Comments on: HOW EXPOSURE & NATURAL LIGHT AFFECT PAINT COLORS (A SUMMARY)

By: KylieMawdsley

KylieMawdsley — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 16:01:35 +0000

In reply to Megan.

You’re welcome! If it’s the photo where you’re in the kitchen looking out into a living area and you can see two crystal type chandeliers – THAT is the lovely Sherwin Williams Casa Blanca and it is such a warm soft feeling! I also love Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White. It’s FAR more passive, but I’m really enjoying its subtle warmth 🙂

By: Megan

Megan — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 17:55:03 +0000

Kylie, I so appreciate your posts. Your explanations are the best I’ve found for guidance on the unique lighting challenges in my home. Would you be willing/able to say what the paint color is that appears in the picture above with the ginormous windows? My home has a similar set of windows/lighting situation and I’m wishing for a warmer feel than the very neutral white I have now.

By: Teddie Ulrich

Teddie Ulrich — Fri, 07 May 2021 18:23:11 +0000

We have just painted our living room and dining room dove white and the walls look lovely. The ceiling doesn’t though as it looks too greige. We are going to use a Benjamin Moore white ceiling paint that has a white tint added to it. We were advised by the people at the paint store. We put some sample paint on the ceiling in the living room and it looks like it will probably work. This is a north facing living room with two small east windows and of course the window that faces north. The dining room has a window facing east and some south exposure from the small TV room that is right next to it. Kylie can I get your thoughts on this ceiling paint. It would be much appreciated.

By: KylieMawdsley

KylieMawdsley — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 18:29:45 +0000

In reply to Layla. That's an interesting thought, Layla! I do know that the more south you go, the warmer the light gets, whereas if you're me, living in a gray, moody place, colours tend to get more muted and grayed out in this environment. That being said, SOME colours with blue-green cool tones can be slightly enhanced by a cooler light!

By: Layla

Layla — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 11:55:23 +0000

I find a lot of people talking about how direction affects your paint colours but could somebody please talk about how the colour is affected by where you live? If a Brit takes a trip to Cancun and loves all the colours at the beach house, then comes home to the misty moors of Yorkshire and paints with the same colours, how will it turn out?

By: Diane M.

Diane M. — Sat, 20 Jun 2020 14:53:39 +0000

I love your articles. I’ve corrected quite a few painting mistakes from the past, but this one has me confused. I have a mud room that has an east morning window. The sun swings away and in the afternoon has a west glass door. Then goes darker. Do I go cool or warm with the paint color? The room has lots of soft white trim and the floor is a gray/blue tile. I’m drawn to BM Pebble Beach. Thank you.

By: Lisa Chew

Lisa Chew — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 02:09:29 +0000

Hi Kylie! I love Colonnade Gray! My new great room/ kitchen will face northwest. Do you think it could work? If not, is there a SW greige or white that works in that light? Thanks!

By: What Are the Key Steps to Painting a Room? - Total House Makeover

What Are the Key Steps to Painting a Room? - Total House Makeover — Sat, 09 May 2020 16:49:55 +0000

[…] the colors look different depending on the time of day, and whether the room is north facing or south facing. When you narrow it down your color, then you can make the leap and purchase a small […]

By: Christine

Christine — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 05:20:52 +0000

I’m late to this party, but wanted to say thank you for this awesome website! I recently used your advice to pick colors for the walls of our condo that was going up for sale. I used SW Vanillin for the living and bedrooms which are mostly east/somewhat north facing and SW French Grey for the kitchen and bath, which have no natural light (and the kitchen has awful fluorescents). (If only we had looked at a blog for how to hire painters…that went less successfully!) Thanks!

By: KylieMawdsley

KylieMawdsley — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 02:12:18 +0000

In reply to Monika. Hmmm, maybe take a look at BM White Down, that might calm things down for you :)

By: Monika

Monika — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 16:42:06 +0000

Hi Kylie! I love your blog. I painted my north facing living room and hallway SW Creamy which I love thanks to your advice! I have a south facing den with an accent wall I painted BM Tyler Gray. I tried painting the walls that flank the accent wall SWCreamy also but because they are south facing it looks much too yellow when compared to the Tyler Gray. Do you have any suggestions for a white or warmer white color that could go with BM Tyler Gray without going too yellow in a south facing room?

By: KylieMawdsley

KylieMawdsley — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 21:58:14 +0000

In reply to Shani Parker. Hi Shani, it's not a faux pas at all! But when you lighten your colour make sure you still like the undertones, as colours WILL shift undertones when they are lightened/darkened :)

By: Shani Parker

Shani Parker — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 18:27:53 +0000

Hi Kylie, love your website and posts! Is it a faux pas to simply use a lightened version of the same color for darker rooms in the house (i.e., hallway)? Or should I be looking for a lighter, but different/complimentary color for those darker rooms? Thanks!

By: KylieMawdsley

KylieMawdsley — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:32:27 +0000

In reply to Liz. Hi Liz! I've found that skylights will pick up a bit on their main exposure (like if they are slightly sloped south/east/north/west), but generally act a bit like an eastern light, particularly at the height of day where they can EASILY wash out a colour as they get the midday sun that is the most lightening!

By: KylieMawdsley

KylieMawdsley — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 01:33:05 +0000

In reply to Ellen. Hi Ellen! It's hard to say without seeing your home, finishes, lighting, etc... but check out BM Edgecomb Gray which is a light greige, I've had a lot of success with it!

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 00:03:48 +0000

Hi! I just bought a new house and it has skylights in both the living area and the dining/kitchen area. It’s really messing with my color sense! The walls are currently a greige that looks lovely in some light but ugly and flat in others but I can’t quite find the pattern. How do skylights affect colors?

By: KylieMawdsley

KylieMawdsley — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 17:54:20 +0000

In reply to Patricia.

Good question! I actually have a blog post that covers 2 or 3 exposures that should be helpful for you! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/how-to-choose-paint-colours-for-a-room-with-2-exposures/
~Kylie

By: Patricia

Patricia — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 04:11:14 +0000

Kylie, when a room face a point in between two points on the compass ( for example north east or southwest), how does this effect paint choices?

By: Ellen

Ellen — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 23:58:11 +0000

I love your informative posts, thank you! I am stuck for a paint color selection for my entry, family room, and hallway. I have multi-colored swaths in each room and each time I think I’ve made a decision – BAM! it changes. First I settled on Revere Pewter but it looks so flat and not at all like the photos of the lovely light rooms wearing it. Then I went with Sea Salt. My family room has a large window and door that face East/Northeast so I get some direct bright light in the morning. Seat Salt almost looks “minty” or even baby blue in this light (not what I hoped for). However, as the light moves on to the front of the house to my south windows it looks darn right gray with a hint of green. I have poured over plenty of “what color to paint” articles and blogs, and I just paid a professional $300 to help. Basically all things should be “neutral” for a buyer, but I am an artist who favors, rich color (as evidenced by my turquoise and white kitchen). I welcome any suggestions for this difficult situation!!