NORTH, EAST, SOUTH, WEST: ROOMS WITH 2 -3 EXPOSURES
Just when you thought picking a paint color couldn’t get any harder, you have to deal with your room’s exposure. And if you have a room with windows on different walls, you won’t just have one exposure; you’ll have two or even THREE exposures to battle with. But let me add that personally, I would only expose myself ONCE – and then I would run like mad.
While I’ve written a blog post for each exposure and a fantastic summary of all four, I haven’t explored dual exposures. So, that’s what we’re doing today!
You’ll first want to examine your room with two (or more) exposures/windows and consider the following…
1. WHICH EXPOSURE IS THE PRIORITY?
The exposure that matters the most is OFTEN, the one coming in the largest windows. However, even if the windows are larger, if there are hedges, trees, an overhang, or your neighbor’s house blocking the direct flow of natural light, priorities can shift.
In the above space, the patio door’s exposure is the DOMINANT source of light.
2. WHAT ARE YOUR PREFERENCES?
If you have two more exposures, you might be dealing with warm AND cool colors regarding your paint options. You might want to consider which end of the color wheel you prefer and which exposure it relates best to.
If you need to brush up on the details of your independent exposures, click the link below (there are more links to this later on, don’t worry). Otherwise, let’s get going!
Summary of Exposures: North, East, South, West; which paint color is the best?
ROOMS WITH NORTH & WEST-FACING WINDOWS
A room with both north and west exposures will have a gray light with cool undertones – this NORTHERN-influenced light is consistent throughout the day. In the morning, this will be joined by an additional flat light (western morning), and in the afternoon, it can be somewhat balanced by the warm western rays coming in (depending on how large the west-facing windows are).
Sherwin Williams Alabaster is magic for a north-facing space!
- If the northern windows are smaller and the western light plays a bigger part, I would look at both the best paint colors for northern exposures and west-facing paint colors and see which ones settle best and suit your tastes/interior, keeping in mind that even though western light is bright in the afternoon, it’s pretty flat in the morning.
- If your windows are similar in size, I would focus more on paint colors for north-facing rooms, as they should also satisfy west-facing light.
The Best Paint Colors for North-Facing Rooms
ROOMS WITH NORTH & EAST-FACING WINDOWS
A room with both north and east exposures will have that cool gray light all day via the northern light. In the morning, this light will be brightened by the eastern sunlight. This same morning light will begin to wash things out at the height of the day (depending on how big the window is). In the afternoon, the east-facing light will be comparable to the north-facing light in its lack of warmth and depth.
Neutrals like Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige can fall flat in low-light north or east-facing rooms.
- I would prioritize the north-facing light as long as the windows are larger than the east-facing ones. This means you’d want to focus on paint colors for north-facing rooms.
- If the exposures are ‘equal opportunity,’ I would look at the recommended paint colors for north AND east-facing paint colors and see which ones suit your tastes best! Remember that the north-facing light might slightly gray out your paint options, an important point in the cooler range.
Can I Paint My North Facing Room White?
ROOMS WITH SOUTH & WEST-FACING WINDOWS
Rooms that are both south and west-facing receive warm southern light throughout the day and extra warm light in the west-facing afternoon. The resulting room will be cozy and inviting, but it could become a bit too toasty if you also overdose on warm paint colors.
The flatter, west-facing morning light will flatten things a bit in the morning hours with its lack of sunshine. This will balance off the warmth and brightness of the southern exposure, but as you get close to noon, this type of light can really wash out colors—but only temporarily! In the afternoon, the western light will add to the warm glory of the southern light, making this room toasty!
Benjamin Moore Steel Wool offers balance to both southern and western exposures.
- If the southern light plays a smaller part in the lighting scheme due to smaller windows, I would focus more on paint colors for western exposures, but check out south too and see which best suits your tastes/interior finishings.
- If your windows are similar in size, or even if the south-facing window is slightly bigger, I would look at both south-facing paint color options AND west-facing color options and see which ones best suit your tastes.
The Best Paint Colors for West-Facing Rooms
The Best Paint Colors for South-Facing Rooms
ROOMS WITH SOUTH & EAST-FACING WINDOWS
A room with windows on the southern and eastern walls will generally look warm. Eastern light in the morning is brighter with a gentle wink of warmth (I love morning Eastern light). As the day progresses, direct sunlight from the south adds a ton of visual warmth to a space and washes out paint colors at the height of the day. Eastern light has the same washing-out effect (at noon).
Sherwin Williams Pure White is a gorgeous choice for southern light but loses some of its warmth in the eastern sun
But have no fear; once that midday sun shifts, things will come back. The flatter afternoon eastern light can help to soften the super warm southern rays throughout the afternoon.
A gray like Sherwin Williams Silverplate calms down southern light but can fall flat in eastern.
- If the windows are comparable in size, I might consider the paint colors recommended for east-facing rooms, as south-facing light can be easier to please. Remember that any OVERLY warm color will look extra toasty in the southern sun.
- If the east-facing windows are bigger and the southern windows are smaller, I would probably lean on colors for east-facing rooms. Soooo – EAST WINS!
Visit the SAMPLIZE Peel & Stick site HERE
ROOMS WITH NORTH & SOUTH-FACING WINDOWS
A room with windows on the southern wall AND the northern wall will have warm undertones (yellow) in the south end and cool undertones (gray with a slight blue) in the northern end – mixing in a hot mess in the middle. This is often found in open-concept homes or single rooms with windows on either end of the room.
Benjamin Moore White Dove is a well-balanced, warm shade of white
- In this case, you could pay more attention to your PERSONAL PREFERENCES! If you don’t like cool paint colors, you may want to focus on colors that suit northern exposure (warm colors). If you aren’t a fan of WARM colors, you may want to focus on the paint colors that best suit a SOUTH-facing space (cool colors).
- Or you can find a happy medium with a beautiful taupe or greige paint color that nods to both ends of your room – you won’t be overly warm or cool!
This next room is a blazingly good example of a room with both north and south-facing light…
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Snowbound
PAINT COLORS FOR ROOMS WITH 3 EXPOSURES
If you have a room with THREE exposures, focus on the dominant exposure via window size or quality of light coming in (i.e., no landscaping blocking the light).
If your windows offer relatively equal amounts of light, forget about your exposures and focus on the colors that suit you and your interior finishes—have fun!
Benjamin Moore Ballet White is popular for many exposures, as long as you have enough natural light!
And all of that being said, if you are CONFUSED, you know who to call…the Ginga Ninja.
READ MORE
The Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Undertones
Can I Paint My North Facing Room White?
The 12 Best Whole Home Greige & Gray Paint Colors
North, South, East, West, Which Paint Color is The Best?
NEED HELP?
Check out my E-Design and Online Paint Color Consulting!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2018, AWESOMELY UPDATED IN 2024
Great article Kylie! This is very helpful and informative.
I’m so fascinated by your knowledge of color. My living room has windows south and east, openings in the west and north. I put on edgecomb gray because I read your articles and watched your videos. The color looks beige like. It actually looks more like cedar key now. But now that I read this article I was thinking about a cool greige or a slightly warm gray? Any suggestions? Oh and it was weimaraner for 8 years before I just changed it but I wanted to go lighter.
Thanks a bunch! Felice M.
Hi Felice! It’s tough to suggest colours without seeing the room, as I’d have to see your furnishings and what not to get a real feel for things. You can certainly look at BM Collingwood or SW Agreeable Gray, they might be greige’s that are worth exploring that might lean a bit more gray for you!
my house is situated on diagonal, so that the front right corner is due east, the back left corner faces west. my living room windows face south east so would this work for my situation, too?
Well, it’s more about a ‘room by room’ basis, rather than a whole home. Naturally most homes will have 3, but usually 4 exposures, so it’s a matter of picking colours based on the needs of each room and its particular exposure. For those looking for 1 paint colour for the WHOLE home, it’s often about finding that ‘happy medium colour’, which is some type of neutral – usually a greige or subdued tan as they tend to be more flexible on the large scale.
What about rooms with both east and west windows?
Good question! So, it can depend on when you use the room the most. West facing rooms can be flat in the morning but lovely and warm in the later afternoon. East facing rooms are bright in the morning, but more flat in the afternoon. I would probably focus my efforts on the time of the day I spend most of my time in the room and see what the light is like. Otherwise, I would be MORE inclined to humour the eastern aspects more than the western, as it’s a trickier light.
HOpe that helps!
Yes, it helps lots! Thanks so much for taking the time to reply 🙂
Any suggestions for rooms (like a sunroom) with three exposures? We’re building a small addition with a mudroom on the first floor and reading room/sunroom upstairs. Each exposure (north, west, and south) will have nearly a full wall of windows, so very little wall space to paint.
Hi Alisa! I would probably base it on what suits the inside of the home and wouldn’t worry as much about the light because it will change SO much throughout the day. If there is a large window in north or south, I ‘might’ give that a bit of priority…
I have used 50% Repose on all walls in my home. I love the paint color at night as it is the light color I wanted but during the day in some rooms it looks a bit lavender and/or blue. I have dark wood floors which looks great with the white kitchen cabinets and white trim throughout the entire house (cloud white). Upstairs I have a light grey carpet that does not conflict with the wall color but seems blah with the wall color. Should I have the walls painted to a lighter color-like a creamier white that would accent the cloud white trim? I also have my kitchen island in Fantasy Brown which has a grey/blue/green color running through it. LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY!!!
Hi Kay, without seeing photos it’s all just a guess as there is so much to consider when adjusting/choosing colours! I do try to give as much complimentary info as I can on my blog, but if it hasn’t helped, it might be time to check out my E-design services, this way I can spend some proper time on your question by looking at your photos/questionnaire to see what will work…it is affordable and fun https://staging2.kylieminteriors.ca/update-dark-wood-trim-with-the-right-paint-colour/
Would you recommend Revere Pweter for northeast bedroom?
Hi Nelle! It depends on how much natural light you have. If you don’t have great natural/interior lighting, I think it could be a bit heavy/drab. If you have a lot of lighting it will be pretty, but I have seen it go just a flash blueish in an exposure like this… (only once though).
Hi Kylie! Do you have a favorite white for walls in rooms with both East and West exposure? Do you like White Dove? Would I need to match my ceiling and trim too? Remainder of the house trim and ceilings are BM White. Will White work with White Dove?
Hi Dottie! I do find White Dove to be quite flexible, all the while acting more or less like ‘white’. And yes, I might continue the ‘White’ throughout, rather than switching in this one room!
Hi Kylie, this is very helpful! We have South/East mostly East facing living room with lots of windows, what are your thoughts on Behr’s Chic Gray color? We also have in our foyer Agreeable Gray which would be South/West and Chattroom in our dining room which is West. Thank you
Hi Kimberly! I generally stick with BM and SW colours, as those are the ones that I’ve been surrounded with for the last 15 years! I don’t get into Behr too much!
I am re-doing our bedroom and want to do Pure White on the walls. We have one north facing window and two east facing windows. Will this be a good option?
It will be white for sure and could pick up a subtle cool cast. If that’s what you’re looking for then you’re set! In a south facing room it will lean a touch soft/warmer. 🙂
Hi there! I’m hoping you can save me from going literally mad looking at a million shades of white on Instagram!
I have one long , rather dark (in morning) living room, which has a front window facing south-west.
Research has told me that I should be opting for a yellow toned white for the walls, but I’m not keen on the yellowyness!
We’re painting one wall with farrow and ball dix blue.
Can you recommend an appropriate white? I’m lost!!! – is like a white white as opposed to a grey too, but am worried to go cool-toned in case it makes the room too clinical and cold! Gahhhhhh!
Thanks in advance!!
Thank you.
Hi Lucy, from the sounds of it, you might like SW Pure White which is only a BARE wink soft, not yellowed, but not icy cold – it’s an amazing white! If you look at my blog posts, maybe 1 or 2 back of the white kitchen, that’s Pure White on the walls, cabinets and trim (on my home page you’ll find it 😉
Hi Kylie,
What type of trim and baseboard paint would work well with a paint like SW Shell White in a north and south facing room?
Thanks!
I live in Texas, where the heat is literally killing. I have a small SW facing room I want to paint SW Extra White eggshell w/ semi-gloss white & cabinets. However, I’m concerned it might glare. What do you think?
Hi Kyle, I am building an open concept 520 sq ft cabin in the woods across from a lake. I have 2 massive windows facing north, out to the lake, 1 smaller window facing south out to the forest. I will have rich golden wood floors and rich golden wood cathedral ceilings. The north and south walls will be pine shiplap, which I will paint grey to create a moody contrast. I would like the walls to appear dull green. Which paint color would you recommend?
I mean *KYLIE* please, thank you!
Thank you for this Blog!! My downstairs area is an L shape that faces N&S with some some west light influence but there is a house on the west side. I’m having a hard time finding a color that looks good in all lights. The north part is walking into my living room and then walk south to the dining and the bottom L turns to the kitchen. There are a lot of windows on the South side and decent light on the north side. I was thinking Agreeable grey would be good for me but it looks like a boring light beige in the Kitchen and dining (south exposure). So I’m guessing I need to lean more towards cool grays? I HATE a purple hue though. I’m ok with a little blue or green. What color would you suggest that wouldn’t wash out in the kitchen and dining but won’t look too blue or green in the north facing room? I do have some chocolate brown furniture (slowly changing them though to things more light and bright). My cabinets in my kitchen are also this horrible medium/dark, honey/Orangeish oak so I would like something that will look ok with them until we change them to white in a year or two. What samples would you recommend for me to look at? The current paint color (previous owners painted it) is a grayish color but is a little on the dark side and has a horrible purple/brownish hue. I been stressing out about this for weeks and I need to decide on something soon! Thanks, I love all your blogs!
Ps. My daughters name is also Kylie!
Oh I’ll be using semi-gloss too if that makes a difference.
Kylie,
I am having trouble finding an off white in a north east facing room with low light. The floors are golden oak . I have Revere Pewter in ny SW facing room, which looks great. Also, any suggestions for transitioning from the Revere Pewter (SW) room to the hallway and living area which are darker.(NE facing).
Thanks
Hi Marianne! Take a look at Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White, it has some great flexibility and a passive warmth 🙂
Hi Kylie. your information on just the different kinds of white paint colors is great, but I am so overwhelmed now. My living and dining room (open concept) is east and west facing with the most light coming in from the larger windows on the east. We have high vaulted ceiling in that area I am looking at greek villa for these rooms. Light ceramic tile and beige Berber carpet (I know, trying to get rid of carpet) and light furniture throughout. Thoughts? I really want to paint the same color throughout. Master bedroom has windows on west and north but more windows on north side. Bedroom furniture is mocha color. Going to change out drapes to a beige type color. Want to make the room romantic and clean looking. White bedspread with beige throw pillows, etc. I was also thinking of Greek villa in that room as well. Master bathroom open to bedroom has east facing windows. Like I mentioned, I want to pick one color to use throughout these rooms. What do you think? Picking out a new paint color to replace the yellow toned paint we have now has been a real stressor for me.. HELP! Thank you sooooo much.
Hi Kylie!
Thank you for the abundance of information on this article. I do still have a question. Can I use this same guidelines of NSEW exposures for exterior?
I am in the process of narrow down white & “black” colors for the exterior of my nort east facing home. While I have a long front yard with grass and palm trees (Florida) but no other trees providing shadow to the house.
What I am more “concerned” about is the wood look vinyl fence (Barrette Living in Cypress color – light wood) I just installed around all the house and the shingles of my roof also on a light brown/orange color. I was going for “White Dove” from BM. and wanted to pair it with black for gutters. Do you think that would be a good white considering the surroundings?
Thank you for your time.
Hi Kylie!
We just finished building an additional room in our home. It has windows facing the east and west (same size) and a 20″x 70″ window facing south (towards the woods, lots of green trees)
I haven’t found any suggestions for paint in rooms with east and west windows. After purchasing several tester paint samples from Benjamin Moore Off White Collection, and painting foam boards, I’ve come to the conclusion that I do not know what I am doing and there is no paint color that will look good. The room will have natural white oak flooring (beige/cream) with a bit of orange/yellow, an off-white leather sofa, and a soft white wicker desk, chair, etc. I live in Florida and like the fresh whitish colors. So very confused.
I love watching you compare and explain why some colors work better than others, but nothing for east+ west+south windows. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Cynthia, I have a blog post here https://staging2.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-paint-colors-for-east-facing-rooms/ as well as this one! https://staging2.kylieminteriors.ca/how-to-choose-paint-colours-for-a-room-with-2-exposures/
Could I please have the name of the paint color in the second photo for the north and south facing exposure? You have listed white dove and ballet white for the first and third photo. Thank you so much for your time and help!
You betcha, Jess, that’s BM Tapestry Beige, which has a lovely green undercurrent 🙂