Choosing a Bedroom Paint Color Based on the Light

When you’re considering what color to paint your bedroom, you probably think about the environment you want to create. Choosing a color palate that soothes or energizes you, depending on the desired effect, is a good place to start. But the interior painting company in Dallas wants to remind you that once you have a range of shades in mind, there’s another big factor to consider — the light.

Those paint samples you bring home may look completely different than they did in the store, based on the type of light bulbs you use in your bedroom, which direction it faces, and at what time of day you are looking. The key to nailing the perfect color for your bedroom is really all about understanding how the light affects its appearance.

Lighting in rooms falls into two categories: low-light and lots of light. Our team has some recommendations for how to choose the best paint colors for both.

Choosing Paint for a Dark or Low-Light Room

One of the biggest challenges in painting is selecting the right color for a room that doesn’t have a lot of natural light. You may think painting it bright white will create the light that’s not there naturally. But a super white room often just ends up looking flat, without dimension, instead.

To paint a bedroom that doesn’t have much natural light, try to play up the little light there is (either from the window or from some strategically-placed lamps) by choosing rich colors. Warm yellow hues can give you the feel of natural sunlight while also reflecting artificial light for a brighter look overall. Oranges glow, too — think color palettes of pumpkin and apricot.

Painting Rooms with Lots of Light

If your bedroom has plenty of natural sunlight, you have more options for what color will work well. But keep in mind that the shade of the room will change throughout the day, especially depending on which direction your room faces. East-facing rooms get lots of sunlight during the day, while west-facing rooms light up at sunset. South-facing bedrooms get the most light overall. It’s best to look at your paint samples as the light changes throughout the day to really know what color to expect on your walls.

So what colors work well in a bedroom with lots of light? It depends on what you want. For an east-facing bedroom, you may want to downplay the light with cooler colors so you’re not woken up bright and early every single morning. But if you’d like to intensify those already strong rays, go with a rich, warm palette.

The New Neutral that Works in Any Light: Gray

A new trend in interior painting is gray. We love it because it works in low-light rooms as well as spaces with lots of natural light. If you just can’t decide which color would work best in either situation, consider going with the new trend. Lighter grays work better in dimly lit rooms, while a dark gray makes a dramatic yet subtle statement in a bright room.

Platinum Painting is the Dallas interior painting company that knows what’s best in any room. Contact us to discuss your paint job today!