Color and Other Designer Horror Stories: Lighting Changes Paint Color

As if there isn't enough for us to consider when renovating or decorating or just painting a space  - now more than ever we need to be aware of what our lighting choices do to color!

New and more efficient lighting is available and our old incandescent bulbs/lamps are quickly disappearing.  I for one would appreciate light boxes in paint stores where we could quickly see how the various bulbs/lamps change our favorite paint colors.

In the photo, right, my gorgeous blue paint is even more blue and gorgeous with the halogen spot lights on it.  Ah, but the very same paint out of the very same paint can is quite green above the kitchen area cabinets lit by fluorescent tube lighting.



Wow.  That green was not what I had in mind next to the warmth of the Maple cabinetry and Brazilian Cherry floors.  I needed a blue to cool the place down a bit.

A mixture of lighting even changed the paint color from the gorgeous blue of the halogen spot lights to more of a green blue with the same lights mixed with natural light from the windows.  Notice the color around the white door frame in the picture below.

Regular incandescent lighting from the sconce and desk light made the paint a little greener than the rest of the large wall shown below.

Goodness Gracious!  I see at least six different paint colors from one can of paint and four lighting sources.   What can be done?

First of all, we could limit the number of lighting sources.  In this  example space, I would use halogen bulbs/lamps in the sconce and desk light and other ceiling sources.  I would remove the light above the kitchen area cabinets or change it to halogen.

These photos were taken in the early 90's.  Today we have even more lighting options.   Knowing how we see color and which color pigments are in the paint bucket would certainly help paint color decisions.  At the very least, we should do what has been recommended for years and that is to buy sample paint and put it in various places of the space to be painted.  Even natural day time lighting versus evening lighting can have dramatic and different color results.

In a recent kitchen renovation, I loved a golden yellow historic paint color next to dark walnut stained cabinets.  That is until the energy efficient fluorescent light fixtures were installed.

There were only two types of light in the kitchen, the natural day lighting and the energy efficient fixtures.  Still, the fixtures changed the paint color so much during the daytime even, with lots of natural light coming in from the windows, that I was shocked.  Closer to the fixtures it looked like we carelessly painted an entirely different color  - an unnatural green!

Beware my friends and check that paint with the light fixtures and bulbs/lamps you will use!

Design Finds, One of a Kind Trash or Treasure: Put A Shade On It!

I'm not the only one who likes to use vintage lamps.  If you have not done so  and would like to give it a try you'll need to know the down side.  Finding lamp shades for odd lamps or permanent harps can be a daunting task.  Although, one can always go the expensive custom route and get the job done.

My attic once held quite a collection of old lamp shades and lamp shade wire skeletons.  However, they never seemed to fit my lamp finds or the style I was after.  I do like the way the wire skeletons are being used these days and have saved a few should there be an appropriate occasion or client.


If you are truly interested in going the vintage route you probably shouldn't pass up an opportunity to purchase nice quality new lamp shades when the price is right.  This habit along with a vintage or even new lamp find can mean the beginnings of a "One of a Kind Trash or Treasure."

And, you might want  to collect some finials as well.  Finials are often missing from vintage lamps.  New ones, or great vintage finds, in a scale to fit the lamp, plus new shade, will change the look completely.


This vintage Stiffel lamp with its strange small harp and long stem, shown below, was very outdated with the original tall drum shade and tiny finial.

I tried several new, but not such good quality, shades from the local big box stores before stumbling across this great quality lamp shade design find, shown above right.   New finials help balance the old lamps with the smaller square shades.  The more current good quality fabric shade and style makes the old lamps seem new again.   Now the lamp pair is stately, chic, and of this century.

The lamp shade design find shown right is unusually tall, a trait of vintage permanent harps.  Wouldn't you know it, though, it found a place on a lamp without a tall permanent harp.

This shade can grace a smaller lamp than one would first think of and give amazing presence to various sizes and shapes.  I love the ambient light that shines through this interesting ribbon like shade.  Once again, the finial completes the new look.

Not all vintage lamps need to be rewired.  You will need to check them over carefully though and make sure the switches are not worn out.  Most big box stores carry rewiring supplies in an inexpensive kit and turn keys for old turn switches are readily available.


Vintage lamps without harps can be updated as well.  This one, shown right, needs a glass shade.  You can buy vintage or new glass shades, just be sure to buy the kind that will securely hold your new soft shade. The ones with ridges, shown below, allow the shade frame top to sit snuggly.  You can use a screw from under the shade to hold a finial.





















The updated lamp, shown right, is probably not what you visualized when you first saw the lamp base.  Repeating a design element of the lamp in the finial often gives a good result.  This lamp has a round brass circle at the base, a green circle wreath above that, and another more detailed wreath further up.  A circle finial in a brass color works well.





















Square, rectangular,  and unusually shaped shades are popular right now.  Current style shades make instant updates.

Go ahead, give it a try.  You will love turning trash into a one of a kind  treasure.