Light is themost important factor in determining our perception of colour and form. Sunlight, shadow and reflection create continual subtle changes in our perception of the building’s colour, size andmood. As light and shadow have such a profound effect on the way colour is perceived, an understanding of the location of the building is a critical factor. The light in Britain will never be as bright as it is near the equator. In the UK the light we receive is classed as cool northern light. The bright saturated colours used in the fishing village of Burano, Italy (colours inspired by the fishing boats) will look lurid under the light of our northern hemisphere. Vice-versa, a delicate and subtle colour palette would look washed out under the Burano light. Generally within the UK, bright colour looks best on doors and windows.
Burano, Italy
TIP: Choose colours which are one or two shades darker than you would choose for your interior.
Natural light is more powerful than artificial light. Colours on exterior surfaces tend to look lighter than they would in an interior setting. Additionally, heavily textured walls won’t reflect as much light as smooth walls so chosen colours will look darker. It is difficult to get a good impression of how a colour will look from a small sample colour chip. Paint samples onto a large area to get a true impression of how a colour will look outside.
Birmingham, England
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