(Using Lick Paint Shades That Actually Work)
Choosing the right paint colour isn’t just about the shade itself — it’s about how that colour interacts with light throughout the day.
A colour that feels soft and warm in one room can suddenly feel cold or flat in another, simply because of the direction the room faces.
Understanding this is one of the simplest ways to make your home feel instantly more cohesive, elevated, and intentional.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how different room orientations affect colour — and exactly how to choose shades that work beautifully in each space, using carefully selected tones from Lick Paint.
What Affects How Paint Looks in Your Home
Before diving into specific rooms, it’s important to understand why orientation matters.
Natural light changes in:
Temperature (warm vs cool)
Intensity (bright vs soft)
Consistency throughout the day
This means the same paint colour can look:
Warm and creamy in one room
Flat or slightly grey in another
The goal isn’t to fight the light — but to work with it.
The Key Elements of Choosing the Right Paint
When selecting paint for any room, I always consider:
Undertone (warm vs cool)
Depth (light vs dark)
How the room is used
The feeling you want to create
Once you understand these, choosing colours becomes much more intuitive.
North-Facing Rooms
What to Expect
North-facing rooms receive cooler, indirect light throughout the day.
This can make colours feel:
Slightly blue or grey
More muted than expected
What Works Best
Instead of trying to brighten the space with stark whites (which can feel cold), lean into warmth or go intentionally moody.
Best options:
Warm off-whites
Soft beige tones
Earthy neutrals
Deep cocooning shades
Lick Paint Colours to Try
White 03 (a soft, warm neutral)
Brown 02 (for a deeper, grounded look)
These shades help balance the cool light rather than fighting it.
Designer Tip
If a room feels naturally darker, embracing a deeper shade often makes it feel more intentional and cosy — rather than trying to force brightness.
South-Facing Rooms
What to Expect
South-facing rooms are filled with warm, golden light throughout the day.
This enhances:
Warm tones
Depth of colour
Overall brightness
What Works Best
You have the most flexibility here — but the key is balance.
Best options:
Soft neutrals
Balanced whites
Muted colours
Even cooler tones (to offset warmth)
Lick Paint Colours to Try
Designer Tip
If your room gets a lot of sun, avoid overly yellow-based paints — they can feel too intense in bright light.
East-Facing Rooms
What to Expect
East-facing rooms get:
Bright, warm light in the morning
Cooler, softer light later in the day
What Works Best
You want colours that feel balanced throughout the day.
Best options:
Soft neutrals
Light earthy tones
Subtle warm shades
Lick Paint Colours to Try
Yellow 01 (very soft and muted)
Designer Tip
These rooms are perfect for bedrooms and kitchens — colours should feel calm in both bright and softer light.
West-Facing Rooms
What to Expect
West-facing rooms have:
Cooler light in the morning
Strong, warm light in the afternoon and evening
What Works Best
These rooms are ideal for creating warmth and depth.
Best options:
Rich neutrals
Warm tones
Deeper colours
Lick Paint Colours to Try
Orange 01 (muted terracotta tones)
Designer Tip
Leaning into warmth here enhances that beautiful evening glow — perfect for living rooms and dining spaces.
How to Make This Work in Your Home
Choosing the right paint isn’t about following strict rules — it’s about understanding how light behaves in your space.
To make this work:
Test samples on multiple walls
Look at colours at different times of day
Consider how the room is used
Keep your palette cohesive across the home
Often, the most beautiful homes aren’t filled with lots of different colours — but with a few tones used thoughtfully.
A Note on Real Homes
Something I’ve learned since having children is that your home doesn’t need to feel perfect to feel beautiful.
Light changes, walls get marked, and spaces evolve — but choosing colours that work with your home makes everything feel calmer and more considered.
And that’s what really makes a difference day to day.
Understanding room orientation is one of the simplest ways to elevate your home.
By choosing colours that work with the light rather than against it, you create spaces that feel:
more balanced
more intentional
and effortlessly put together
If you’re choosing paints from Lick Paint, starting with these tones is a simple, reliable way to get it right.