How Light Changes a Rug's Colour: North- and South-Facing Rooms

One of the most common questions we hear after a rug arrives is: "Why does it look different from the photograph?" Very often, the answer is not the rug at all. It is the light. The direction a room faces, the time of day and the bulbs you use can shift a colour noticeably, and knowing this before you buy can save a great deal of disappointment.

North-facing rooms

In the UK, north-facing rooms receive no direct sunlight. The light they get is indirect, cooler and more even, with a bluish cast. This has two effects on a rug:

• Cool colours become colder. Greys can read as steely, and pale blues can feel chilly.
• Warm colours are softened. Terracottas, ochres and warm creams come into balance and feel welcoming rather than bold.

If your room faces north, lean towards neutrals with warm undertones: oatmeal rather than pure white, warm grey rather than blue-grey. The consistency of north light is actually an advantage: the rug will look much the same from morning to evening.

South-facing rooms

South-facing rooms receive strong, warm, direct light for much of the day. Here:

• Warm colours intensify. A mustard or rust can become very vivid at midday.
• Cool colours come into their own. Blues, greens and cool greys feel fresh and balanced.
• Fading is a real consideration. Strong sunlight will, over time, fade natural dyes and some synthetics. Rotating the rug every few months helps it wear and fade evenly.

East- and west-facing rooms

East-facing rooms are bright and warm in the morning, then cooler and flatter in the afternoon. West-facing rooms do the opposite, with a flat morning light and a rich, golden glow in the evening. Think about when you use the room most: a west-facing sitting room enjoyed in the evening will make warm-toned rugs glow beautifully.

Don't forget artificial light

After dark, your bulbs take over. Warm-white bulbs flatter reds, golds and creams; cool-white bulbs sharpen greys and blues but can make warm neutrals look slightly muddy. If you are choosing a rug for a room used mostly in the evening, judge it under the lights you actually have.

How to choose with confidence

• Look at the rug, or a photograph of it, in your room at different times of day.
• Place it next to your sofa, curtains and paint colour rather than judging it in isolation.
• Remember that screens vary. A photograph is a guide; your room is the final word.
• Ask us. We are always happy to describe a colour in more detail or send extra photographs.

For more on getting an online purchase right, read our guide to buying a rug online.

A decorator's note

Pale grey is the colour most transformed by light. A soft grey such as our Lux Washable Light Grey will feel calm and airy in a south-facing room, and noticeably cooler in a north-facing one. If in doubt, choose a grey with a hint of warmth.