Some of us are blessed with homes filled with natural light. Others, like me, are cursed to live an existence fighting against poorly placed windows and a lack of any real sunlight (please, a moment for my poor houseplants).
What my home lacks in natural light, it makes up for with brightly clad interior design choices, but unfortunately for me, pattern only goes so far. Recently, I’ve been contemplating what colour to paint my bedroom, which faces north-west and only has one long – but comically narrow – window.
After playing with my paint decks, I hit a wall. No colours felt vibrant enough, and everything else felt too depressing. So, I turned to some of our most trusted designer friends to get their advice on picking the best paint colours for low-light rooms. Below, I’m sharing their top three tips along with some of the best go-to paint colours that can instantly brighten a dark, low-lit room.
1. Avoid light colours
First and foremost: “Stop trying to make the room brighter,” says designer Max Humphrey. “One of the biggest mistakes is battling a dark room with stark white paint.” It may feel natural to reach for a lighter shade to brighten up a space, but Max warns against it: “Anything with a cold undertone can end up looking dull and lifeless when there isn’t much natural light.”
The same goes for greys, according to designer Erick Espinoza. “In a low-lit space, they tend to go even greyer than intended,” he says.
2. Focus on saturation
Instead of reaching for bright whites, focus on shades that layer on visual weight. “Rooms with low light really shine when you use colour, depth and a bit of saturation,” says Max.
The secret with saturation is this: stick with colours that are high-intensity, like jewel tones or highly-saturated versions of old favourites. “A gorgeous peacock green or sapphire really pops,” says Erick. “Don’t be afraid to pump up the volume.”
3. Pick the proper finish
Let’s be honest, it can be extremely confusing to know what paint finish will look best in any given room. It’s often up to personal preference, but in low-light rooms, the paint finish really matters. While you might be tempted to choose a glossy finish for its reflective nature, Erick and Max actually recommend going in the opposite direction.
Max prefers a classic eggshell: “A little sheen helps bounce light around without looking shiny,” he says. Erick, on the other hand, prefers something a little moodier. “I love a super flat wall finish. There’s something that happens with flat paint or stucco that reflects the light in a velvety way and adds a cosy factor to a room,” he says. Pick whichever you like the most for your room, but be sure to avoid anything with too much shine.
Best paint colours for low-light rooms
Plaster pinks
If you are looking for a neutral paint colour, go for a shade that has a distinct point of view. Warm, pink-tinged neutrals are better than bright whites that end up doing more harm than good. Some of our favourites include Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball and Lilac Pink by Edward Bulmer.
Peacock greens
Follow Erick and Max’s advice and stick to colours with high levels of saturation. They’ll illuminate your room from within. Our favourite dark greens include Steamed Spinach by Benjamin Moore, Citrine by Little Greene and Calke Green by Farrow & Ball.
Sapphire blues
Blue, often considered the 'designer’s neutral,' is a universally loved colour, but these shades are a bit more daring. Try Claybrook's Azzura, Lick's Blue 111 and Farrow & Ball's Stiffkey Blue to transform a pokey space into a lurid one.
Vibrant aubergine purples
Don’t be afraid of going bold with a punched-up shade of purple. In Sophie Robinson's farmhouse in Sussex (below), she's drenched the walls in Córdoba by Little Greene – a rich, earthy aubergine that intentionally leans into the small size of her snug.
"For any successful room design, always start with the feeling you wish to create," she says. "If you’re going for cosy, a bold, deep colour will deliver that in spades. 'But won’t it feel dark?' you cry! And yes, it will reduce the sense of natural light during the day, but that’s no bad thing if you plan to use the room as a TV snug, like we do. You have to embrace it for what it is."
By painting her woodwork lilac and teaming it with a matching sofa, the deeper colour is lifted, without losing its impact. Our favourite purples include Pelt by Farrow & Ball and Empire Violet by Mylands.
Anna Logan is the Deputy Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.
