facing room or a north-west facing room (seriously, it never ends). These rooms are ninjas and can change their look throughout the day as the sun shifts from east-west (read more HERE).
How to Pick Colors for Rooms With 2 Exposures
Northern light can wash out some paint colors
To counteract that cold, gray exposure, Designers often use warm paint colors as they create balance in the visual temperature of the room. While cool colors can be great accents, generally speaking, too many cool tones can double the effect of the already cold exposure and won’t add any balance or warmth.
Warm colors will help create balance in a north-facing room
1. BENJAMIN MOORE NAVAJO WHITE OC-95
Navajo White is a light, warm cream paint color. Cream is a yellow paint color with a neutral base added to calm it down. Northern light can ‘calm down’ the degree of yellow in a cream paint color, while the remaining yellow can help to counteract the northern light a bit.
- Navajo White will wash out a bit on a well-lit wall (as shown in the above photo) but holds itself well in average light. In a darker room, it will add warmth but will need some artificial light to come to life.
- The LRV of Navajo White is 78, meaning it’s off-white. Not sure what LRV is? You shouldn’t pick a paint color WITHOUT it (read more HERE)!
- In a south-facing room, expect Navajo White to look warmer/more yellow than it does above.
SIMILAR SHERWIN WILLIAMS CONSIDER FOR NORTH-FACING ROOMS
- Sherwin Williams Creamy
- Sherwin Williams Antique White
- Benjamin Moore White Down
2. BENJAMIN MOORE WINDS BREATH OC 24
Winds Breath is a color that doesn’t get NEARLY enough recognition. Personally, it’s one of my favorite, muted, warm neutrals.
Winds Breath has a wide range of neutrals in it, but not enough to fully commit to one in particular. This gives this awesome warm paint color some GREAT flexibility.
- With an LRV of 69.59, Winds Breath is on the higher end of the light range – winking at the off-white range.
- While Winds Breath is definitely muted, there’s still enough warmth to add some balance to cool northern light.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WINDS BREATH
- Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White
- Sherwin Williams White Duck
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore’s Winds Breath
3. BENJAMIN MOORE GENTLE CREAM OC-96
Gentle Cream is rich enough to add warmth to your space without weighing it down, as it’s still in the light range of paint colors. This heavy cream’s yellow-orange base will help balance out your cool northern light without looking overly colorful on your walls.
In a north-facing room, the undertones will be a bit less obvious than in a south-facing room, and it’s more likely to settle like a warm but neutral-looking paint color – keeping in mind the undertones/color will come up a bit more once the sun goes down (Elton John style).
- The LRV of Gentle Cream is 72.0, putting Gentle Cream in the ‘light’ range (Read more about LRV).
- Personally, I’ve used Gentle Cream in my home in north and south-facing rooms and LOVED it in both!
SIMILAR SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLORS FOR NORTH-FACING ROOMS
- Sherwin Williams Creamy
- Sherwin Williams Antique White
- Sherwin Williams Casa Blanca
Color Review of Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream
4. BENJAMIN MOORE LENOX TAN HC 43
As shown in this beautiful farmhouse living room below, Lenox Tan is a rich golden beige paint color tempered by a neutral earthy base which helps it come across as more NEUTRAL vs. golden.
Kylie M Online Color Consulting
- One of the more striking warm colors on this page, Lenox Tan is also the heaviest with an LRV of 43. Great for a well-lit room and rich and cozy for a darker space.
- In the above living room, we lightened it by 25%, just to account for the fact that the room was north-facing and had a patio overhang outside blocking the light.
5. BENJAMIN MOORE GRANT BEIGE HC 83
While Grant Beige is one of the more popular warm tan paint colors, its approach is very muted and subtle. It can be a great happy medium if you aren’t jazzed about the more golden approach of Lenox Tan or Gentle Cream but don’t want to dive into the greige end of things.
Grant Beige can work in a WELL-LIT north-facing room as long as you aren’t looking for a TYPICAL warm look and crave some neutral action.
- In the center of the above photo, notice the hint of green. This shows you how susceptible some neutrals are to pick up reflections – that’s the green landscaping outside the window! That being said, Grant Beige CAN pick up a very vague green all on its own.
- Grant Beige is the most ‘modern’ color on this page with its slightly cool tan look.
- With an LRV of 56.0, Grant Beige will do well in a well-lit room, but in a dark room without enough artificial lighting, it might fall a bit flat
SIMILAR SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COLORS FOR NORTH-FACING ROOMS
- Sherwin Williams Natural Tan
- Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan
- Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Grant Beige
How to Make a Dark Room Look Brighter – And it Ain’t with Paint!
Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…
Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a few reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…
- samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on the location
- at $6.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling
- if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room
Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE
5. BENJAMIN MOORE BALLET WHITE OC 9
Ballet White is a perfectly muted cream. While it has a touch of yellow for warmth, its neutral base calms it down, leaving enough warmth to balance some cool northern light.
Paint Color Review: Benjamin Moore Ballet White
- Notice the subtle warmth of a color like Ballet White in the above photo – juuuuust right.
- You may need to jump into the cream range if you want MORE warmth than white Ballet White offers.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO BALLET WHITE
- Sherwin Williams White Duck
- Sherwin Williams Shoji White
6. BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC 173
Edgecomb Gray is a beautiful blend of gray and beige with an almost creamy undertone. Along with Grant Beige, it’s another popular option for those of you wanting a more neutral-greige look but are afraid of your room looking cold.
In a north-facing room, you CAN expect Edgecomb Gray to lean MORE to the gray side than the creamy beige, but it shouldn’t pick up the blue-green undertones that a lot of greiges can in a north-facing room.
- Edgecomb Gray has an LRV of 63, so it might be a stitch too dark and neutral for a north-facing room that isn’t well-lit, so make sure it’s light and bright!
SIMILAR SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COLORS FOR NORTH-FACING ROOMS
- Sherwin Williams White Duck (not the same at all, but similar intentions)
There are MANY other colors that I’d throw in a north-facing room – that’s just a small sampling to get you on the right track. However, you might have noticed that they are ALL warm colors. If you’re absolutely DETERMINED to paint your north-facing room a cool paint color, here are a few I might humor…
7. BENJAMIN MOORE WOODLAWN BLUE HC 147
While I generally shy away from cool colors in a north-facing room, I do love Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue, and Woodlawn Blue as their increased CHROMA (color) brings things to life.
Why can Wythe and Woodlawn work where other cool colors fail? Wythe is a beautiful blend of blue-green-gray (pretty balanced). Woodlawn Blue is a blue-gray with a wink of green in it. And even though blue and green are BOTH traditionally cool colors, adding green to blue can make it look warmer and softer! So, schlong story short, if I were to pick a blue for a north-facing room, I would pick a blue with green in it.
The 8 Best Blue-Green Paint Colors
The 2 Types of Blue Paint Colors and How to Use Them
- these colors will be at their best in a north-facing room with ample or at least moderate natural light
- any cool color in a north-facing room will need to be supplemented with warm wood tones and texture
SIMILAR SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COLORS FOR NORTH-FACING ROOMS
- Sherwin Williams Tradewind
- Sherwin Williams Rainwashed
8. BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER HC 172
You can also take a look at Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, which is a WARM color, but definitely the most ‘gray’ on this page.
Revere Pewter is a light warm gray with an earthy green undertone. In a south-facing room, it’s more inclined to lean into its warmth. However, in a north-facing room, it’s more likely to lean back into gray a bit, and the odd time can pick up the other cool gray undertones.
- Revere Pewter has an LRV of 55.1, so it’s closer to the light-medium range as it has a good depth. For this reason, I would be more inclined to use it in a reasonably well-lit north-facing room vs. a dark one
SIMILAR SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COLORS FOR NORTH-FACING ROOMS
- Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray
- Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray
- Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray
9. BENJAMIN MOORE GIBRALTAR CLIFFS 1587
Gibraltar Cliffs is one of my favorite paint colors. However, it is a bit better as a FEATURE wall rather than an overall wall color unless you want the cold-on-cold look.
Gibraltar Cliffs is on the right side of the photo, above the window
- Gibraltar Cliffs has an LRV of 30, so it’s got some good meat on its bones! It would partner up well with a soft, warm white or muted cream paint color
Rooms with north-east, north-west, or north-south facing exposures
While it might seem confusing, having dual exposures isn’t bad when you’re armed with the right information! Check out this blog post on ‘how to pick paint colors when you have two exposures‘.
Get your SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK samples of Kylie M’s recommended colors from this post!
READ MORE
North, East, South, West – which paint color is the best?
The 8 Best Blue Green Paint Colors
Can I Paint My North Facing Room White?
Can I Paint My North-Facing Room Gray
The Best Paint Color for East Facing Rooms
The Best Paint Colors for South Facing Rooms
Not sure which color is best for you?
Check out my affordable Online Color Consulting Services!
Chat soon,
Originally written in 2014, awesomely updated in 2021
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Do you have paint color recommendations for finished basement rooms that get little to no light? I would love to see a post on this!
Could you tell me the name of the tile on the bathroom picture with the antique yellow paint?
Hi Cheri, I would have loved to, but it’s referred from another site! It looks to me like a polished marble – that would be my best, most accurate guess. A lot of people think marble is just a white/black thing, but it can come in some interesting colours!
~Kylie
Val, I’d like to see a post on that also.. it’s why I found this site. I have a 12 x11 basement room with no windows and need ceiling and wall color advice.
Done! Hope you enjoyed 🙂
Yes, I appreciate it. Thanks! Not that I’m still torn and confused 🙂
I am wondering if you have experimented with BM AF Honeymoon in a north-facing or low light room? Your verbal descriptions are always helpful. ( I try putting up samples in the rooms, in different areas,looking at different times, but honestly that just confuses me more.)
I’m using a lot of Affinity Colors in my house, and have found each one to have a depth and richness that sometimes other paint choices I have made don’t have. I would love to see a post on Affinity colors, especially if you have experimented with putting them up in adjoining rooms.
For what it’s worth, so far I’ve used, in order of rooms, Urban Nature (living room), Thunder (entry/hall) with Amsterdam front door, Azores (kitchen with lots of white and windows), Thunder with large Amsterdam accent wall (family room), Amulet plus a wall of Tranquility (Laundry Room), plus two bathrooms in Tranquility. Colors I’m eager to try are Buttered Yam, Honeymoon, and Atmospheric, among others. This is what I consider fun.
Love your blog! Thanks
Hey Val! I actually just did a post on Affinity Colours – covering some of the most popular grays and neutrals – do check it out! The reason why Affinity is so great is because most paint colours are made up of 3 or 4 ‘colours’ mixed together. Affinity colours often have as many as 8 colours in them, meaning that they have a lot more depth and interest – good for you for noticing it!
https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/benjamin-moore-affinity-the-best-neutral-beige-gray-paint-colours/
Thanks! I just painted my north-facing, dark bedroom Honeymoon and I love it. The previous owner had painted it light blue, which to me just sucked all the life out of it. The bedroom is now warm, rich, and cheery. Almost magically it looks great both in the daytime and at night.
I can’t get Benjamin Moore paint in Brisbane. I’m wondering if I show Dulux the name and color code of B.M. , would I be able to get exactly same colour from Dulux? Will there be any some sought of different?
Well, to colour match properly, paint companies need a colour chip or they need to have the colour/brand in their system. It can be tricky. If you are absolutely in love with the BM colour I’m quite sure they can mail you samples which you could then get colour matched into the brand you use!
I hope that helps!
~Kylie
Hi Kylie, I found your website through a google search and was automatically drawn to it by your love of Benjamin Moore paint colors! I have a northern exposure family room/kitchen. There is a separation between the two rooms created by a step down and a half wall. I don’t necessarily want to paint both rooms the same color. I have chosen Decatur Buff for the family room walls. I am leaning toward Antique Sage for the kitchen. I am also considering Pittsfield Buff I have Oak cabinets with orange undertones. What do you think of my choices given that I have a northern exposure? I get beautiful sunlight in the morning. Thanks so much for the great advice in your blog.
Hi Janice, normally I refer questions to my Online Consulting page so I can give them some good thought and time, but here’s a quick bit of advice. Decatur and Pittsfield is more of a tone on tone look and will ‘blend more with your oak cabinets. The Antique Sage will make your cabinets ‘pop’ a bit more. So, if you are looking for a low contrast and warm on warm look then Pittsfield buff would work. If you like the idea of your cabinets ‘popping’a bit then the Antique Sage would really set them off. You might consider a slightly darker green or darkening Antique Sage as it’s not quite the same depth as Decatur and a darker more rich colour will sit better with it.
Hope that helps!
~Kylie
Thank you so much for this guidance! After years of living in bright spaces (think Florida, high-rises, etc.), we bought a place where two rooms face north. The beige paint colors in the rooms are all wrong, washed out and sickly. You’ve given me great guidance on finding a bolder warm wall color that will stand up and be noticed.
Wonderful! Thank you for your comment and I’m so glad you’re thinking of going colourful – yahoo!
~Kykie
Kylie,
This has to be the most informative article on dealing with north exposure/low light rooms that I have seen!! Thanks so much. I have been going crazy trying to find the best color for my north exposure low light (sun room outside plus lots of trees) living room. I have a question– if I should go with a or yellow tone, won’t the trees reflect green and give the walls a blue hue? What do you recommend in that case?
Thanks for any advice!
Margaret
Oh Margaret, I’m SO glad you found it helpful – I love getting comments like yours! As for the blue hue, yes you do want to be a ‘little’ bit careful and wouldn’t want a yellow that is too cool toned. As well, keep in mind the time of day you are in that room. If it’s a room that you are in only in the evenings then you might not need to worry at all!
~Kylie
Awesome blog! My boyfriend and I are about to move into a second floor apartment in NYC that has very little light. My first thought was to paint all the walls white just to get some light in! I tried white colors and your color suggestions in the benjamin moore paint tester app and even in the app it made such a difference! I’m glad I found this post and am looking forward to trying these colors on our actual walls. Thanks!
So glad to hear you found some ideas that work for you – yay for paint!! 🙂
~Kylie
Gray is so fashionable right now! But I fear using it in a north-facing room. Is there such a thing as a warm gray suitable for northern light?
Hi, yes you can definitely do gray in a north facing room! In our last home our bedroom was north facing and quite small. I painted it a variety of colours based on what I ‘should’ do and then I just threw caution to the wind and went all out with Chelsea Gray. The depth and richness of this gray actually made my space feel warmer and more intimate than it ever had! However, I appreciate the dark grays aren’t everybody’s thing. Now Edgecomb Gray is a softer gray (you could have it lightened by 1/4 or 1/2 if you want a lighter version of it. I also like Gray Mist for a gray look that isn’t too cold. I hope that helps, thanks for asking!
~Kylie
Hi Kylie
I’m still having problems with my northern rooms turning gray and murky even after I used BM’s Gentle Cream. I’ve had better success using the Linen White, but since I’m using the same throughout ( except bedrooms) I would need it a tad darker. So my question is could I darken The LW 10 -20% and still get the same effect?
PS. Love your site!
Yes, Linen White is also a very lovely warm colour! 10-20% is such a nice subtle tweak that it shouldn’t change too much, but will give it a wee bit more ‘oomph’. I’ve found that at 20%, those who don’t really ‘pay much attention’ don’t even notice the difference.
Thanks for asking!
~Kylie
North facing bedrooms are a hard sell when people want blue. Still haven’t found the perfect warm medium /deep blue people request. Navy goes too dark at night.
I totally agree Gina. Sometimes what the homeowner wants and what the ROOM wants are totally different things – it can be challenging!
~Kylie
I keep coming back to this article through obsessive pinterest searching. I have a North/Northwest facing living room with high ceilings and huge windows. It gets tons of light (mostly bouncing off the wall of the white house next door) but also has tons of shadows. Right now it is BM Mountain Peak White and looks perfectly sallow in the corners. 🙁 I feel like it picks up all the green coming in from the back yard as well so it is just a sickly, bland room. We also have a cream colored couch so it must be painted asap. The idea of going yellow/gold makes me want to cry but I fear a grey or blue, like my husband wants, will be depressing. Such a bummer. I’m at such a loss.
Hi Jenny, yes, these rooms can be challenging! Okay, so I don’t want you to cry and normally I refer questions like yours to my Online Consulting so I can look at photos and spend some good time with things, however, to cheer you up, I want you to think about these…
Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere. This is a green/blue blend with a good gray undertone. It will act like a neutral without being boring and flat. Now it is cool colours, but funny enough it’s not a COLD feeling colour as the green in it makes it more soft and pretty. When the direct natural light hits it, it might wash out a bit, but overall it could be pretty with the cream couch! I also considered SW Sea Salt for the same reasons as above, it just has a bit MORE colour and less gray so would be a bit less washed out. I am not a cold colour fan personally either, but these are 2 colours I could easily live with as they are ‘pretty’ not ‘icy’. I’ve found that colours like these, with the right amount of green feel not so cold and clinical
BM Ballet White. This is an interesting colour and you’ll have to see how it jives with your cream couch. It is a lighter colour with a cream (yellow) base and a good dollop of greige (beige/gray) in it to stop if from being overly colourful. It might still be a bit too flat feeling for you, but it’s worth checking out!
And if those don’t work, check out my Online Consulting. It’s $45 for a single room or $70 for an open layout and I can give you some answers based on photos/questionnaire/etc…
Good luck!
~Kylie
Thinking of using Gentle Cream in my entry way. It’s between Albescent and Gentle Cream. I’m going nuts trying to pick. My floor is a goldish tan and it’s making things a bit tough plus trying to coordinate with rooms off the entry( Richmond gold, Westminster gold and dried parsley). What do you think?
Hi Lisa! If it were me, I’d probably lean slightly toward Albescent as I think it will flex nicely between your 2 other colours – mind you, it can depend on how the colours meet up (ie: if Westminster Gold meets Albescent on a corner or if Dried Parsley does or if BOTH do). So, I think Albescent is a safer bet to accommodate both.
If that doesn’t help, you can always check out my Online Consulting. A 1 room colour consult is $45 and gives me the chance to look at photos and do a proper evaluation of your space 🙂 https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
Chat soon!
~Kylie
Hi Kylie!
Thank you for your posts. I have never had a problem picking out paint color in my life until our current home. 1910 Farmhouse in the midwest with original red oak wood trim everywhere. I love that trim I will never paint it. But our living room has posed the challenge 4 large windows and 1 small window all northern exposure 1 large window with west exposure all in the same room. All my first choices have been a bust but armed with your articles I will not give up on finding that perfect color! Thanks for all your help!
Heather
Hi Heather, sorry for the delayed reply and THANK you for the lovely email – I’m SO glad to hear the info is coming in handy for you!
~Kylie
After struggling trying to find a color for our low lit north facing room I came across your blog. We painted our living room the gentle cream and the an accent wall split pea! We LOVE it and get so compliments on thr colors. Thanks so much for your recommendations!
What a nice note, thank you for letting me know Tracey! I put my posts out on the World Wide Web and just never know when they resonate – and I’m glad to hear this one did!!
~Kylie
Pingback: If These Walls Could Talk – Choosing a Paint Colour for Our Family Room – Old School Suburban
Hi, sorry for the delayed reply – but THANK YOU for the mention! I was just going through my ‘pings’ and came across this – it is MUCH appreciated! And Grant Beige looks awesome – great choice!
Hi! Thanks for the tips! I have a north facing wall in a large space and it faces the ocean. I have not been able to find the right color????. Any tips
We tried a pink mauve and sone darker blues like turquoise and ended with a greige but its not working against the concrete floor.????
Hi Michelle, thank you for the note! Due to the amount of personal questions I receive in a day, I do need to refer you to my Online Consulting – but I’ve made it affordable and it’s FUN to do! If that interest you, you can check out the link here 🙂 https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/product-category/interior-paint-colors/
~Kylie
Hi Kylie!
I love all you suggestions. Wondering if you would consider doing a post about east and west facing rooms? I read on another site if you have a east facing room, paint like it’s north and if you have a west facing room, paint like it’s a south. However, this all depends on how you use the room. If you use it throughout the day, the suggestion was to mix warm and cool colours. What colours would you paint the walls then? Warm or cool?
Thanks!
Author
Hi Christine, delayed reply, but I was waiting until I’d finished the posts and BOTH are up on my blog now! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-paint-colours-for-west-facing-rooms/
https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-paint-colours-for-east-facing-rooms/ It’s comments like yours that made me realize those rooms were in high demand, so thank you!
~Kylie
Kylie, I love reading through your posts. Would you say there is a comparable color in the Sherwin Williams line to the Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue and Wythe Blue? I have an east facing room with low natural light and am drawn towards the blue green tones. Thanks!
Author
Hi Katie! You have to check out SW Quietude as it’s VERY similar to Wythe Blue! I might lighten it by 25% though if it’s a darker room, just to lift it a touch.
SW Copen Blue is similar to Woodlawn, but not quite the same – same with Rainwashed. Copen and RAinwashed both have a wink more green in them than Woodlawn.
Hope that helps!
Thank you very much Kylie! I’m also now considering Tradewind after watching your color review video as you mention it has a touch less green in it than Rainwashed. It sounds like I can’t go wrong with either color!
Author
You’re welcome Katie! And it’s true, both are BEAUTIFUL.
All this information is so valuable to me since the living room and master bedroom in our new home will face north to take advantage of a lake view.
How about Palladian Blue in a north facing bedroom?
Author
Hi Nancy, Palladian is gorgeous, but it will be quite coooool feeling in a north facing room. If you’re a fan of cool colours/looks it would be lovely!
Thank you for your reply! I only just now saw it, which is good since I have to choose my paint colors soon. Would Palladian be cooler feeling than Woodlawn in a north facing room?
Thank you for this article! I love the idea of Navajo white in my north-facing kitchen. But, will it work with cabinets painted with BM Pashmina or should I try another neutral?
I would love to see a post with color recommendations for northeast facing bedrooms. Both of our smaller bedrooms are in the front of the house and face this direction. I painted one of the rooms Sleepy Blue (SW) and it looks great. I’d like to paint the other room a blue/green color. I’m finding that any blue/green color I pick looks exactly like the Sleepy Blue color. How can I get a good contrast without going to cold in color?
Author
Hi Tara! You might find some of what you’re looking for in this blog post here… https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/how-to-choose-paint-colours-for-a-room-with-2-exposures/ I also have a lovely one on the Best Blue/Green Paint Colours… https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/8-most-popular-blue-green-paint-colours-mix-sherwin-williams-and-benjamin-moore/
Hope that helps in your search! If you’d like some one-on-one help, I do have a fun E-design service, where I hand-pick 3 fabulous colours for you and your room! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
~Kylie
I love reading your blogs! You’re so helpful in guiding us amateurs. You’ve recommended all Benjamin Moore colors in this article. What recommendations do you have for north/northwest facing rooms in Sherwin Williams colors? Thank you.
Kylie, I’ve been struggling to pick a color for my north facing living room since I moved in two years ago. I kept returning to this article, and finally put some color on my walls: Northampton Putty! During the day, it looks a bit like the photo in this article, a nice complex beige. But in the evening when the light is low, a lovely greenish hue emerges. The color is rich and warm. I just love it! I have an alcove by the window that I painted Valspar Withered Moss, which complements it well. Thank you!
Author
Well, that is just what I love to hear – thank you, I’m so glad you’re happy!
First time on your sight, I really found it to be very helpful,!! Thank you, I’m a fan!
Can you give me SW suggestions? Thank you!
Hi, thanks so much for this advice. I went with Gentle Cream in a small, dark, northwest-facing room that faces the brick wall of the next buildimg – just painted today! – and, as creamy and warm as it is, it is still just a bit gray in this room – and it’s the height of a summer afternoon! Anything even a jot less warm would have been a sickly green-gray, no doubt, so you saved me. It is soothing and cozy. Granted, it’s cloudy, so I’m really looking forward to how it looks in clear conditions and also at night.
Author
AWESOME, that is exactly what I love to hear! And comments like yours really help other readers make their choices, so thank you for that!
Kylie,
I have a family room where the back wall with fireplace faces north and the windows coming in are on the East. I want to change the wall color and mantle and back shelves which are cosmopolitan wall and Galveston gray mantle. Looks too gray and dark with rest of open floor plan. My hall which runs from west to East is skipping stone with the Galveston gray railing. I just found out that dark chocolate goes with skipping stone and was thinking of changing railing to that. Do I need to change hall and family room or just family room or maybe just railing and mantle. Would one of these warmer colors work. If so which do you recommend?
Forgot to mention couch is taupe and rug is beige with red and gold and green accents. Please let me know how to warm up the room. Would like to go more beige but not sure what will go with skipping stone.
Author
Hi Elaine, thank you for commenting! I do try to offer as much complimentary advice on my blog as possible, but otherwise, I try to refer to my Online Consulting, so that I can take a look at the room and its lighting and other features! If that interests you, I will be opening it up again after Christmas! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/ When it comes to picking paint colours, its sometimes best for me to see photos of the room so that I’m not just picturing it all in my head as you have a few things going on between couch/rug/accents/exposures!
~Kylie
I think I have read this blog post ten times trying to figure out colors for our new house. It’s staunchly north/south facing with only two rooms having additional east/west windows…phew. Do you have a post about colors for dimly lit baby nurseries? 🙂 Appreciate your work!!
Hi Kylie!
We just bought our first house and getting ready to repaint the whole thing! I’m loving your blog and YouTube videos! I have some south facing rooms but the windows are completely shaded by a large oak tree that blocks all of the direct sunlight. Do I apply the “north-facing” rules to these rooms and choose a warm color?
Author
That is a FABULOUS QUESTION. I would still consider it south-facing, but maybe put a bit less pressure on wanting to level off those ‘warm sun rays’. This means you can focus most of your attention on your interior finishes and POSSIBLY the big oak that may cast some green light in your room?
Hello! There is a beautiful dark green bedroom in the beginning of this article under THE TWO TYPES OF NORTH-FACING LIGHT. Do you know the name of this paint?
Author
You betcha, Mim, that’s the ever-beautiful Benjamin Moore Knoxville Gray 🙂
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