The best paint colours for a west-facing room are ones that look calm in cool morning light and come alive in the warm, golden light of the late afternoon and evening. Soft, warm neutrals and dusty pinks glow as the sun goes down, while blue-greens and deep teals balance that yellow light beautifully. What tends to disappoint are colours chosen in the morning, which can look heavy or overly warm by teatime.
West-facing rooms are something of a split personality. Until lunchtime the light is indirect and fairly cool, then the sun swings round and the room fills with low, warm light that changes almost by the minute. Choosing well means deciding which part of the day matters most, and picking a colour that holds its own in both.
Below, a few of the colours that work hardest in west-facing rooms, from all three of the brands we mix here in London.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Setting Plaster (231)
How light behaves in a west-facing room
Farrow & Ball sum it up neatly: light in west-facing spaces is cooler in the morning and brighter in the afternoon. Paint & Paper Library go further, noting that west-facing rooms receive the sun during the late afternoon and evening, and that the light through a large west-facing window is very yellow.
That warmth is the key to choosing colour. It will push any colour towards yellow, so warm shades become warmer and cool shades are softened. In the morning the same room can look a little grey and flat, so a colour that relies on bright light will lose its character before midday.
The simplest question to ask is when you use the room. A sitting room used mostly in the evening can lean into the golden light. A kitchen or home office used all day needs a colour that is comfortable in both moods.
Warm colours that glow in the evening
For late-afternoon light, Farrow & Ball suggest the warm tones of Middleton Pink (245) or Setting Plaster (231). Both are soft and plastery, and both take on a lovely warmth as the sun drops. Setting Plaster in particular, shown above, has enough depth to stay interesting in the cooler morning light.
Little Greene recommend working within one colour family for west-facing rooms, and point to their China Clay Colour Scales: China Clay (1), China Clay - Mid (176), China Clay - Deep (177) and China Clay - Dark (178). Using lighter and darker tones of the same colour on walls, woodwork and ceiling gives a scheme that shifts gently through the day rather than jumping about. Their warm neutrals, such as Clay - Pale (152), are another restful choice.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: China Clay (1)
Blue-greens and deep teals to balance the golden light
If you would rather cool the room down a little, blue-greens are the natural answer. Paint & Paper Library say that rooms filled with golden warmth partner beautifully with vibrant blue-green shades, and suggest Iguana (551) or the mid-strength blue Blue Gum (620).
Little Greene make a similar point about deep teals, which they say work wonderfully in west-facing rooms. Their suggestions include Tea with Florence (310), Goblin (311), Harley Green (312), Mid Azure Green (96) and Canton (94). In the morning these colours read as cool and settled; in the evening the yellow light warms them into something much richer.
Photo Credit: Paint & Paper Library; Colours Used: Iguana (551), Cotton II (132)
Neutrals that work morning and evening
For a room used all day, a balanced neutral is the safest route. Farrow & Ball note that Slipper Satin (2004) or Shaded White (201) will look cool in the morning but balance the warmer light later in the day. They also mention Light Blue (22), a chameleon of a colour that moves between blue and silver as the light changes.
Paint & Paper Library suggest their Stone and Slate families for a more muted scheme, or alongside bolder colours. Stone II (202) and Slate II (162) are good places to start, with Cotton II (132) on the ceiling to keep things fresh.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Tea with Florence (310)
How to test colours in a west-facing room
Because the light changes so much, a sample seen once at midday tells you very little. Paint two coats onto a large sheet of card, let it dry, and look at it at three points: mid-morning, late afternoon and after dark under lamps. Move it between the window wall and the wall opposite, which will catch the light very differently.
Our colours for west-facing rooms collection brings together shades from all three brands that suit this kind of light, and sample pots let you try a shortlist at home before committing. For the bigger picture on orientation, read our guide to choosing paint colours by room orientation and our article on why a colour looks different at home.
Questions we are often asked
Should I use warm or cool colours in a west-facing room?
Either can work. Warm colours make the most of the evening glow, while blue-greens balance it. Think about when you use the room most, and choose for that time of day.
Will a grey look too cold in the morning?
It can. A grey with warmth in it, such as one of the Stone or Slate tones, is more forgiving than a cool, blue-based grey, which may look flat until the afternoon sun arrives.
Do west-facing bedrooms need anything different?
Bedrooms are mostly used in the evening and at night, so it is worth judging samples under lamplight as well as in the late sun.
