The Best Neutral Paints Depending on the Orientation of Your Room

Finding the right neutral paint involves many factors, but one of the most crucial elements to consider is the orientation of your room in relation to the sun. Whether a room receives warm or cool light, limited or abundant light, will have a huge impact on how a paint color appears in your space, and neutral paints are often the most important to choose.

When decorating with neutrals, paint colors should comfortably balance light throughout the day (dim extremely well-lit rooms and boost warmth in naturally cool rooms) to serve as a backdrop for the rest of your room’s decor.

But what are the best neutral paints for your room’s orientation? We tapped the expertise of paint and color experts, who explain it all below. Read on for some expert-suggested paint ideas for your next decorating project.

How to Choose a Neutral Paint for Your Room’s Orientation

The first step is to determine the orientation of the room you plan to paint. You may find that one side of your home is much brighter than the other, and you will also notice how the light moves throughout your home throughout the day.

Once you have determined the orientation of your room, you can start choosing the right paint color. Of course, even within the realm of neutral colors, you want to make sure that your decorating style is reflected. For example, you may prefer the look and feel of warm neutral paints. So keep that in mind before deciding on neutral bedroom decorating ideas.

North facing

Living room with pink walls

Farrow & Ball Fixing Plaster

(Photo credit: Farrow & Ball)

North-facing rooms are often considered the most difficult to decorate with neutral paint, but the trick is to opt for colors with warm undertones. Cool neutrals in north-facing rooms can come across as too dull and cold.

“In north-facing rooms, which are potentially the most difficult to decorate, you should opt for off-whites with yellow or red pigments to inject much-needed warmth,” says Patrick O’Donnell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball. “Think Dimity or White Tie as perfect off-whites here.”

“The light you get in north-facing rooms is the coolest of the bunch,” says Tash Bradley, Lick’s interior design director and color psychologist. “Northern light casts a blue tint and tends to make cool colors look flat, so it’s important to opt for warmer neutrals to balance it out.”

Behr’s Blank Canvas white paint is a popular choice and also works well to add warmth to a north-facing room. Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr, describes it as “a warm, creamy white that balances out cool, indirect light.”

Another warm white paint that works well is Lick’s White 03, according to Tash, who describes it as “a soft, uplifting neutral designed to absorb the sun’s rays before reflecting them back into the room, making you and your space feel lighter and brighter. Its warm undertones make it especially comforting in a bedroom, where you want to curl up at the end of the day.”

Of course, decorating with neutrals doesn’t just mean white, but also richer shades. “If you want a little more depth than white can give you, opt for a soft Beige 01, or even opt for a barely-there Pink 02 for that neutral feel with a cozy personality,” adds Tash.

South facing

dining room with beige walls, wooden table and chairs, large double doors opening onto the garden

(Photo credit: Lick)

There are a range of neutral paint colours for south-facing rooms, according to Patrick: “For south-facing rooms, you can use the whole spectrum from cooler whites to bluer hues that will feel fresh and clean, making them perfect for a minimalist aesthetic, but these rooms also work beautifully with warmer-toned whites that will create a soft glow in bright sunlight.”

As Patrick explains, there’s less room for error in south-facing rooms, but be aware that going too warm with your neutral paint colours can make the room feel too yellow, depending on your decorating style. Consider paint colours like Farrow & Ball’s Wevet in these rooms for a clean, timeless look – a classic white with a hint of grey for a bright, airy feel.

“South-facing rooms give off a golden glow, and the good news is that they work with almost any white,” adds Tash. “Keep a south-facing room on the right side of light and breeze with white with a soft gray base like our White 04 or White 02.”

“Since south-facing rooms get the most natural light, you can also afford to opt for slightly darker neutrals. The earthy and enveloping Beige 02 will balance the light with its mix of yellow and grey undertones, while giving you a feeling of calm and rest.”

Another popular neutral paint that works wonderfully in south-facing rooms is Behr’s Swiss Coffee. Erika explains that she “balances the direct, bright light of the sun with its soft, warm undertones.”

East facing

kitchen with warm white walls, wooden cabinets, parquet flooring and arched window — (Photo credit: Lick)

East-facing rooms receive bright daylight in the morning, while afternoons and evenings feel cooler and shady, so you’ll want to choose a neutral paint that works for both.

According to Patrick, neutral paint colours with a subtle dose of green work well in these rooms. “Opt for colours with a soft green undertone like Pale Powder’s palest aqua blue or the duller, moodier Shaded White which has a contemporary feel.”

However, it’s important to think about how you actually use east-facing rooms before choosing a paint color. If you spend most of your time in these rooms in the morning, for example, you may want to prioritize the room’s appearance at that time, and vice versa for the afternoon and evening.

“Start by thinking about what time of day you’ll be using the space the most, then play to its strengths,” says Tash. “Opt for the slightly warmer Beige 01 if you’ll be using it in the afternoon. For example, an east-facing living room in Beige 01 will do best when the light can get a little grey, so will need a yellow undertone to give it a boost.”

“Or play on the bright morning light – perfect if you’re a pre-work shower type and have an east-facing bathroom – and choose Beige 03 to make the most of it,” says Tash. “If you want your room to look its best all day long, finding a neutral with a balance of warm and cool undertones is the holy grail. Take our chalky White 06 with its hint of pink, for example.”

If you prefer decorating with gray when it comes to neutrals, Erika recommends Chic Gray for east-facing rooms, which “offers a versatile, balanced tone that works well with changing light.”

West facing

A kitchen painted in F&B Stirabout No.300 and Beverly No.310 — (Photo credit: Farrow & Ball)

Unlike east-facing rooms, west-facing rooms benefit from afternoon light while mornings are cooler and natural light is less direct. As a general rule, you don’t want to go overboard with neutral tones in these rooms, as they need to look beautiful with the dramatic changes in light throughout the day.

“Western orientation is one that gives afternoon light and loves warmer hues,” says Patrick. “Think an earthy off-white like Stirabout or a paler red-based neutral like Joa’s White for a really warm look.”

“Just like east-facing rooms, west-facing rooms are the most changeable,” adds Tash. “Overall, they look best with a warmer white for company. So, avoid greyish whites and follow the same advice for north-facing rooms: creamy whites like White 03 or White 05 for something more oatmeal.”

If you want to stray from white, opt for a subtle beige hue for added depth and interest. “For west-facing rooms, white linen complements warm afternoon light with its soft beige undertones,” adds Behr’s Erika.

This handy guide will give you a starting point for choosing the right neutral paint for your space, but it’s important to always test colours on a sample before committing. Seeing how the colour changes throughout the day is a helpful exercise to ensure your neutral paint works with your decorating style, whether that’s clean, classic whites in well-lit rooms or warmer neutrals in darker rooms.