East-facing rooms are so pretty because the natural light changes dramatically throughout the day. The downside of this is it can make your room tricky to decorate. A paint colour you love in the morning may fall flat in the afternoon. So one of the key considerations when choosing paint colours for east-facing rooms is to think about when you use the space most.
GOOD MORNING
In the mornings your east-facing room receives bright, warm light and the sunrise casts lots of shadows quite deep into the room. This creates lots of contrast within the space making it feel very atmospheric at this time of day. So if you mostly use this room in the morning it’s going to be a really beautiful space to spend time in.
At this time of day Blues and greens which are pure and saturated will look really pretty. By ‘pure’ I mean colours that are a very definite blue or green. So none of this blue-grey or greeny-grey. We want to avoid the grey! And by saturated I mean quite intense, so very strong or bright colours. These kinds of colours are going to stand their ground against all that light and all those shadows. They will look amazing.
Download the full list of our recommended colours from our new website 😀
HELLO MID-DAY
GOOD AFTERNOON
By the afternoon the sun will have moved around and you won’t receive any more direct sunlight. The quality of the light is turning cooler so the room may start to feel a little flat. The blues and greens can still work and they will take on a softer, more calming feel. But if you use this room exclusively in the afternoons or evenings you may find them a little cool. So try warming up the space with soft and mid-toned pinks. Or, if you want to keep the colour neutral try warm undertones, so colours with a yellow or red base.
Download the full list of our recommended colours from our new website 😀
WHAT TO AVOID
You want to steer away from pale colours that will be washed out by the whiter mid-day light. It is best to avoid greys or muted colours that have a lot of grey in them. This is because they can feel a little dull and flat in the afternoons.
Download the full list of our recommended colours from our new website 😀
Whether you use the room more in the morning or the afternoon you have the opportunity to use some glorious colours in here. So enjoy!
If you would like any more advice then check out my colour consultancy service for whole homes or individual rooms. I cover Southampton, Hampshire and parts of Dorset and Surrey so use the contact form to get in touch.
I may be a daft question I’m trying to work out with my room is east facing or west facing is this the direction of the window or is it the direction of the room into the house? Because if it’s a window it’s West but if it’s the direction it looking into the house is east maybe a stupid question I need clarification
Hi Fiona, it’s the direction of the windows. If your windows face west, it’s a west facing room. Hope that helps 🙂
Hi Fiona, I have a boxroom bedroom facing east with a high but small window. It’s used anytime of day. I want a colour that reflects the light and feels warm, what do you suggest
Hi Fiona. I have a east facing lounge/dinner with large French doors at the lounge area but no other light coming in from anywhere else. The room is used anytime (mainly evening). The sofas are chocolate brown. Please can you send me advice on colour on the main walls. Along each side of the firebreast we are building bookshelves with the TV in the middle on the wall. This will be possibly white. Thanks
Sorry that question was for Sarah
Oh boy, am I having a tough time with choosing a paint color for my east facing dining room, entryway and living room,all. With a sloped ceiling, The living room is two steps lower than the other to rooms, but they are all east facing. The living room hasn’t been used that much (the former owner had a very 90’s color palette with each wall a different color. Yuck, I know. Im planning on doing the living room wall that is perpendicular to the east facing window, and a little back. I have lots of natural toned furniture, and orange/yellow oak floors. I know, this is a tough one I want the living room to have a nicer and brighter feel, who knows, we might use it more often Im consider with the irone ore accent wall, simply white (which looks ok even though it pulls yellow, it’s not, or alabaster. What do you think? Any suggestions?
Hi Fiona, I have an East facing living room and connecting doors into a dining room that backs onto a west facing garden. I have dado rails in both rooms.
Really like Oval room blue or maybe Dix blue but I have two concerns. Should I paint both the top and bottom of the dado rail in the same colour? Also should I paint the dining room the same colour or a coordinated colour that would flow when the connecting doors are open? Your advice would be most appreciated.
Great article! The last image, colors to avoid, none of the names show up for me. I’d be curious what they are. I have an east-facing room that also has north windows. Will spend most time there is the evenings and afternoons… trying to choose a color, and so far to no avail. Any tips are most welcome!
Hi Julia, there are no names because I would never want to say you abosultey can’t use a colour in your space. The colours to avoid in your east-facing room with a north window would be anything with too much grey in it as it could look drab in the afternoons and evenings as you wont have any direct sunlight at those times. Good luck.
With all the colors out on the samples is there a way to tell specific if the sample is considered warm undertone from cool?
Hi, the best way is to compare them to white card and to each other. When you study them against white card the undertones normally reveal themsleves. Cool is blue/grey/purple. Warm is red, pink, yellow, brown.
Hi, I’m looking for a paint colour for my whole house (very small, if that helps). My trim is BM White Dove. I like the idea of a light muted pink or a soft cream but I have no idea which ones may work in my space. Any suggestions? I have east facing windows, and I’m going for a cozy cottage/romantic feel. Thanks!
Hi Hayley, White Dove is a very warm white so is versatile and will work with a lot of other colours. Just trust the colours you are drawn to and try some samples in your home. A warm greige will feel simple but elegant you could try some of the Littel Green families like; Portland Stone, Rolling Fog and Clay. These are warm, understated neutrals. Good luck 😊
Hello – this article is very helpful. We are having our East facing bedroom redecorated. The room is quite large and has a wall of wardrobes painted an off white colour. My issue is our curtains are grey.. what colour would go with grey curtains that will look warm. They are linen with a cream embroidery – really lovely curtains so want to hang on to them.
Hi Sarah,
I have an east facing kitchen and I’m struggling with what colour units to buy. Should I buy cream units and paint the wall a colour or buy coloured units and leave the walls white?
I’m so confused!
Thank you 😊
Hi Sally, sounds like you have an exciting project ahead. I’d be very happy to help you. You can check out my Design Surgery service here where we can discuss your project, and I can offer my professional advice 😊 https://paperroomcreative.co.uk/product/design-surgery-interior-design-consultation/