Lighting.
Why does paint look different in the shop than at home?
It's almost always the lighting. Shops run cool, bright, overhead fluorescent or LED light, while your home has warmer bulbs, natural daylight from a single direction, and reflections off floors and furniture — so the same colour reads completely differently.
What are the best paint colours for south-facing rooms?
South-facing rooms get warm, generous light all day, so you can paint them almost anything — deep, cool and bold colours all read true here. Use that freedom: rich greens, inky charcoals, soft golds and clean whites all sing in south light.
Should I test paint samples under my own lighting?
Yes — absolutely, every time. A colour shifts dramatically depending on light, so the only reliable test is on your own wall, in your own room, watched across a full day.
Why does my paint look different at night?
Because the light hitting it has changed. Daylight is broadly balanced across the spectrum; your warm bulbs at night pump out yellow-orange wavelengths, which the paint reflects back and shifts the colour you see.
What's the difference between warm white and cool white bulbs for paint?
Warm white bulbs (2700K) cast a yellow-amber glow that flatters reds, creams and earthy tones; cool white (4000K+) is bluer and crisper, which suits greys and blues but can make warm colours look muddy. For most homes, 2700K is the right call.
What Kelvin colour temperature bulb suits warm paint colours?
Stick to 2700K for warm paint colours — it's the classic warm white that flatters reds, terracottas, creams and pinks without going orange. Avoid anything above 3000K, which strips the warmth right out.
What is metamerism in paint?
Metamerism is when a colour looks different under different light sources — daylight, LED, halogen — or when two colours match under one light but clash under another. It's why your tester looked perfect at noon and wrong by lamplight.
What bulbs should I use to view paint samples?
Use bulbs that match the room you're decorating — 2700K warm white for cosy living spaces, 4000K neutral for kitchens and bathrooms — and check the CRI is 90 or above. There's no single "correct" bulb; the right one is the one you'll actually live with.
What are the best paint colours for west-facing rooms?
West-facing rooms get cool light by day and warm golden light at dusk, so gently warm tones flatter both. Reach for soft golds, warm neutrals and muddied greens like Dulux Cardamom Pod or Sanderson Artichoke.
What are the best paint colours for north-facing rooms?
North light is cool and flat, so you want warm-bodied colours that push back against the greyness — think soft yellows, warm greens, blush pinks and warm whites rather than anything with a cold blue or grey undertone.
What are the best paint colours for east-facing rooms?
East-facing rooms get warm light in the morning then cool off after midday, so lean on colours with built-in warmth — soft golds, warm whites and gentle greens — to keep them balanced all day. Avoid anything too cool or grey, which can look flat and chilly by the afternoon.
How does west-facing light affect paint colour?
West-facing rooms get cool, flat light in the morning and warm, golden light in the late afternoon and evening. Colours shift dramatically through the day, so pick a shade that you've tested at both times.
How does south-facing light affect paint colour?
South-facing light is warm, bright and consistent all day, so it flatters almost everything — it intensifies warm tones and stops cool greys and blues looking cold. It's the most forgiving aspect you can get.
How does north-facing light affect paint colour?
North-facing light is cool and blue-tinged, which drains warmth from colours and amplifies anything grey or green — so cool greys can read dingy, and you'll want warmer, pigment-rich shades to balance it.
How does LED lighting change paint colour?
LED lighting shifts paint colour depending on the bulb's colour temperature — warm LEDs (2700K) push colours yellow and flatter warm tones, while cool LEDs (4000K+) drag everything blue-grey and can make warm whites look dirty. The fix is matching bulb temperature to the paint, not the other way round.
How does east-facing light affect paint colour?
East-facing light is bright, cool and blue in the morning, then drops away to flat and shadowy by afternoon — so colours shift dramatically through the day. Pick warm-leaning shades that hold their own once the sun's gone.
How does artificial light change a colour's undertone?
Artificial light shifts a colour's undertone by changing the mix of wavelengths hitting it — warm bulbs push everything yellow and kill blues, cool bulbs flatten warmth and expose grey or green. The bulb's colour temperature and CRI matter more than most people realise.
How do I light a dark room without changing the paint?
Layer your lighting — three or four separate sources at different heights — and get the bulb colour temperature right at 2700K with a high CRI. That does more for a dark room than any paint change.
Does paint colour change through the day?
Yes — and dramatically. The same paint shifts as daylight changes from cool morning blue to warm evening gold, and again under artificial light at night. The pigment isn't changing; the light hitting it is.