COLOUR FOR AN EAST-FACING ROOM

THE COLOUR COMPASS: PART II

EAST GREETS THE SUNRISE

The Magic of the Morning Light  

An east-facing room in Britain is greeted by the morning sun, but by afternoon, it can feel quiet and forlorn, with light growing cooler and softer: your interiors need to account for both. When choosing colours for east-facing rooms, the challenge becomes how to balance the early brightness with the later subdued mood.    

East-facing rooms were once popular for breakfast rooms or morning parlours due to their early brightness. They enhance fine china and silverware; there are few pursuits more pleasant than having breakfast in the sunlight. They can, however, get hot in the summer months during those morning hours, but it doesn’t last long, so it seldom becomes such a great issue that a soft sheer curtain could not solve.

Unless you are an early riser or have excellent black-out curtains, they are less suited to bedrooms. They do, however, make excellent children’s playrooms, or studies.

The Play of Light and Colour  

In an east-facing room, the colours need to match the light rather than fight it. Warm pale and mid-tone hues perform well, capturing the potential intensity of the morning sun without becoming too harsh as the day wears on. Soft yellows, peachy tones, light blues, chalky greens, and warm beiges can bring out the vibrancy of a morning room, while avoiding the flatness that could set in as the light diminishes. 

The light has a distinct blue undertone, making some colours a natural match, and some sit uneasily. Anything blue will shine, but if not carefully balanced, it can feel colder in the afternoons. Anything too warm, such as heady reds or burgundys might feel overwhelming in the morning, and feel a little dark in the afternoon. Sage green might lose its freshness and sometimes leans too blue so testing your chosen colour is paramount.

Bright, lively colours are often the answer. A light golden yellow, a soft mushroom or a plaster pink can carry the warmth of the morning sun well into afternoon. These colours never feel too strong but still bring enough life to a room to feel welcoming. They are perfect for creating a sense of calm without feeling overly energetic, especially as the light transitions throughout the day. Avoid cooler pastels, which can feel too washed out when the sun fades.

Aspect and Prospect  

When choosing a colour, testing is just as critical here as it is in any other room. Painting two coats on a large board, and looking at it morning, afternoon and evening is a necessity to avoid disappointment. Equally, looking at it in conjunction with the view is a very good idea.  Nineteenth century architect Robert Kerr speaks about the importance of taking both aspect and prospect into account when deciding on an interior in his book The Gentleman’s House (1864). We know that an east-facing room is capricious. But the view; the prospect, matters as much as the direction. What sits outside your window will cast a glow in your room due to a phenomenon called colour relativity. Anything adjacent will leave a cast over its neighbours. A white curtain near a red wall will take on a rosy hue. Therefore, any greenery outside your window will help alleviate the bluish cast. As the light changes and with it the effect of the outside, so too should your view of the paint swatch. A colour that glows in the morning will shift in the late afternoon, becoming duller, darker and cooler, so test over several times of day. Be mindful of surrounding elements: wood finishes, floors, and fabrics, which will all take on their own glow and colour relativity in the morning light.  

Artificial help 

Assuming these rooms can take cooler Kelvin* lightbulbs due to their morning brightness might lead you to having a room where nobody wants to sit in the afternoon and later evening. A cool lightbulb will accentuate the blue light and do nothing to help with warmth as the light darkens: you will end up with a chillier space than you expected. Therefore, use the afternoon light as your temperature guide. Around 2500-2700K will be suitable as long as you do not choose blue or stark white lamp shades. The shade on a table or standard lamp will influence the colour of the light emitted, so should your preference lean toward cooler coloured shades, you can afford to go with lower Kelvins to balance out the temperature drop.

Fabrics and patterns  

Just like in a west-facing room with its opposite light cycle or a north-facing room with its even but flat light, textures play a vital role. Your goal is to enhance the incoming light rather than try to stifle it. Choose textured fabrics that let in a little more light in the morning and add depth later, such as linen, coarser cottons or velvet, which will catch and reflect the morning sun. Gentle florals paired with warmed up backgrounds, warm stripes, or geometric patterns with rich colours can add interest while still maintaining the room's overall calm.   

While it may be tempting to fill the room with large expanses of white or plain neutral colours to endeavor to make the most of the light, remember that too much neutrality can feel overwhelming if employed without breaks. East-facing rooms thrive on balance. By choosing softer, warmer tones and using fabrics and textures that enrich the space, you can create a welcoming atmosphere that never feels too stark.  Layered window treatments, such as sheer curtains combined with thicker drapery, can allow for control over both light and temperature. Should you prefer darker colours, either on walls or fabrics, consider deeper blues, mid-tone greens or a rich mustard. These colours, whether on walls or on fabrics, won’t fight the light but instead absorb it in a way that feels natural and comforting as the room transitions throughout the day.  

Accept the light cycle  

The east-facing room has a unique light cycle. It can easily fall into bright and cheery in the morning and then become sad in the afternoon. Light east-facing rooms do best being treated with warm, welcoming tones, and flexible lighting that suits the changes throughout the day. Darker east-facing rooms can handle more presence in the colour choices without it feeling overwhelming. Through careful attention to colour, texture, and layering, an east-facing room can embrace its morning light while maintaining a harmonious feel through to the evening.  

*Light temperature. High Kelvins = cool light. Daylight equals about 5000K. Low Kelvins = warm light. Candlelight sits around 2000K.