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Am I the only one who painted a north-facing room a dark color and it actually got brighter?
I painted my north-facing living room in Chicago a deep charcoal gray (Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore) expecting it to feel cozy but cave-like. Instead, the walls seem to reflect the cool light in a way that makes the whole space feel more even and intentional, not darker at all. Has anyone else had a dark color backfire by working too well in a low-light room?
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burns.brooke1mo ago
Wait, really? I always heard that was a total no-go. Did you use a flat finish or something with a bit of shine, because that might be bouncing what little light you get in a totally different way.
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felix4781mo ago
Flat finish? No way, that would be a disaster in a dark room. You need something with a tiny bit of sheen to move the light around, even if it's just eggshell. A totally matte wall just drinks up all the light and makes it feel like a cave.
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Wait, you got brighter with dark paint? That's wild. You probably used a matte or flat finish right? Cause that's the real trick. Flat paint in north light actually scatters the light differently than shiny paint, makes the room feel softer and more open. I did the same with a navy blue in my bedroom and it did the opposite of what everyone warned me about.
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