If you have a room in your Arvada or Centennial home that always feels a bit chilly, even in the middle of a sunny Colorado July, you likely have north-facing windows. North-facing rooms are notorious for receiving a consistent, but cool, bluish light. This lack of direct sun can make standard neutrals look gray, muddy, or even a bit gloomy.
At Simply Floors, we know that the floor and the walls work as a reflective system. If your walls are "eating" the light, your beautiful new floors won't shine the way they should. Finding the best wall colors for north facing rooms is all about understanding how to outsmart that cool, limited light.
Here is our expert guide on the best paint color for dark rooms and how to choose paint colors to brighten a room effectively.
Table of Contents
Top Paint Colors for Rooms with Little Natural Light
Tips for Choosing the Right Hue for Low Lighting
Visit the Paint Experts at Simply Floors in Arvada, CO, Centennial, CO, and Aurora, CO
Paint Frequently Asked Questions
Top Paint Colors for Rooms with Little Natural Light
Avoid the "Cool Gray" Trap
The most common mistake homeowners make is picking a cool-toned gray for a north-facing space. Because the light coming in is already blue-toned, a cool gray will feel icy and flat.
The Alternative: Look for "warm" neutrals. When searching for the best paint color for dark rooms, seek out grays with a yellow or red base (often called "greige"). These tones counteract the blue light, making the room feel balanced rather than "cold."
The Floor Connection: Pair these warm walls with a natural or honey-toned wood from our Simply Floors collection to bounce even more warmth back into the space.
Embrace "Light-Reflecting" Pigments
If your goal is finding paint colors to brighten a room, you need to look at the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) on the back of the paint swatch. The higher the number, the more light the paint reflects.
Warm Whites: Colors like Sherwin-Williams Alabaster or Benjamin Moore Simply White are among the best wall colors for north facing rooms. They have just enough warmth to stay bright without looking like a "hospital" white.
Soft Yellows and Creams: These are classic paint colors for rooms with little natural light. They mimic the glow of the sun, even on a cloudy day in Wheat Ridge or Golden.
Don’t Be Afraid of Saturation
Counterintuitively, sometimes the best paint color for dark rooms isn't a pale one. In rooms with very little natural light, light colors can sometimes look "washed out" and dingy.
The Bold Approach: If a room is truly dark, embracing a saturated, mid-tone color (like a warm terracotta or a deep moss green) can make the room feel "intentionally moody" and cozy rather than "accidently dark."
The Floor Connection: If you go bold on the walls, we recommend a lighter flooring choice—like a blonde LVP or a pale maple—to ensure the room doesn't feel closed in.
Tips for Choosing the Right Hue for Low Lighting
Goal | Best Paint Color Strategy | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
Brighten the Space | High-LRV Warm White | Bounces limited light around the room. |
Cozy/Moody Feel | Deep Earth Tones | Embraces the darkness for a "jewelry box" effect. |
Neutral Balance | "Greige" with Pink/Yellow undertones | Neutralizes the natural blue light of Colorado. |
Visit the Paint Experts at Simply Floors in Arvada, CO, Centennial, CO, and Aurora, CO
Choosing paint colors for rooms with little natural light requires a bit of strategy, but the results are worth it. By leaning into warmer undertones and higher reflectance values, you can transform a somber space into a welcoming sanctuary.
At Simply Floors, we believe the final decision should always happen in the room itself. That’s why our shop-at-home model is so effective for neighbors in Aurora and Denver. We bring our flooring samples to your north-facing rooms so you can see exactly how they interact with your paint swatches under that specific, cool light.
Visit Simply Floors in Arvada, CO, Centennial, CO, and Aurora, CO. We serve the greater Denver Metro Area including the areas of: Wheat Ridge, Centennial, Denver, Arvada, Aurora, Golden, and Parker, CO.
Arvada, CO
Address: 5945 Ward Rd Arvada, CO 80004
Phone: (303) 731-5380
Centennial, CO
Address: 8101 S Quebec St. #2 Centennial, CO 80112
Phone: (303) 731-5380
Aurora, CO
Address: 17034 E Quincy Ave. Aurora, CO 80015
Phone: (303) 731-5380
About Simply Floors Inc.
At Simply Floors, we believe the best place to choose your new flooring isn’t under the buzzing fluorescent lights of a warehouse, but in the natural light of your own home where your life actually happens. As a woman-owned, family-operated business serving the Colorado Front Range—from Arvada and Wheat Ridge to Centennial and Parker—we’ve traded the high overhead of "mega-showrooms" for a personalized shop-at-home experience that puts you in control.
Our mission is built on a simple promise to enthusiastically exceed your expectations by providing curated, high-quality selections and transparent pricing without the big-box stress. Whether you are replacing well-worn carpet or updating your forever home, our dedicated team handles every detail with "Excellence in the Ordinary," ensuring a seamless, professional journey from the first measurement to the final plank.
Paint Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the best wall colors for north facing rooms if I want to stay modern?
A: Look for "Warm Grays." They give you that modern, clean look without the "blue" cast that often plagues north-facing homes in Parker.
Q: Can flooring really help brighten a dark room?
A: Absolutely! Light-colored flooring acts like a giant reflector. Combining paint colors to brighten a room with a light-toned Simply Floors installation can make a dramatic difference in perceived brightness.
Q: Should I use a glossy paint in a dark room?
A: While gloss reflects light, it can also show every imperfection in your walls. We usually suggest an Eggshell finish—it provides a soft glow that helps with paint colors for rooms with little natural light without the harsh glare.
