How to Choose Wall Color Based on Room Lighting

Choosing the color of the walls is an important point when decorating the interior.

The overall impression of the room depends on how harmoniously the color of the walls matches the furniture, textiles and lighting.

First of all, you should decide on the main source of light in the room - natural light from windows or artificial lighting, says Yulia Tychino .

If the room has large windows and a lot of daylight, then you can use darker and more saturated colors for the walls. They will not seem gloomy. For example, burgundy, dark blue, chocolate - are perfect for a well-lit room.

If the windows are small and daylight is limited, it is better to choose light pastel colors - beige, peach, mint, light blue. Dark colors in such a room will seem even darker and create a feeling of a closed space.

In addition to the amount of daylight, the choice of wall color is also influenced by its direction.

If the light falls on one of the walls, it stands out visually. To avoid a sharp contrast, it is better to paint this wall in a lighter tone than the others. For example, if three walls are gray and the fourth is exposed to bright sunlight, it can be painted white or beige.

Walls that hardly receive any light can be made a little darker. But don't get carried away with contrast, otherwise it will look unnatural. The difference in tone should be small.

If the room is elongated, narrow, and long, then it is better to make the color of the wall farthest from the window a little lighter than the side walls. This will visually bring it closer.

Thus, by playing with shades of one color, you can adjust the lighting of the room and make it more uniform.

In addition to natural light, artificial lighting influences the perception of wall color.

Warm yellowish light from incandescent lamps or candles will make all colors softer and warmer. Cool white light from fluorescent lamps or LED strips will emphasize contrasts.

To choose the best wall color for a room where artificial light is used, it is worth experimenting. See how different colors will look with the evening lighting on.

In general, warm shades - brown, beige, green - will look more comfortable with incandescent lamps. And for cold LED lamps, it is better to choose blue, purple, gray.

The main thing is to take into account the lighting features in the room and choose a wall color that will look harmonious at any time of day.