July 2026
We work closely with the skilled Interior Designers at Show Business Interiors and team of colour experts at Dulux to stay updated on the latest design insights and trends, helping us create spaces that maintain a timeless appeal.
The guide below shares expert tips and inspiration for choosing the right colours for north-facing rooms. Discover how natural light influences the appearance of colour throughout the day and explore the shades that will help create a warm, bright and welcoming space in a north-facing home.
As colour specialists, the team at Dulux are often asked how to bring warmth and balance to north-facing rooms. These spaces can feel a little more challenging to decorate with colour.
Unlike south-facing rooms, north-facing spaces receive cooler, more indirect natural light throughout the day. As a result, colours can appear softer and cooler than expected, particularly in larger open plan kitchen, dining and family spaces. Choosing the right colour palette is key to creating a warm, bright and inviting atmosphere, with shades that enhance the available light and bring balance to the room.
In north-facing rooms, the quality of light tends to mute colours and reduce their warmth, this is why cooler tones can sometimes feel a little stark or grey.
To counteract this, look for colours with warm undertones think soft yellows, gentle pinks and warm neutrals. These shades help to bring back a sense of warmth that the natural light is lacking, creating a space that feels more welcoming.
Colours such as Dulux Heritage Bathstone Beige, Potter’s Pink or deeper tones like Terra Ombra all work well in north-facing spaces. Each offers a different level of warmth and depth, allowing you to choose what feels right for your space and how you want it to feel.
Kitchen and dining spaces are often where people naturally gather, so it’s important that they feel warm and inviting throughout the day, not just in the evening when artificial lighting is introduced.
Layering warmer tones across walls, cabinetry and furnishings can help achieve this. You might combine a soft warm neutral on the walls with slightly deeper, richer tones in joinery or accessories to create a sense of depth and comfort.
This approach helps avoid the space feeling flat, while still keeping the overall look cohesive and easy to live with.
One of the challenges with north-facing light is how it can subtly alter the way colours are perceived. Shades that look warm and inviting on a sample card can appear cooler once applied in the space.
This is particularly noticeable with greys and whites. Choosing versions with a hint of pink, yellow or gold can make a significant difference, helping the room feel softer and more balanced rather than stark.
In open plan kitchen/dining/family spaces, artificial lighting plays a key role especially in north-facing rooms where natural light is more limited.
Layering different types of lighting, such as under-cabinet lighting, pendants and softer ambient sources, helps to enhance the warmth of your chosen colours. Opting for warmer bulbs can also support this, creating a more relaxed and sociable atmosphere as the day moves into evening.
Natural light has a significant impact on how colour is perceived, particularly in south-facing rooms where brightness levels shift throughout the day.
Before committing, try testing colours on different walls and observing them from morning to evening. This allows you to see how tones respond to changing light and ensures the final result feels balanced and considered.
South facing rooms offer a fantastic opportunity to create bright, uplifting spaces. By choosing colours that either balance or soften the natural light, you can achieve a scheme that feels both fresh and comfortable perfect for everyday living as the seasons change.
North-facing kitchen/dining/family spaces may require a little more thought, but they also offer an opportunity to create interiors that feel warm, welcoming and full of character. By choosing colours with the right undertones and supporting them with thoughtful lighting, you can transform even the coolest space into the true heart of the home.
Credit to: Dawn Scott, Dulux Senior Colour Designer at Dulux UK
