Paint colour and light go hand-in-hand as different exposures of light will impact the appearance of paint in your home. Choosing colours based on how they look in the store can often lead to less than perfect results once the paint actually hits the wall. This is why, when choosing paint colours for a room, it is always wise to look at colour swatches in the actual space and under different lighting conditions. Here we examine some of the effects that natural and artificial lighting can have on your home’s walls.

Natural lighting

In rooms exposed to natural sunlight, the appearance of colours will vary depending upon the sun’s position and direction of the light. The same colour can often appear quite different from room to room and at different times of the day. Bright, upper-level living areas with many windows will provide yellow- and red/orange-tinged light. Add subtle bits of green to your walls that will leave orange, red and yellow paints looking saturated. Depending on the time of year, the appearance of colours can also change with a combination of natural light and your home’s artificial lighting. These are key points to take into consideration when picking and purchasing paints.

Artificial lighting

Basements and small rooms in your house with limited natural light will affect colour based on the light bulbs you choose. Incandescent bulbs provide a warm light with touches of yellow and amber. This means that bold red, yellow and orange paints will appear more intense, while cooler colours, like blues and greens, will become duller. Halogen light bulbs are also a common lighting option for homeowners. Halogens are closest to replicating natural light and do not distort colour as much as incandescent light bulbs – they will simply cool down bright and bold colours. Fluorescent bulbs are common in store and office settings. This type of lighting gives off a cool, bluish light and works well with blue and green paints.

Visit your local Co-op Home Center for helpful advice in choosing paint and to help understand the effects of light in your home. To facilitate your paint experience and ensure the colour you choose is perfect for your home’s setting, test colours with our new light box technology. This will help you see your paint choice under different light settings, allowing you to imagine it correctly in your home.