Colour & Light
The source of illumination on colour can dramatically change your perception of the hue. From Direct sunlight, Incandescent and fluorescent sources, to the new halogen and LED light options each highlights a different area of the light spectrum in regards to colour and will influence your viewing.
The amount of light reflected off a surface and the sheen of the paint (how much light it’s reflecting) also combine to alter your colours appearance. Warmer summer light versus cooler winter light, well lit walls versus shadows and corners, can make a colour appear different from times of day to seasonal changes. Even the juxtaposition of light from accent walls or natural occurrences (shrubbery) can bounce from one surface to another, influencing your final perception.
Due to these variables it is always suggested that you try your paint colours on the actual surface you are painting (substrates and texture can add to the lighting effects). Apply to a well-lit area and a darker corner to ensure you can live with both versions of your selection. On exteriors especially it’s important to view the surrounding colours, vegetation and existing unchangeable objects (brick, stone or metal which won’t be painted) to see how they may influence your colour choices.
The psychology of colour can add another dimension, often associated with behaviors – blue in a dining room doesn’t always make food look appetizing, green in a bathroom can make you appear sickly while orange in a bedroom can affect your sense of calm, causing restless sleep.
Luckily there are a limitless numbers of colours to choose from in established palettes or custom tinted to your specifications, let us know what you’re trying to achieve and we’ll point you in the right direction.