Colours can change dramatically with the nuances of shifting light patterns and this is particularly true when considering the impact of natural light on your home.
The orientation of your room will determine the amount of sunlight it receives, from sunny south facing rooms to east and west facing rooms that are flushed with light in the morning or evening respectively, or north facing rooms that get little direct light.
The quality of natural light also changes dramatically from sunny to cloudy days and from season to season as the sun sits higher or lower in the sky. Add the complexities of artificial light, from ceiling lights and lamps to candles, and it’s easy to understand why deciding on the best colours can be quite a challenge!
Here’s my guide to choosing a colour scheme and flooring for any situation.
Weathered Hickory from our Art Select collection
South facing rooms
Spaces that face south enjoy strong, clear natural light throughout the year, giving you the freedom to choose any colour scheme that brings you joy, from pale and cool to bright and bold. One word of warning though: strong sunlight can leave rooms looking washed out so we recommend using blinds to help you control the amount of direct sun your room receives.
Here are a few of my top flooring choices for south facing rooms:
- Art Select Weathered Hickory: striking pale sand and darker beige tonal variation and subtle cross-sawn marks, this is sure to create a sense of drama.
- Art Select Blond Oak: a timeless parquet design with a polished wood finish for an effortlessly elegant result.
- Karndean LooseLay Georgia: with a rich tapestry of grey and light chocolate tones, this design brings a rustic textured look.
Glacier Oak from our Art Select collection
East and west facing rooms
East facing rooms will have more natural light in the morning and much less later in the afternoon, and vice versa for west-facing rooms. So when choosing a colour scheme, it’s useful to take into account the time of day you tend to use the room.
If you use an east facing room in the morning, you can counterbalance the strong natural light with calming cooler colours. Or, if you want a space to relax during the afternoon, use warmer undertones for a cosy atmosphere.
Here are a few flooring suggestions:
- Art Select Glacier Oak: a multi-tonal mix of light greys with delicate beige and soft pinks hints which give a cool contemporary look.
- Knight Tile Dutch Limed Oak: pinky-beige tones and a flowery grain add a touch of warmth and interest, especially when laid in a herringbone pattern.
- Knight Tile Smoked Concrete: this subtle mid-grey concrete design with a light mottled effect has an authentic seamless finish.
Dutch Limed Oak from our Knight Tile collection
North facing rooms
North facing rooms receive only indirect sunlight and so can sometimes feel a little dark and cold. Opting for a warmer colour palette with red and yellow base tones will help create a comfortable cocooning effect, while leaving windows uncluttered by curtains or blinds will also maximise natural light levels.
I recommend these floor designs for north facing spaces:
- Knight Tile Honey Limed Oak: create a homely yet stylish finish with golden tones and straight grain textures complemented by a subtle liming effect.
- Art Select Melbourne: this slate design features hints of greys, orange and browns for an earthy, cosy feel.
- Kaleidoscope Apex: dare to be different with this striking blend of complementary light to mid brown hues in a bold chevron pattern.
Why not try out different floors in your home with our room visualiser, then order free samples of your favourite designs to experience how the colours change during the day.
Explore more designs with our room visualiser.
*In South facing rooms where you can’t escape strong sunlight, we recommend using blinds to protect your floor, walls and fabrics from fading.
