How Lighting Can Affect Your Wall Color

This is such a huge topic I don't even know where to start. Is lighting really a “color killer?” It most certainly can make or break a color scheme.

I found this interesting example by Behr that really nails it. Look how different lighting can change a room with the SAME wall color:

In a recent color consultation, I choose this color for a kitchen. It's “Bali” from Benjamin Moore. The client clearly wanted a blue in her kitchen that would go well with her stainless appliances and this was hands down the color for her.

I sent her a color portfolio with her new color palette in it and shortly after that I received a frantic phone call saying, “I thought we decided on a blue for my kitchen. This is green!” 

I chuckled a bit because I knew what the problem was. I asked her, “Mrs Jones, what room are you in right now?” and she replied, “The living room.” I said, “Ok, walk into your kitchen, hold the color vertically and take another look.” I remained on the phone and heard footsteps walking into another room then I heard her say, “Wow, it is blue!”

“Be careful of your 

lighting and please view

 the color chip in the room it's 

intended to be in.”

Not only will using different light bulbs alter your color, and that's a whole other blog post, but in my opinion, what's more crucial is the type of shade that your lighting fixture has. You can have LED's incandescent, halogen or fluorescent bulbs but the color of your shades will determine what hue is cast on your walls. 

This chandelier has a light gray shade. For the most part, this color is ideal to show off your main wall color. Now depending on the Designer and the look you want for your home, the color of the shade will either add to your overall look or ruin it.

This (copper) lighting fixture obviously will add a yellow tone or warmth to your overall color. If you're trying to create a cozy, warm look in a room, than this is the fixture you would want. If you are trying to see the true color of your wall instead of creating mood lighting, this will cause havoc on your color much like the blue and green example I talked about in the beginning of this post.

Down lighting is another element to consider. Light is splashed below your “color line” and onto a surface. It may bounce off the surface (table perhaps) and hit the wall a bit. Now your wall color will look spotty because it will cast color on the wall where it hits but further out on the wall, the “shadows” will appear much darker, almost looking like another color.

Yikes right? Accent lighting, Tiffany lamps, stain glass are NOT my friends. When there are several colors in a lighting fixture and you're trying to select one wall color, the thought process to go through (as least for me) is seeming endless.

How will the color look in this room?

… in the day?

… at night?

Do I need to make it brighter to compensate for the lack of light?

If so, what if it'll be too bright in the day?

If I want green, how “blue” do I have to go so the yellowness coming from the lamp will reflect the color I want?

How will the color look when the lamp is off?

Should I choose a color when the lamp is on or off?

These are questions that are pretty standard when I choose color for a room I just pay extra attention to the homes that have colorful lighting fixtures. 

If you have a “light challenged” room that you need color for, you know I can help! You can find me here.