Paint expert Mauro Henrique shows a homeowner how to make the most of their natural light by varying paint concentrations to brighten a room with limited sunlight, reflecting light as needed throughout the space.
The Problem with Low Natural Light
In some spaces, the amount of natural light available can be a problem—especially if those spaces are irregularly shaped. The light source can make the same color look different throughout the room, often making some spaces darker or making the paint feel dingy. But they are solutions.
Bright White Ceilings
One solution for low-light spaces is painting the ceiling bright white. This alone will help reflect the available light better throughout the room, making it feel brighter and helping the other colors in the space look better.
Find Your Base Color
First, find a color that you love in the brightest space in the home. Bring that same color swatch or sample to the darker space. More than likely, the paint will look completely different, but this is a good start.
Choose Different Shades of the Same Color
The color concentration can be tweaked using the same color at a lower percentage, and this is often the best solution for darker space. Try 75%, 50%, and 25% concentration variation samples in the darker space to see which is the best fit. Once you’re satisfied, it’s time to start painting.
Get to Work
Once you know which colors will work the best in your low-light room, it’s time to get to work. You’ll need a screwdriver, painter’s tape, drop cloths, paint brushes, paint rollers, and roller trays to get the job done.
Here are the basic steps:
- Move all of the furniture toward the middle of the room and cover it with a drop cloth. Use a screwdriver to remove the light switch and outlet cover plates.
- Apply painter’s tape along any edges, any heaters, trim, and other surfaces that won’t be painted. Then lay down drop cloths to protect the space.
- Use the paintbrush to cut in along the edges. Use long, smooth strokes, and make sure to maintain a wet edge.
- Use the roller to apply paint to the walls. Make sure to overlap passes and don’t let the roller dry out.
- After allowing the first coat to dry, apply a second coat. Repeat the process for the third coat.
- Remove the painter’s tape by carefully and slowly putting it back from the edge at a 45-degree angle.
Resources
Mauro suggests getting samples of your desired paint color in varying concentrations. You can paint colors at 75%, 50%, and 25% concentration. Before painting, prep the room by moving furniture to the middle of the room and covering it with plastic sheeting. Tape down flooring paper to protect from paint spills. Use painter’s tape along the ceiling and baseboards for crisp, clean lines.
An interior eggshell finish paint was used for this project.