North-facing rooms can be challenging to decorate because they receive less natural light than any other room. They have a tendency to look darker and pull in more cool light, making paint colors a bit unpredictable. Picking the wrong paint color will leave your room feeling gloomy and depressing which is the last thing I want for our guests!
I loved the idea of using a calming blue in our guest bedroom that doubles as my office, but it can be tricky to use in a north-facing room. In this blog post, we’ll explore the best blue-green paint colors for north facing rooms and factors to consider.
CONSIDER UNDERTONES
Using the right undertone is crucial! Blue paint colors can have different undertones, such as green, gray, or purple. In a north-facing room, it’s best to choose blue paint colors with warm undertones, such as green or gray. Imperial Gray was one of my top 2 considerations for the guest room. It has enough muddy undertones without feeling depressing in the space and just enough green undertones to balance the cool light.
Purple or cooler undertones will be magnified in northern light. So unless you want to double down on those blue and purple tones, I suggest leaning into the green-blue colors. These undertones will help to balance out the cool light in the room and create a cozy, inviting atmosphere.
In this photo from Lilu Interiors it definitely looks more green – this is probably not a north facing room, but gorgeous still the same!
Boothbay Gray is another fantastic paint choice for a north facing room. It has a little less green to it and a little more warm, gray. If you want a more true blue this could be the winner for your space!
best blue paint colors for north facing rooms
GO ONE SHADE LIGHTER
Because the lighting of a north face room tends to be poor, I recommend going one shade lighter than what you think you’ll want. Once you get that paint coated over every single wall it’s going to feel a little more overwhelming. Gibraltar Cliffs is a stunning warm blue that would give you a bold look. If you want to tone it down a tad, Silver Mink by Benjamin Moore would be a great alternative.
USE WARM ACCENT COLORS
If you’re hesitant to paint an entire north-facing room blue… I get it! I have my first coat on currently and am still a little iffy. Picking the best blue paint color for north facing room is a real challenge.
To warm up the space consider adding in warm accents. I’m thinking natural wood instead of white or black painted furniture, warm cream bedding and gold or burgundy pillows and accent chairs. Using blue in combination with other colors can help to create a balanced, harmonious look in a north-facing room.
I love how Lantern Lane Design warmed up this color with gold accents, lots of wood tones, an unexpected burnt orange pillow and bold warm neutral curtains. Remember – in a north facing room this color will look a little more blue than this photo. I described it as a big more “sweet” than some of the color colors I’m sharing here. If you want something a little muddier, I’d suggest Iced Marble by Benjamin Moore.
White Buffalo Styling Co. is totally showing off that burnt orange velvet window seat cushion to balance out the pale blue of Sea Glass. YES! THIS is how you do blue in a north facing room.
CONSIDER DIFFERENT SHEENS
The finish of the paint can also affect how the color appears in a north-facing room. Matte or eggshell finishes can make the room feel cozy and inviting, while glossy finishes can reflect more light and make the room feel brighter. If your room is a bit darker, going with a glossier finish may help bound the lights around a bit and brighten up your space.
For my room I’ll be using eggshell on the walls and semi-gloss for the trim, which will all be painted the same color. I’m hoping the semi-gloss touches help move the light through the room a little more.
I love how Marie Flanagan used Greyhound in glossy seen on trim in this room. Again, if I had to guess this isn’t a north facing room because of how bright this color is coming across, but my point remains on the movement of light with the glossy sheens. If you want a bolder, moodier look I think Greyhound would be a great blue paint choice for a north facing room.
best blue paint colors for north facing rooms
If you’re looking for something a little brighter, may I suggest marching up the same sample card to Iced Marble by Benjamin Moore. This is ultimately what I chose for our guest bedroom. I’m swooning, guys! Like don’t want to even sleep in the primary bedroom anymore, in LOVE with this serene color. It’s got just enough warmth and green in it to tone down its iciness as the name suggests.
Using blue paint colors can be a great way to create a calming atmosphere. But tread with caution when using them in north facing rooms! When choosing blue paint colors, it’s essential to stick with warm or green undertones to avoid a depressing space. By following these tips for selecting the best blue paint for north facing rooms you’ll avoid a sad looking room.
While I’m LOVING this color, but room is no where near photo ready. So I’ll leave you with that little corner nugget for now. Full reveal to come…
Girl Behind the Blog
I’m Jess, the creator of Oak & Grain. A mid-west girl at heart who now resides in Raleigh, NC. I love finding old things and giving them new purpose by way of refinishing or incorporating unexpected, overlooked thrift store finds in the modern home. I work full-time in medicine and I love dipping into my creative side and in the process, keeping my sanity. Follow me on Instagram and YouTube to see more behind the scenes action.