What colour works for north facing living room decor

[Orangeinmybluelightcup]

I've just had my living room replastered so have an almost blank canvas to work with! But confused about what colours might work in a north facing living room. I'm torn between light bright paint because it's dull in there, or embracing the lack of natural light and going for a deep jewel colour paint. Tell me what's worked for you or what really didn't?!

Furniture and pictures to work with are boho vibes, dark kelim print fabric, brown leather sofa, and pictures and stuff picked up from travels, mixed with kids and pets. Tidy and chic isn't going to work...

If you are torn, start with a light paint & see how you go

You will need several coats on new plaster, so I'd choose an off-white with warm tones, that comes in MASSIVE vats. For the same needs I have chosen Dulux timeless and been v happy with the choice

I have a north facing living room & after years of trying to brighten it up I embraced the darkness, painted it a quite dark greeny grey (valspar 700 green-grey linen) it’s slightly darker than F&B mizzle have some blush pink & grey accents which soften it, very pleased with the results it’s very cosy in the evening.

My last house I had a north facing living room and tried both dark and light colours. I started dark and went lighter but that's because I like decorating more than there being anything inherently wrong with the dark.

If you want to go lighter and with the furniture you describe I'd go with a warm neutral like F&B Shaded White or Drop Cloth. I used Cornforth White which was nice and quite a warm colour but might be too grey with your furnishings.

The darker colour I used was Downpipe but again that's quite grey. I've never used a brown based dark colour but I love the sound of the green @dontcallmelen recommended and I think green is a good call. I've used Waxed Khaki which is a Dulux Heritage colour and that was a lovely dark green if you wanted another recommendation along those lines.

Also (and sorry if I'm teaching my may be teaching my grandmother to suck eggs) unless it's a paint that's specifically designed for fresh plaster whatever colour you choose you'll need to do a mist coat first, that's 50% water, 50% paint.

Mine is crimson and I love it. The ceiling and paintwork are cream and the lamps are brass. It's warm and cosy.

I have a similar green to @dontcallmelen with a mix of old brown leather sofa, tweedy chairs and parquet floor. Big art on the walls a Turkish rugs with a mixture of green, charcoal red and lighter greeny cream.

Currently have farrow and ball Hague blue on our north facing wall and love it. Painted skirting abs architrave same colour. Tried a few blues but choose that one as liked it and it tied in with our existing curtains.

I think if you’re going dark look at jewel tones, so maybe Eating Room Red, Brinjal or Pelt by F&B.

If going light, I’d look at whites with red undertones, like Dimity or Joa’s White both are by F&B.

@MsAnnFrope that sounds luscious

I’ve got F&B Skimming Stone in a north facing room and it works really well. People often comment on what a nice colour it is even though it’s basically light beige

Mine had a dark blue wall so I considered going dark for the whole room. But when I painted over the dark wall in white, to get ready to decorate, we decided the room being all light was much better.

I tried about eleventy billion testers. Things come up weird in a north facing room. Definitely try the tester on all the walls in the room.

Went light green (as can only see green leaves out the window) with some pink cushions.

I’m still deciding if I like the colour as it’s come up a bit limey/sharp. Crown palm something.

Farrow and Ball have a useful section on their site about light/which way you face and colour if I remember correctly

www.farrow-ball.com/how-light-affects-colour

I have greige sofas & carpet in the ‘front room’ end of the room & quite dark parquet flooring in the dining room part, a couple of antique mirrors Victorian wall clock, mixture of art, a blush rug different shades of greens/grey/cerise/blush cushions & throws etc now I’ve written it down sounds a bit of mish mash but it does blend well & feels homely & comfortable.
Maybe get some testers & have some fun experimenting on a few sheets of a4 white paper pin them on the walls & see how the colours react to natural light/lamps
Yy mist coat on newly plastered walls.

Thank you! I actually read that last night and a couple of other articles! My main thing is needing to work with the armchairs... Which look darker than this in the room!

[quote Chalcroft]www.farrow-ball.com/how-light-affects-colour[/quote]
Really useful thank you!

Our living room sounds very similar to yours, brown leather sofa, lots of art/travel memorabilia, kids/pets and a wall of books. We went for a dark blue everywhere other than the ceiling. I love it - sadly moving soon but planning on recreating it in the new house.

@maybeshesawomble wall of books is defo my own, I've only had a small bookcase for 5yrs so I've really had to keep numbers reduced, but I'm going to get full length shelves in the alcove next to the chimney... Heaven!

Defo on my list, I mean!

We went with the brightest white we could get. The best 'lightener' however was replacing the patio stones with very pale sandstone, which reflects light into the room in a similar way as when its snowed and your house feels brighter. IYSWIM. We have full length windows though.

Dark lounge here and we love dulux denim drift

@Orangeinmybluelightcup when I wanted to find a shade that picked up a colour in my rug and curtains I found a website which basically lets you upload a photo and tells you what colours are in it. So the room feels like it tones together without being too matchy.
Partly because I’m too cheap to buy a new rug and furniture

I'm quite looking the colour of the dry plaster! Is that weird!!!

f&b setting plaster

The family bathroom is north facing and has just been repainted in a deep terracotta/coral (three walls) and a darker orange, but the towel rail and fittings are all white. It feels warmer in winter than it did before, which is purely psychological.

We've embraced the dark side - very deep teal walls, purple sofas, silk curtains, splashes of fuschia. Lots of metallic accessories.

For us it works better than it being light, it always seemed dull and cold before whereas now it feels cozy and luxurious. It is dark, no denying it, but it works.