Natural lighting
Natural light will alter how colours appear. Darker colours absorb more frequencies of light, whilst lighter colours reflect.
The direction in which the room is facing and from where the natural light is coming will have a massive effect on the appearance of colours.
When is the room used?
What time of the day will you be using this room? Does the room get good natural light if it is a day time room? Or will you light it with lamps and lights because you use it during the evening?
What direction does your room face?
South Facing
South facing rooms have the advantage of warm luminous sunlight, while north or east facing rooms can be attributed with the darker blue light. Because of this, the colours from the natural lighting and their wavelengths will bring out different colour pigments from the colour of your designs, some will reflect whilst some will absorb.
With south facing rooms, the warmth of the natural lighting will bring out both warm and cool colours at their best. Darker colours will look brighter and lighter colours will show their brilliance.
North Facing
North facing rooms with their blue tinge from natural light will allow bold colours to flourish, and give the feel of warmth and relaxation, whilst lighter colours can appear muted. Nonetheless, lighter colours do reflect more natural light, so the colour choice very much depends on what you’re using the room for, and the feel that you’re looking to create.
East & West Facing
East and west facing rooms have the advantage (or disadvantage) of having the bright warm sun of the south and the blues of the north facing sun; obviously, each at opposite ends of the day. Here’s the next dilemma….what time of the day the room is being used the most?
As I’ve said before I’m not a girly girl, so on some levels struggle a bit with pink…but not when it comes to lighting.
Who’d have thought that such a rich and opulent colour as purple, so beloved by the royal family (not to mention Cadburys) is mainly used for intense purification in colour therapy, ie. it’s main application is in detoxifying the body.
Blue in colour therapy is associated with the throat chakra, which deals with willpower and communication, it’s a calming colour, making it particularly good for curing insomnia.