Choosing colors for any room involves careful deliberation, but understanding the room's orientation is the most important first step. The best colors for east-facing rooms can adapt to the dramatically changing light throughout the day — bringing much-needed balance to the space.
"East-facing rooms are full of beautiful, soft morning light that feels fresh and energizing, but by the afternoon, that natural brightness fades, so it’s key to choose colors that look great in both cool and low light," explains Tash Bradley, director of interior design at Lick.
So, what are the best paint color ideas for east-facing rooms? From calming neutrals to uplifting hues, there are multiple ways you can go. The designers we spoke to, however, noted the importance of considering when you spend the most time in the space while determining the best colors for east-facing rooms. Find their expert advice on the best colors, below.
1. Light Aqua Tones
Unlike colors for north-facing rooms and south-facing rooms, which have fairly consistent lighting throughout the day, east-facing rooms vary. "East-facing rooms enjoy warm direct light in the morning, transitioning to softer indirect light past noon," explains Helen Shaw, color expert at Benjamin Moore. "The afternoon glow tends to have a cooler tone, making it important to choose a balanced shade with warm and cool undertones."
If you're spending mostly mornings in your east-facing room, soft, light shades of blue-green — like seafoam and mint — work well to complement the morning light. While bold and cool-toned blue paints can risk appearing stark in the latter part of the day in east-facing rooms, those with subtle green tones tend to feel more balanced.
Specically speaking, Farrow & Ball's paint color expert Patrick O'Donnell recommends the brand's soft blue-green shade, Teresa’s Green. For something slightly less colorful, Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene, recommends choosing neutral paints with either blue or green undertones, helping to balance the morning sunlight more subtly: "Celestial Blue or Brighton, will create balance," she says.
An in-between shade that includes both blue and green tones, Teresa's Green is a calming wall color that balances the morning sunlight in east-facing rooms.
2. Earthy Greens
Green paints are a wonderful way to bring a feeling of nature into your home in any room orientation, but in east-facing rooms, they can be especially effective at maximizing the morning sunlight, says Lick's Tash Bradley.
"Earthy greens, like sage or olive, are brilliant in east-facing rooms; the morning light brings out their freshness, while their natural warmth adds a grounded feel as the day goes on," she adds, noting Green 02 as a favourite for bedrooms and "calm, comforting spaces."
And while light shades, such as sage green paint, can feel like a safe bet in east-facing rooms, working almost like a neutral color on the walls, bolder greens are a great way to make a statement while also adding warmth to the cooler evening light.
"If you want to maximize the feeling of sunshine in the evening, perhaps in a kitchen or bedroom, or make the most of the morning light, use a strong or radiant color to energize the space, such as Little Greene's Harley Green," adds Ruth Mottershead.
Harley Green, a rich dark green paint, works well throughout the day in east-facing rooms, adding energy to the cooler afternoon light.
3. Warming Yellows
If you're drawn to warmer colors, decorating with yellow offers plenty of it in east-facing rooms. While yellow paints will certainly appear more vibrant in the morning with direct sunlight, they do wonders for countering the cooler and more muted afternoon light, making them a wonderful choice for spaces used primarily in the evenings, such as dining rooms.
"If you want to boost brightness, especially into the evening, try a soft yellow, something like Yellow 07 that adds a sunlit glow, even when the sun’s gone," Tash Bradley recommends.
While butter yellow paint colors, as recommended by Tash, offer softness — a great choice if you want your space to feel fairly neutral — richer, ochre yellows also work well in east-facing rooms.
"If you are looking for a warmer, deeper shade, try using rich ochres such as India Yellow for a joyful impact,” suggests Patrick O'Donnell. Not dissimilar to Farrow & Ball's Duster, which was used in the dining room above, these energetic colors can be just what's needed to fill an east-facing room with warmth as the day progresses.
A rich mustard yellow, use India Yellow on the walls in your east-facing room to boost warmth and create a happy, inviting feel.
4. Soft pinks
Another warmer color to consider for an east-facing room is soft pink. Gentle, plaster pinks allow more color than light neutrals, yet don't feel too colorful, making them a popular and failsafe choice for many rooms.
When it comes to decorating an east-facing room, a soft shade of pink on the walls will add warmth as the sunlight fades, perfect for spaces used for relaxing in the evenings, such as living rooms or bedrooms. In the morning sunlight, plaster pink paints maintain an earthy quality, not appearing too warm or saccharine.
"Dusky pinks and peaches also work really well; they warm up the cool tones of early light and retain their softness and warmth later," says Tash Bradley. "Pink 02 has just enough depth to stop the room from feeling washed out."
What's more, the best colors to go with pink are wide-ranging, from neutrals to bolder tones, allowing you to incorporate more color through your decor.
With yellow and gray undertones, Pink 02 offers warmth without leaning too pink, a great way to add depth and just the right amount of warmth in east-facing rooms.
5. Warm neutrals
Whatever the orientation of your room, you can't go wrong with decorating with neutrals to create a calming space, but it's key to choose neutral paint shades with the right undertones. In an east-facing room, you want to select a neutral paint that complements the morning light without appearing stark or flat in the afternoon.
"It's important to enhance the morning warmth while avoiding a washed-out or overly cool feel later in the day," echoes Paula Taylor, stylist at Graham & Brown. "Warm whites with subtle yellow, beige, or peach undertones work well to amplify the morning light and prevent the room from feeling cold as the day progresses."
Helen Shaw also vouches for a neutral color scheme in an east-facing room, specifically warm-toned grays which can add depth without feeling drab. "A pale warm gray shade such as Balboa Mist 1549 will brighten things up, while a deeper shade, such as Cumulus Cloud 1550, will offer a cozy and more intimate atmosphere, perfect for evening gatherings in kitchens or dining rooms," she says.
A failsafe wall color in east-facing rooms, Balboa Mist is a gentle, warming gray that offers balance throughout the day.
FAQs
What Is the Best Color for an East-Facing Room?
While color is subjective to each of us, certain colors are generally seen as more flattering in east-facing rooms. In these rooms that benefit from the morning sun, the best wall colors are those that offer balance. But if you're looking for a safe bet, you can't go wrong with warm neutral paints that are subtle enough to work well despite the changing light.
"I always recommend warm neutrals like beiges or greiges, which stay balanced throughout the day. Greige 01 is a great example that looks soft in the morning but still cozy in the evening," says Tash Bradley.
What Is the Best Paint Finish to Use in an East-Facing Room?
While choosing the right paint color in an east-facing room is an important decision to get right, don't forget to consider your paint finishes too. Choosing between matte vs gloss paint depends on the look you wish to create: gloss finishes reflect more light, whereas matte offers a non-reflective finish.
If you're decorating a space that's used later on in the day, a gloss paint is a wonderful way to add drama while helping to bounce more light around the room. In high-traffic areas, an eggshell finish is often more durable than a fully matte finish, since it can be cleaned more easily to account for daily wear.
How Do I Brighten Up an East-Facing Room?
If you spend time in your east-facing room in the afternoons and evenings, you may be wondering how you can brighten the space. Despite the limited sunlight, the right wall color can do wonders in making the room feel more welcoming, and experts point to warm neutrals.
"Use warm-toned paint colors like creamy whites, light apricots, and pale yellows to reflect even minimal light in the evening," says Paula Taylor.
In addition to the color of the walls, focus on lighting solutions for dark rooms. "To brighten east-facing rooms in the evening, always bring in layered lighting, focusing on warm artificial lighting like table lamps, wall lights, and even reflective surfaces like mirrors. This will keep the space feeling warm and inviting," adds Tash Bradley.
Being aware of how much sunlight a room receives is key when choosing paint colors, and for east-facing rooms, it's all about balancing the brighter morning light and the cooler afternoon light.
And while the best paint colors for east-facing rooms focus on the changing light, color psychology in interior design is another useful tool to consider. While certain colors promote energy and others make us feel more relaxed, choosing those that reflect the mood you wish to create will ensure a well-designed space.
