Interior Design Top Tip: Let Natural Light Guide Your Colour Choices

Discover how to choose the perfect wallpaper/paint and furniture colours based on the direction your room faces. Our expert tips help you work with natural light for beautiful, balanced interiors.

Why Light Direction Matters in Interior Design

When planning the look and feel of any room, there’s one design detail you should always consider first:
Which way does the room face?

In Australia, where light can shift dramatically throughout the day, understanding your room's orientation helps you choose colours that enhance the space—not fight against it.

Here's your guide to choosing the right colour palette and furniture tones based on natural light direction.

North-Facing Rooms – Bright & Consistent Light

Natural light:
Consistent, indirect sunlight throughout the day.

Best colour choices:

• Deep navy

• Charcoal

• Forest green

• Crisp white

• Burnished gold

These rooms can handle bold or cool tones without feeling gloomy.

Furniture tips:
Use contrast to keep things fresh—light-toned timber, painted finishes, or soft textures pair beautifully with deeper wall colours.

East-Facing Rooms – Morning Light, Afternoon Cool

Natural light:
Bright and warm in the morning, cooler and dimmer in the afternoon.

Best colour choices:

• Soft terracotta

• Warm beige

• Blush pink

• Creamy neutrals

• Warm toned blue/green

These tones maintain warmth as the room cools through the day.

Furniture tips:
Add comfort with mid-tone timbers, natural oak, or rattan. They reflect morning warmth and soften afternoon shadows.

West-Facing Rooms – Warm Afternoon Glow

Natural light:
Golden and intense later in the day—can make warm colours feel overpowering.

Best colour choices:

• Soft sage or olive green

• Dusty blue

• Muted grey

• Cool white

These colours help balance the richness of late-day sun.

Furniture tips:
Choose finishes with cool undertones. Layer in linen and textured cushions to keep the room feeling fresh.

South-Facing Rooms – Subtle, Soft Light

Natural light:
Dim and cool throughout the day.

Best colour choices:

• Butter yellow

• Warm white

• Apricot

• Soft peach

• Light sand tones

• Warm light blue/green

Warm, light-reflecting colours bring brightness and cheer.

Furniture tips:
Opt for lighter woods with warm undertones (like limed oak or light honey). Add mirrors and gloss finishes to bounce light around the room.

Final Styling Tip: Test Before You Commit

Natural light can change a colour dramatically. Always try samples your wallpaper/paint or fabric swatches in the actual room and observe how they look in the morning, midday, and evening.

Need Help Choosing?

At Gaudion Furniture, we understand how colour and light work together to create a home that feels just right. Whether you’re selecting wallpaper, choosing custom furniture furnishes, lighting or layering textures, our design team is here to help.

Visit our Melbourne showroom or contact us today—we’d love to help you bring your space to life.