Considering the orientation of a space...

When selecting a shade for your home, the orientation of the room is a big consideration.

The amount and direction of light entering a room can completely alter the appearance of a colour. Once you have created a shortlist of options from our colourcard, we always recommend sampling the colours in situ to ensure you select a colour that sits comfortably in your scheme.

Whether a space is bathed in natural light or has vastly changing light throughout the course of the day, the orientation of each room should be considered separately to ensure that you pick a shade that compliments the space.

South Facing Rooms

South facing rooms tend to experience warmer light, so colours can often appear more yellow. This means cooler whites such as 'French Grey Pale' or 'Gauze' will read as more neutral whites. Warmer whites such as 'White Lead' or 'First Light' will appear quite cream in tone.

Strong, bold yellows like 'Yellow Pink' or 'Mortlake Yellow' will radiate warmth, whereas dark blues like 'Marine Blue' and 'Hicks' Blue' can be used in place of greys and blacks to achieve a neutral scheme with more depth.

Wall: 'Royal Navy'

Wallpaper: 'Zingara - Cerulean Sea', Skirting: 'Jack Black'

Wall: 'Yellow-Pink,' Door frame and skirting: 'Lamp Black'

Walls: 'Light Gold,' Radiator: 'Scree,' Chair: 'Heat'

Left Wall: 'Sage Green,' Right Wall: 'Mortlake Yellow'

North Facing Rooms

Colours in North facing rooms tend to appear consistently flatter and cooler than they would do bathed in natural light. Paler blues and greens may appear cold but experiment with stronger green-blues such as 'Air Force Blue' or 'Canton' for a warming impact. If you're looking for something more neutral, shades with a pink or yellow undertone such as 'Rolling Fog' or 'Stock' provide an uplift when used in an all-over scheme.

Walls: 'Mushroom,' Highlight Stripe: 'Pompeian Ash,' Cabinets: 'Flint'

Wall: 'Stock,' Tiles: 'Sunlight,' Units: 'Woad,' Stool: 'Heat'

Outer Stripe: 'Air Force Blue,' Middle Stripe: 'Carys,' Inner Stripe: 'Light Gold'

Walls and woodwork: 'Linen Wash'

West Facing Rooms

The natural light in West and East facing rooms changes dramatically throughout the day, so the function of the room is an important factor. Maximise the changing light by varying the strength of shades used within the neutral colour scheme. The 'Colour Scales' families provide four strengths of the same pigment which can be used in combination for a harmonious scheme. Utilise bold accent colours on architectural features or woodwork for a strong highlight.

Far Wall: 'French Grey Pale,' Right Wall: 'Portland Stone Dark', Woodwork: 'French Grey Pale', Chairs: 'Sage & Onions'

Wall: 'Carlton House Terrace - Pompon,' Desk: 'Tea with Florence,' Dado Rail: 'French Grey – Dark', Lower Wall: 'French Grey - Mid'

Wall: 'Dorchester Pink – Mid', Door and Woodwork: 'Dorchester Pink'

Upper Wall: 'Aquamarine,' Lower Wall: 'Ambleside,' Back Wall: 'Aquamarine – Pale'

East Facing Rooms

If the bedroom or perhaps kitchen faces East then make the most of the morning light with a strong or radiant colour to wake up to. Neutrals with a cool, blue or green undertone will help to create balance and will appear more subdued and restful in the evening light.

Panelling: 'Scree'