Tips for North facing room to feel warmer

[fedupathome]

We previously had a South/ South East facing living room but having moved house to one with a North facing/ North East I'm looking for tips to make it feel warmer.

The decor and furniture we bought over from our old house doesn't help as we have grey furniture, and sofas!

Any tips?

My son has just moved into a flat with north facing living room. It previously had a blue feature wall and felt very cold and unwelcoming . He’s put a lovely terracotta / warm
orange on the one wall. With his deep green sofa it looks fab and has definitely warmed it up. Autumnal shades would work. You could get throws and cushions to cover a bit of the grey furniture. Pic added. He’s still got artwork and other bits to unpack but you get the idea. Have fun !!

Agree with Lily, I'm about to move to a house with a North facing living room that I plan to paint dusky pink. Make sure lighting is warm too, no blue tinged bulbs.

Photos? “Grey” doesn’t explain anything in itself - you can get warm greys and cold greys…

Some cushions and throws might help a bit. Likewise well hung curtains. Natural materials and fabrics - so real woods, linen, some plant life. A little metallic for interest, but golds and brass rather than silver and copper. Keep away from blue-greys and glass, which can feel cold.

Consider if changing the outside might help as well. We had something similar. Not the lounge, but the studio that became the home office. Cold in every sense until we placed a garden mirror at the back of the garden between a rose bush and the fence. It reflects sunshine inside. The difference is out of this world.
We bought it at a garden centre and they have a special glass that doesn't carry a fire hazard.

My friend has just done her lounge in yellows, reds and oranges - think safari holiday colours. She's kept the grey sofa, but changed the rug and pictures as well as the wall colour. Looks great and so much better than the dull cold grey it was before. A bit like this

Use silk paint on the walls rather than matt (matte? can't remember). It reflects light much better- I did that for my living room, which is South facing but very long so a bit gloomy. It makes a big difference.

We are still battling this problem as multiple rooms.

Went with pink for the one with the least light. Crazy I know! But is really lovely. Think setting plaster from f & b but had to shade down so used LG masquerade series.

This kind of off pink nude is really in right now and there’s loads of lovely variations around with other brands.

Dimity also a nice colour for a neutral or a China white.

You think eugh too warm, but actually when you paint in a cool or neutral the whole room ends up in a muddy shade of blurgh.

You can do the blues and greens, but you really have to lean into the colours properly and commit. Deep greens, teals, smoky blues etc. These can be cosy and cocooning and even warm if you get the right tone.

Lighting- make sure you use 'warm' bulbs, the colder, 'North light' type make a room feel cold.

My north-facing bathroom feels at least a few degrees warmer painted in two hot shades (Jungle Ginger 2/3 Dulux) of orange-pink and orange-red.

Thick luxurious curtains down to the floor (not over a radiator though), Mirrors to reflect light from window, hidden lights to cast pools of light in interesting places, fabric furniture instead of smooth leather for sofas, cushions to contrast. Try to avoid open plan if you can - so much harder and more expensive to keep warm

posted too soon. Have just looked at the two pictures again and I think the hard corners where there is a colour change looks cold. I also think that wallpaper has a role here as it insulates the walls a little bit. One picture has blinds at the window which don't generally keep a lot of heat in.

I wouldn't do that. The problem with north facing rooms if they are dark is that there isn't much light to reflect. Using colours and finishes that need light doesn't work - just emphasises the issues and feels drab. Better to go with colours with warmth - "muddy" colours can work better, think mustard instead of bright yellow, etc.

The alternative is to embrace the natural darkness and go with deep or dark colours for a cosy feel.