Selecting the right paint colour for your room can be a bit of a minefield. You finally find a colour for you after spending hours trawling through pinterest and instagram and bam it looks completely different on your walls versus the images you spotted online! Instagram filtering aside (we can’t fix this bit for you!) here are some top tips of interior design which should hopefully help you with understanding colour better and how the room, furniture, lighting and orientation (natural lighting) will impact its appearance in your home!

In the second blog of our mini series we’re tackling south facing rooms, one of the most sought after room orientations and deemed to be the easiest to select colours for but there are still a few things you should know to aid with selecting the right colour!

Key characteristics of a south facing room:

South facing rooms are sought after as they get strong, clear, natural light that is consistent throughout the day. This light source is warmer which means you can pretty much opt for any colour you like. It is important to remember here that these rooms can feel quite warm due to the level of light they get throughout the day and selecting the right paint colour can help to visually cool the space down. One final note for south facing rooms is that whilst the light is fairly consistent throughout the day, it does intensify during the middle of the day and this can wash out the colour that you choose if it’s too pale. It’s important therefore when testing your colours to view them at different times of the day to ensure it works throughout!

So now let’s get to the steps of selecting our colour! In the first blog of the series (about decorating for north facing rooms which you can read here) we talked about considering the purpose of the room in addition to the furniture and accessories you already own before thinking through your colour options. Give those a read if you haven’t seen those tips already or need a refresher! 

Now onto the good stuff, let’s talk colour! 

Due to the warming yellow tones of the natural light, colours with cooler blue and green undertones will work well in a south facing room.These cooler toned shades will help to balance and neutralise the warmth of the natural light and will help to create a fresher, calmer space which lends itself to a more contemporary vibe. For this look I would opt for Blend’s like Cosy Grey, Greyish Taupe and Soft Greige. 

If you have a smaller south facing room that would work well as a cozier space then opting for tones with a red or yellow undertone would help to maximise the warmth of the light. Be careful not to select a bold and bright red as this will end up feeling garish and overpowering but softer, muted red tones or undertone colours will work really well here. For this look I would opt for Blend’s Brownbridge, Angel of the North or if you’re wanting to keep it neutral but cosy then our mid-tones Irish Cream and Greige Tan will work beautifully! 

You can also afford to go dark with any of our dark-toned shades to create a cosy vibe. Blend’s Collingwood, Legacy Blue and Cooper will all work in a south facing room due to the strong natural light you’ll receive and create the ultimate sanctuary to snuggle up with on an evening with a glass of wine and a throw!

A final approach in a south facing room (especially an open plan one!) is to maximise the light in the space. The use of pale neutral tones will help to celebrate the light and aid in creating an airy and relaxing space. Using Blend’s such as Cloudy White, Just Right, and Pampas Grass are the perfect choice if you’re going for this style in your room!

So there we have it, a quick run through the various styles available to you with a south facing room and our favourite Blend’s to use in there! Some final tips to bear in mind now you’ve got your colour selection down…a flat matt is going to help absorb some of the brightness in the room so is definitely the finish of choice! Remember we have our scrubbable flat matt too if you’re decorating a high traffic area! Then finally utilise your accessories and furnishings to support in the finishing touches of the room. Sheer curtains for example can soften the light in the room or the use of wooden blinds. These can not only help to visually cool the room but physically aid in reducing the heat in there! 

Hopefully you’ve found this helpful! We’ll be back soon with our East and West facing room recommendations!