How light affects colour

See how changing light reveals new sides to every shade.

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August 25, 2026 9:03am EDT

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Wooden bench and table against a white wall, illuminated by soft sunlight from a high window, with potted plants and a woven basket on either side.

Walls: Cornforth White No.228 in Dead Flat

When colour meets light

Great colour never stands still. As the light shifts from morning to evening, its character can change with it – revealing different tones, depths and moods throughout the day.

Understanding that relationship is one of the simplest ways to choose colours that feel right in your home.

Read our guide

Sunlit dining area featuring a wooden table and chairs beside a black cast-iron stove, with shelves displaying paint samples and decorative items.

Ceiling: Strong White No.2001; Walls: Peignoir No.286; both in Dead Flat

Colour like no other

Our richly pigmented paints are created to respond beautifully to light, revealing remarkable depth and complexity. And because we take colour seriously, our experts examine every shade under different light sources before it reaches your walls.

Dark grey painted room featuring a leather accent chair and black floor lamp against a dramatic charcoal wall, showcasing the depth and richness of Down Pipe No.26.

Walls: Down Pipe No.26 in Modern Emulsion; Ceiling: All White No.2005 in Dead Flat

North facing
Cooler, more consistent light throughout the day lends itself beautifully to deeper, more dramatic shades.

Dining corner painted in a soft pale blue-grey, with a wooden table, fresh flowers and potted plants illuminated by natural light, highlighting Borrowed Light No.235.

Walls: Borrowed Light No.235 and Hague Blue No.30 in Modern Emulsion; Woodwork: Wimborne White No.239 in Modern Eggshell

South facing
Warm, abundant light brings colours to life, making these bright spaces wonderfully versatile.

Soft green dining space featuring walls, a painted wooden cupboard, and a matching chair in Teresa's Green No.236, styled with potted plants, glass bottles, and ceramic accessories.

Walls, woodwork and furniture: Teresa's Green No.236 in Modern Emulsion and Modern Eggshell

East facing
Brightest and warmest in the morning, before giving way to cooler, more muted light later in the day.

Warm pink living room with a dark blue sofa, colourful cushions, indoor plants, and sunlight casting soft shadows across the walls.

Walls: Setting Plaster No.231 in Modern Emulsion and Modern Eggshell; Ceiling: Wimborne White No.239 in Modern Eggshell

West facing
Cooler in the morning, becoming brighter and warmer as the afternoon light moves in.

Paint sample pot on a wooden table with colour swatches in the background, demonstrating how paint colours can be viewed and compared in natural light within a home setting.

See it in your light

The best way to understand a colour is to see it in your own space. Choose a sample pot or ready-painted swatch, then try your favourite shades around the room to see how they shift with the light throughout the day.

How to sample