How Does Lighting Affect Paint Color?

When you start a home improvement project, there may be several steps to completion. Perhaps you want new furnishings, light fixtures and a dramatically different paint color. During this process, it’s important to keep in mind that each element has an impact on the others.

The color of your couch may clash with the hand-painted designs of an antique table lamp or – harder to control – your new paint color appears to change shade in different lights. How exactly can artificial light alter the appearance of wall paint?

Types of Light Bulbs

The variety of light bulb can have an impact on paint color. Artificial lighting highlights colors with high wavelengths best; for instance, reds and yellows. The lower the wavelength, the less vibrant a paint color will appear in artificial light. What affect does each type of light bulb have on paint color?

  • Incandescent: These bulbs throw yellow-tinted light that brighten a warm color, but dull cool colors. For instance, a red wall may appear more vibrant than a powder blue wall. In areas where you want to feel relaxed, such as the bathroom or bedroom, a duller color is fine.
  • Fluorescent: These bulbs have the opposite effect of incandescent. Their blue-tinted light energizes blues and greens, but does not intensify colors on the warmer spectrum. If you have a new brightly colored exercise room, it would be best to shy away from fluorescents.
  • LED: Quickly becoming the popular choice for savvy homeowners, LEDs give you control over how the light appears. With warm, cool and “smart” varieties, you can dictate if the projection of light enhances or darkens your paint. The smart LEDs work wirelessly.
  • Halogen: These bulbs are most similar to natural light. When you let sunshine in, colors are more vivid – the same goes for halogen bulbs. The brighter light will warm up any shade, as long as the color temperature of the light bulb is close to 2700 Kelvin. Daylight is between 5000 and 6500K, so halogen resembles a softer natural light.

Types of Light Fixtures

Different fixture varieties can also manipulate the appearance of a wall color. The type of light can dictate how illumination is dispersed throughout a room. For instance, whether or not there is a shade on the fixture. Let’s take a closer look at some fixtures.

  • Chandeliers: If you want light to accentuate your walls, chandeliers designed with exposed light bulbs can give homeowners more illumination.
  • Sconces: These wall fixtures indirectly disperse soft light towards the ceiling and surrounding walls. If you do not want your paint color to be manipulated, sconces may work best.
  • Lamps: Lampshades confine light, but the degree depends on how wide the opening is. When the shade has a small opening at the top, less light is dispersed and vice versa. If the shade color is ivory or another light color, a soft glow could be cast on the surrounding walls.

To learn more about which fixtures and light bulbs will complement your walls best, consult with the experts. Visit Restoration Lighting Gallery today to learn more!

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