When I was a kid, my favorite thing to do when strolling after my parents at home improvement stores was to gaze in wonder at the brilliantly colored paint samples. I was mesmerized by the broad spectrum of hues, and to be honest, I still am. It’s an amazing thing to be able to select just the right color of green for your walls: one that’s not a sickly olive color and also isn’t a shocking lime, but just the right shade of apple. Match that with a creamy off-white that is just the right brightness, not too white, and, wow; THAT is a thing of beauty.

What to Consider When Selecting a Room’s Color

Have you ever noticed, however, that the perfect color can morph into something else when light changes? The phenomenon is called metamerism, and it can make you absolutely certain that your navy shirt is black, or make you feel silly when your son points out you are wearing two different colored socks. When choosing paint colors, it is important to understand how metamerism affects color in order to select colors that will adapt in a pleasing way as the sun moves from one room to another. Here are eight tips to help you understand how your lighting will affect your paint choices:

1. Avoid shades of gray. Grays, lavenders, and taupes, while popular for their neutrality, are easily affected by light changes. Overusing them may create effects that are not what you had in mind.

2. Glossy paints reflect light and appear more vibrant and rich than flat paints. Use them if you want to draw attention to a brilliant color, or use matte paint if you want a subdued effect.

3. Incandescent light bulbs add warmth to a room, so if your room appears cold and bleak, simply adding an incandescent light bulb may be an easier fix than repainting.

4. Fluorescent light bulbs make a room feel cooler, bringing out the blues and greens. If a room feels over warm, try changing to fluorescent lighting.

5. Light coming from the north tends to make colors appear bluer and cooler, so warm colors are nice to liven up these rooms. This lighting also makes colors a hint darker.

6. Southern light is warm and direct, causing a brilliant wash-out effect if a room is painted white facing south. Earthy colors look good in southern exposure rooms, and dark colors are lightened up a bit.

7. Eastern facing rooms receive warm and yellow sunlight before noon, and light colors look beautiful. Usually whatever colors you paint in these rooms will gain a slight tinge of green from the eastern lighting.

8. For western facing rooms, think warm and fiery. The sun is brightest after noon, and any color in these rooms facing western exposure will have an added tinge of orange.

Choosing color combinations is as fun for adults as coloring is for children, and by understanding metamerism, you can help ensure that your eye isn’t disappointed by your finished product once the paint dries.