The best paint colours for every room in your house - from north to south-facing

Choosing paint colour is an important task, especially if you need to consider the best shades for north, south, east and west-facing rooms.

With a plethora of shades available, the quest for the ideal home colour palette is quite tricky. Even blue can have multiple different hues, ranging from cool, light and airy, to muted and deep.

Sarah Lloyd, a paint and interiors guru at Valspar, says that lighting plays a crucial role as it can make the same hue look different in each room, emphasising the importance of choosing the correct shade for your walls.

"Deciding on a paint colour for the spaces in your home can be difficult, especially as natural light changes throughout the day, meaning the appearance of the colour also changes too," she explained.

"Whether the room is north, south, east or west-facing, there are certain colours that will be better suited to certain spaces than others," Lloyd advises.

For those pondering over paint swatches, here's what you should consider for various rooms....

North-facing rooms

In rooms facing north, Lloyd points out, "North-facing rooms get the least amount of light."

She suggests: "Paint these rooms with colours that will brighten the space, and keep it nice and airy.

"Warmer blush tones are best for north-facing rooms, and can also be incorporated through curtains, pillows and throws."

Expanding on her advice, she added: "Beige shades are also great colours for opening up the space and giving it a 'refresh'. As well as the walls, use beige on the ceiling and skirting boards for an up-to-date colour drench effect."

Interior design aficionados are embracing the trend of colour drenching, which involves using a dominant colour and its various shades throughout a room on different surfaces and features, Lloyd explains.

"Incorporating this trend can create visually stunning and dramatic effects and also make a room feel brighter, more cohesive and even more spacious perfect for north-facing rooms."

Selecting the right paint finish is crucial, according to Lloyd, as it significantly impacts the space's ambiance.

"While matt paint absorbs light, gloss paint will often reflect it. A soft sheen paint will work best in north-facing rooms, as it will reflect the light, brightening up the space and making the room look bigger."

The ideal paint choice for such an effect is a soft sheen, beige blush, applied across walls, ceiling and doors.

South-facing rooms

For south-facing rooms, which bask in abundant light without needing to consider the sun's position, Lloyd suggests cooler tones like blue and grey.

"Blue is on trend in 2024, and it's a versatile colour that's easy to style and can be used in many different ways to create a variety of moods and styles."

To achieve a balanced and harmonious look when decorating with blue, Lloyd recommends complementing the colour with neutral furniture pieces such as bedside tables and cabinets, or with accessories like lamp shades and vases.

"This combination adds depth while maintaining a sense of calm," she adds.

While a solid grey paint will look super stylish when offset by white furnishings, such as drapes, candles and small ornaments, especially as the light shines through, says Lloyd.

"As south-facing rooms have enough light, choosing a matt finish is perfect to balance out the brightness and bring a warmer tone. A matt finish is also good if there are any imperfections on the wall that need hiding."

Perfect paint choice: Matt finish, using cooler tones such as blue paired with neutral furniture.

East and west-facing rooms

"East and west-facing rooms tend to get the same amount of sunlight, just at different times of the day," highlights Lloyd.

"So it's important to understand when you'll be using the space the most and base the colour choice, and paint finish, on this instead."

If you're using these rooms throughout the day, she says it's best to stick with neutral colours.

"White, grey, and brown can all provide a sense of ease and warmth in the home, setting an inviting scene, no matter the time of the day."

"Painting walls with light neutrals such as cream and taupe is best to brighten the room and add an airy feel to your home."

Depending on your style, Lloyd says to accentuate these spaces with oak wardrobes, tables and desks, to create a rustic feel and an environment that feels comforting and relaxed, even more so, as the days get longer, suggests Lloyd.

Consider a white-on-white colour scheme with creamy accents for a Scandi-style or minimalist decor. This will help reflect light around the room, making the most of warm, natural light in the morning, late afternoon and early evening.

When it comes to choosing paint, the finish will depend on how the room is used. However, sticking to neutral colours will ensure a warm atmosphere throughout the day.

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