As you choose your colours, be mindful of the aspect of the sun when considering the room. Rooms with glass doors opening onto gardens and courtyards may play upon seasonal aspects of the garden in spring or autumn. A similar room opening onto an outside entertaining area may be linked to the outdoor colours of terracotta tiles flowing the colours from outside inside. A beach house mainly used in summer for holidays or a ski chalet would be decorated according to their predominant seasonal use.

   

Take into account that intensely warm colours in a room facing the sun make the room feel hotter in the afternoon, while cool colours in colder rooms receiving no sun feel cooler. Light may also be reflected from different coloured walls, creating a wash that distorts the look of the original colours.

Artificial lighting also affects colours; fluorescent globes give a blue cast to the colour, whilst incandescent bulbs give a yellow cast.