Styling secrets revealed: 8 north facing living room ideas & colour schemes

If you’ve dabbled in home improvement or occupy the interior design space, you’ve probably heard about the north facing room problem. As the quality and quantity of light in our living rooms shifts and changes with the time of day and the seasons so does our perception of the colour scheme, sometimes leading to a washed-out look – and no one wants that! In order to combat this tricky lighting situation, we need to employ north facing living room ideas that will outwit the sun.

This means finding the right undertones and overtones that will work well in the space, the amount of sheen to exploit the little light you have and some sage tips to perk up the décor with colour.

But before we spill the tea on our foolproof north facing living room colour schemes, we’ve got to understand what exactly it is we’re working from. Namely, why are north facing rooms notoriously difficult to decorate? Here’s the rundown coming right up!

How can I tell whether my living room is north facing?

Never. Eat. Shredded. Wheat. Remember that old mnemonic? It’s handy for remembering your orientation, but it’s not going to help you work out which way your room is facing. You’ll need a compass for that – and before you get all Columbus on us, remember there’s one on your phone. Now, whip it out and point it towards the largest windows in the room – whichever direction the dial points is your answer.

And if all fails, the telltale signs of a north facing living room are those cooler tones of light we mentioned before as well as surplus shadowiness at any time of day, even if you have well-placed windows. So if you’re not getting much in the way of natural light flooding in, chances are your living room faces north.

What’s going on with north facing living rooms?

First things first, what exactly is a north facing room? And why does it matter to us homeowners? Well, if you live in a house, you have at least one room facing towards the north. And sad to say, it might bring problems with it.

This is because north facing rooms have cooler natural light and, more often than not, much less of it. So if you have ever noticed that the vibe in your living room feels colder and darker, you’re not wrong!

There’s a common misconception that northern light is blue light when there is nothing surrounding your window, but it’s a little more complicated than that. Northern light is actually reflected light, meaning that it’s not direct light. So, a reflection of a blue sky = blue-toned light. And direct light = yellow-toned light. The next logical step is to recognise that this reflected light will vary depending on the surrounds of your window – if there’s greenery it will feel cooler, whilst an adjacent red brick wall will provide a warmer ambience.

Reflected light, with its characteristic diffusion, won’t cast strong shadows or give high contrasts. Its softer shadows and meagre light make dramatic backdrops more difficult to pull together and will often result in a cosier feel. This said, if the colour is chosen poorly, it can sap the energy away.

But don’t stress too much – it’s not the time to rethink your entire floorplan or daydream about selling up just yet, as there are bucketloads of clever (and pretty) decorating tricks to make a north facing living room shine. And if you purchase the right products these can be eco-friendly too.

Which direction to take? 4 foolproof north facing room colour schemes

So we’ve covered the age-old north facing room dilemma, but how do we tackle it? Good question. Usually, that starts with building an effective colour scheme that will play into the cooler, blue-toned light and distract from any encroaching dinginess. We want to open up the space, make it feel bigger and brighter – and, of course, ensure it reflects our personal style without clashing too much with our home’s architecture.

Before we go any further, it’s important to pause and think about the function of the living room as some work better when they have a north facing element. How do you normally use the space? Reading on the sofa with your feet kicked up? Doing yoga or simply chilling in front of the TV?

Whatever your activity of choice, you’ll want to reflect that energy in your colour scheme… which is where these 4 options come into play.

1.     Bright and airy

As your friendly painting professionals, one of the most common questions we get asked revolves around how to make a north facing room brighter. And it’s one we’re happy to answer.

Ever come across the “Purkinje effect”? Perhaps it’ll ring a bell if we mention the viral “is the dress blue or gold?” debate. Basically, it’s a theory that covers how various colours can undergo transformations based on the intensity of light. So it’s not unsurprising that some shades just can’t hack the blue-toned light of a north facing room and end up washing out the decor.

To ensure things stay bright and airy we suggest opting for a white with a warm undertone (yellow, pink or brown), staying clear of those cooler undertones. Warm-toned pastels paired with a nice white are an excellent option here too. Avoid bright whites if you can; these can have the opposite effect you were intending, making things dingy and flat without any crisp shadows.

2.     Fun and punchy

Bored of bright and airy? Add a stronger splash of colour with a warm yellow with red undertones or a restful green with a hint of vibrancy with the same undertones. If you want to er on the side of caution you could go with warm neutrals and then paint an accent wall in one of these shades. Remember golden, pink and orange colours go a long way.

3.     Cocooning and cosy

Opting for a colour with an inviting deepness will certainly cosy up your room. Here you could try an earthy colour – maybe a red like blazer no.212? While greens and blues aren’t always the wisest choice, opting for a natural forest green with warm brownish undertones can strike a nice balance with the right light fittings and décor.

4.     Dramatic and sophisticated

Another approach if you can’t beat them is to join them. That’s right, instead of fighting nature’s will you could join forces, leaning into the possibility of drama. Strong and darker colours in a north facing room paired with metallic accents and mirrors for added theatrics will instantly make an impact and allow you to steer clear of a flat and lifeless look.

Any colours to avoid?

As a rule of thumb, we suggest staying clear of any shades with bluey or grey undertones, as this will leave things feeling cool and uninviting. These colder hues are more suited to south facing rooms with their prime orientation and mountains of natural light.

8 north facing living room design ideas

You may have come up against a brick wall when exploring ways to improve your decoration in a north facing living room and often that entails a whole load of contradicting advice.

1.     Try a two-toned palette

When you’re stuck between shades why not go for the best of both worlds? By opting for a wonderfully contemporary two colour combo for your living room walls you can introduce a modern twist into the space and, importantly, get it feeling lighter and more energised. Plus, if you use a darker shade on the lower section of the wall, you can create the illusion of spaciousness and higher ceilings. It’s a win-win!

2.     Get clever with your ceiling colour

We’ve talked about overall colour schemes, but did you know that your ceiling colour choices can completely transform a space? Select a light ceiling colour to incorporate more reflective light into the living room or raise the colour of the walls to the ceiling at a shade or two lighter for an intimate, snug feel.

3.     Lean into the sheen

For rooms lacking natural light, the right paint sheen can come to the rescue. Going for a soft sheen is always a good option as its reflective attributes will ensure that weak, northern light bounces back into the space. Just be careful about leaning too heavily into higher sheen levels – the glossier the paint, the greater attention will be shone on any areas with imperfections and subtle is perennially classy.

4.     Harness your natural light sources

Haven’t got much natural light? Add more of the stuff! If you’re able to implement additional windows or even a skylight or two, you can drastically improve the lighting. As we continue to spend more time indoors, and especially in our living rooms, many of us are craving a stronger connection to the natural world, so let it in and feel the benefits.

5.     If in doubt, ramp up your light fixtures

If additional windowpanes and skylights aren’t an option, maximising the potential of your artificial light fixtures is a close second. To avoid stark contrasts that draw unwanted attention to the dinginess opt for soft ambient lighting and a dash of task lighting where required. This might be a table lamp for reading or a pendant light over the coffee table.

6.     Add bursts of colour with brighter accents

Another solution to the washed-out issue is introducing brighter accents here and there. You could opt with a warm neutral and then brighten things up with a more colourful shade along the skirting board, window frame or even your radiators. This will pull together the scheme and add a nice bit of depth befitting of a room created by an interior designer.

7.     Freshen up your furniture

For those seeking a more cohesive scheme, the simple act of brightening up your furniture alongside your walls and ceiling makes a whole world of difference. You don’t want to make things even gloomier so avoid dark wood, harsh surfaces and bulky designs – slimline and natural alternatives will provide a sense of grace and harmony.

8.     Don’t let drab curtains curtail the fun

Another brilliant way to make the space cosy and bring out your north facing living room colours is to invest in a beautiful set of curtains. Depending on the overall scheme, you could choose rich, plush curtains with a metallic sheen or a floral pattern with a burst of colour. Either way, raising the curtain pole as close to the ceiling as you can will create an optical illusion of height, tricking guests into thinking the space is larger than its physical dimensions.

TLDR? Here’s your checklist for how to decorate a north facing room

• Try two-toned walls to build the illusion of space and height
• Create a cocooning effect / elevate the ceiling with the right colours
• Opt for paints with soft sheens to bounce light around the room
• Optimise and increase natural light sources
• Maximise the potential of artificial light
• Introduce accent colours to the space
• Revamp and brighten up your furniture
• Replace your curtains with suitable drapery

Time to get started!

We hope our north facing living room ideas have reignited your decorating ambitions – however little light seeps into the space. After all, meagre natural light doesn’t mean meagre decoration. If anything, take this as your chance to get extra creative. All it takes is a solid starting point and a clearly defined colour palette; the rest is easy. What are you waiting for?

Want to dive deeper into the paint and decorating rabbit hole? Explore our eco-conscious tips and design inspo on the rest of our blog.