The Best Benjamin Moore Shades For North-Facing Rooms

White kitchen with two large windows with black frames, a white subway tiled backsplash, an oven hood with wooden trim, a white kitchen island and walls painted in Benjamin Moore's Timid White. — (Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

The amount of natural light a room receives depends almost entirely on where it is positioned in the home, so before deciding on a color scheme, you should first consider the direction your room faces.

Often seen as one of the trickier aspects to decorate, north-facing rooms get little direct sunlight and therefore have a cooler tone. The right color scheme is key in these cooler-toned rooms, as the wrong shade can instantly fall flat and look unwelcoming. Usually, the answer is to choose warmer, richer shades to balance the coolness – but to get the intel on exactly what's going to work best, we consulted the color experts at Benjamin Moore to find out which of its paint colors work best in north-facing spaces.

'North-facing rooms receive consistent natural light throughout the day, but it is more muted, cooler, and toned down when compared to the warm, bright light south-facing rooms receive,' explains Arianna Barone, Color Marketing Manager at Benjamin Moore. 'The benefit of this direction is that the lighting is a bit more even-tempered and doesn’t shift as much throughout the day, while east- and west-facing rooms experience a more dramatic shift.'

1. Mortar

Living room in a Victorian home with a large white and black fireplace, dark olive green walls, a wooden lounge chair, a cream linen sofa, abstract ceramics on the mantelpiece and shelves. — Benjamin Moore's Mortar brings warmth and coziness to this north-facing living room.

While it's natural to think the lighter the better in north-facing rooms, darker, richer, more moody tones are a clever choice in these spaces as they create an instantly cocooned environment.

'North-facing rooms often receive less direct natural light and therefore feel cooler, which is an important consideration when selecting paint colors,' says Helen Shaw, Director of Marketing (International) at Benjamin Moore. 'Especially smaller, more intimate spaces can benefit from a richer, deeper palette, where natural light is limited.'

'Painting walls, woodwork and even ceilings in enveloping shades such as Mortar or Metropolis creates a dramatic and sophisticated effect,' adds Helen. 'Layering the space with lamps, wall lights and candlelight will further enhance the atmosphere, creating a warm and inviting ambiance.'

2. Timid White

White kitchen with white subway tiled backsplash, two large windows with black frames, a cream island with a white countertop, two gold pendant lights hanging above, and two wooden bar stools. — Pair off-whites with creamy hues like this kitchen with Timid White painted walls and a Gentle Cream painted island.

'When choosing white paint for north-facing rooms, opt for shades with warm undertones to soften shadows and prevent the room from feeling stark or dull,' advises Helen. 'If you are looking for an off-white paint, try hues that lean more yellow for added warmth and brightness,' says Arianna. 'Colors like Cotton Balls, Cloud White, and Timid White can counterbalance that cool northern exposure. Cotton Balls is slightly brighter, while Timid White is softer with creamier tones. Cloud White sits right in the middle in terms of brightness.'

'Whites with delicate hints of red, pink or soft peach, such as Opulence, create a gentle, flattering glow throughout the day,' Helen adds. 'These subtle undertones feel more balanced than yellows in cooler light conditions and help maintain warmth as the light changes. To maximize light reflection and add depth, consider using a higher-sheen finish on trim and woodwork, such as a semi-gloss or high-gloss, which will introduce dimension and brightness to darker areas of the room.'

3. October Mist

Living room with pale green walls — October Mist, a refreshing sage green paint, lightens this north-facing living room without erring into the stark or clinical.

Sage green paints often work in north-facing rooms, provided they're not too gray or cool in undertone. Some gray green colors might be suitable, but shades that are further on the gray side might not suit a room already more bluish in tone.

'If your goal is to make the space feel brighter, it is best to avoid shades with strong gray undertones, which can appear flat or muted. Instead, consider a soft gray-green such as October Mist to counterbalance the cooler light,' suggests Helen. 'The green undertone brings a natural warmth and luminosity to the room, while providing a versatile backdrop for complementary shades such as sun-baked terracotta tones or tonal olive greens.'

In this north-facing living room (pictured above), October Mist brings just the right amount of vibrancy, bringing a refreshed, light feel to the space without feeling stark or too cool in tone.

4. Edgecomb Gray

Home library with built-in bookshelves painted in Benjamin Moore's Edgecomb Gray, books and gold picture frames on the shelves, a yellow leather armchair, and a yellow blanket draped over it. — An Edgecomb Gray painted bookcase brings just the right amount of depth to this cozy library.

While cool tones are a no-go in north-facing rooms, not all gray paints are a write-off. In fact, complex, taupe-infused grays are a clever choice for these spaces, as they can create a warm yet still lightening effect.

'If you are looking for grays and neutrals, consider slightly warmer and lighter colors than you typically gravitate toward,' suggests Arianna. 'Colors like Silver Fox and Edgecomb Gray can work well in these spaces. Because the room tends to be more muted and shadowed, opting for slightly lighter colors can help to not make the space feel too heavy.'

Instead of color-drenching your space in one warm gray hue, keep it limited to woodwork or architectural features, like the built-in bookcase painted in Edgecomb Gray pictured above, paired with a ceiling painted in Winter's Snow.

Light affects paint colors, so in north-facing spaces that receive little direct sunlight, always opt for warmer rather than cool or overly stark tones.

'Like any space, you want to take into consideration the look you are trying to achieve,' adds Arianna. 'You also want to consider the amount of natural light the room receives. If your room does not get a lot of natural light or the natural light is covered by window treatments for most of the day, the direction the room faces will make a minimal impact.'

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

TOPICS