If you’ve read my article, Why I Never Choose Paint Colors in the Store, you know I believe paint chips tell only a fraction of the story. The room, the lighting, and the home itself ultimately determine how a color will look; hence my lesson on metamerism.
Autumn is one of my favorite reminders of that. Every fall, homeowners tell me that the paint colors they loved all summer suddenly seem different. But the paint hasn’t changed; the light has! This is not a bad thing; in fact, as a paint color consultant, I feel it’s a wonderful feature of paint as the seasonal lighting changes!
As the sun sits lower in the sky, the beautiful hues of golden hour linger longer, leaves begin changing color, and the landscape surrounding your home transforms; the way we perceive color changes too. That’s one reason an autumn color palette feels so rich and inviting. The season itself becomes part of your home’s color story.
Summer and autumn don’t illuminate our homes the same way. During the summer months, the sun sits higher overhead, creating bright, direct light for much of the day. By October, the sun follows a lower path across the sky, casting softer/warmer light that enters our homes from a completely different angle. We all feel and notice this, or do we? We often appreciate the nuances of the changing color palette, but never discuss it out loud. It’s time to notice these color differences in our home and lean into them to make them the best they can be!
The result of the changing colors is subtle but remarkable. Soft whites become creamier, earthy greens gain depth, taupes feel richer, and even cooler grays can reveal warmer undertones that seemed hidden during the height of summer. The paint hasn’t changed, but the light revealing it has! That’s one reason an autumn color palette feels so naturally comforting.
A topic I often discuss with clients is that some paint colors will seem to fluctuate during the day. Brighter in the middle of the day and more subtle as the day comes to a close. In many ways, that’s the beauty of paint and how lighting can affect it to your advantage! Use warm lights to add a cozier feel to your space. Cooler lights are often preferred when there is a task to be done. Use lighting in addition to your paint colors to get the feel of your room just right!
One of the things I love most about color is that nature often provides the best inspiration. Throughout the summer, lush green lawns, leafy trees, flowering gardens, bright sunny yellows, and blue skies reflect light toward our homes. Then autumn quietly changes everything. Leaves become amber, rust, crimson, and golden orange-yellow before eventually giving way to bare branches and softer winter light.
Brick suddenly appears warmer, stone develops new character, and natural wood becomes even richer against the changing landscape. It’s no surprise that so many of my clients gravitate toward warm autumn colors this time of year. We instinctively respond to the same palette nature has been creating for centuries, and we find comfort in it.
One reason I spend so much time studying a home before recommending paint colors is that I know every room changes throughout the year. A north-facing room behaves differently in October than it does in June, while a west-facing living room may glow with warm afternoon light throughout the fall. An east-facing kitchen often feels softer and quieter as the mornings become cooler!
Remember, metamerism is the way colors change depending on the surrounding light, and autumn offers one of the best examples of that phenomenon, which is why I never recommend choosing paint colors based on a single moment or season. Think about it, give it time to choose the best colors for your home!
Rather than worrying that your rooms feel different in the fall, I encourage homeowners to enjoy the natural color shift. Autumn gives us permission to slow down and notice details we’ve overlooked. Maybe your wood floors look richer in the afternoon sun, or your favorite reading chair feels cozier by the window. Perhaps your natural materials like wood and stone suddenly become the stars of the room once summer’s bright light begins to soften, and that’s not only ok, but should be embraced!
When my clients ask me about creating an autumn color palette, they often expect me to recommend oranges, reds, and golds. Sometimes those colors are exactly right, but just as often, the feeling of autumn comes from something much quieter. Warm woods, layered textures, soft neutrals, gentle greens, and natural stone create comfort without relying on traditional seasonal colors.
My goal isn’t to choose semi-permanent colors for one season. It’s to create a home that feels welcoming no matter what season is happening outside! As a color consultant, that’s always my objective: I want every season to reveal something new about the colors you’ve chosen.
With an understanding of what you can accomplish with paint colors and making the right choices, your home will get better and better every year!
