The reputation that North facing rooms get for being notoriously difficult to style comes from the fact they don’t get brightening, direct sunlight. North facing rooms often feel cold, and to create a cosy, welcoming feel in a north facing room, you need to either lean into their darker side by choosing bold, rich colours such as ‘Tingry’ - a sophisticated black-blue by Edward Bulmer Natural Paints, or work with warmer tones like ‘Tailor Tack’ - a delicate pink by Farrow and Ball.
Without direct sunlight, north facing rooms receive a softer, diffused light that bounces around the space. This gentle light creates fewer shadows and harsh contrasts, keeping colours more consistent throughout the day.
There's much excitement and joy that comes from painted tables. They can be customised to suit your taste, making your interior feel personalised. In this guide, we've put together a carefully curated list of dining table colour ideas for north facing rooms. Whether you want to dive deep into dark, bold colours or create a light and airy space, our guide can help you make an informed decision.
Create A Warm And Balanced Look, Even In Cooler Lights
Even in cooler lights, you can inject warmth using harmonious light neutrals. From our range of 16 Farrow and Ball colours, we’ve selected a few shades that will help your painted dining table create a welcoming feel.
Pointing - A Warm, Delicate White
Pointing, by Farrow and Ball, is a red-based neutral named after the lime pointing used in traditional brickwork. This delicate white has a warm undertone, and when used on a dining table base, it beautifully complements the warmth of a wooden tabletop. Unlike brilliant white, which can appear cool-toned, Pointing's warm nature helps balance the cooler atmosphere of north-facing rooms, creating a cosy space.
Pictured: Refectory Pine Wood Dining Table
When used on one of our Farmhouse pine dining tables, such as our Refectory Dining Table, we find that this warm neutral works well with pine wood, which is naturally warm and mellows with age. The combination of Pointing and pine creates a timeless, country-style aesthetic that feels both fresh and inviting. This pairing works particularly well in north facing rooms as it helps to reflect and maximise the available light, while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere.
How To Choose A White Painted Dining Table For A North Facing Room
We recommend choosing whites with red or yellow undertones for furniture that’s in a north facing room. Whites with cool undertones can make a north facing room feel even colder, creating an atmosphere that's far from cosy. Besides Pointing, Farrow & Ball's Joa's White or Wimborne White are excellent alternatives.
On Yellow
Yellow dining tables are among our favourites. They radiate warmth and instantly brighten your mood. While yellow might seem like a bold choice, using it on a painted dining table lets you introduce this cheerful hue into your interior without committing to yellow walls right away.
Farrow’s Cream - A Traditional Cream
Named after the paint pioneer who founded Farrow & Ball in Dorset, England, this delightfully inviting traditional cream has remarkable light-reflecting properties. It transforms spaces throughout the day—creating bright, airy rooms in the morning and cosy atmospheres in the evening. Its gentle warmth helps create a welcoming environment in north-facing rooms. When applied to dining table legs and bases, Farrow's Cream adds depth and character while maintaining a light, fresh aesthetic. Being yellow-based, it reflects light as much as possible throughout the space.
Pictured: Traditional Farmhouse Table, Oak
Sudbury Yellow - A Bundle Of Joy
This traditional mid yellow takes its name from the staircase at Sudbury Hall, where renowned colourist John Fowler used this shade to such great affect. It’s very responsive to changes in light, and as a mid yellow, it can feel cosy in the evenings. It ties in well with other elements, such as pale blues and warm neutrals.
When styled boldly, Sudbury Yellow can become a focal point in your dining space, creating a cheerful atmosphere that counteracts the cooler light in north facing rooms. This shade works particularly well with traditional furniture pieces, adding a heritage feel while maintaining a contemporary edge.
Pictured: Cheshire Round Dining Table, Oak
Reds And Oranges Are Surprisingly Warm And Versatile
If you're looking to infuse character and playful charm, reds and oranges can instil feelings of warmth, creativity, and optimism. These surprisingly versatile colours, when used on a dining table, create a striking statement.
Red Earth - A Warm Terracotta Red
Terracotta reds and pinks create a warm, earthy feel in both homes old and new. Red Earth by Farrow & Ball is a subdued and sophisticated terracotta that brings warmth without overwhelming the space. This rich, earthy tone creates an intimate dining atmosphere while maintaining a connection to natural elements. When used on a dining table base, it pairs beautifully with both light oak and darker wood tops, adding depth and character to north facing rooms.
Pictures: Larissa Console Table, Painted In Red Earth
Charlotte’s Locks - A Deep And Playful Orange
This deep and dramatic orange introduces a playful late 1970s look. Packed with pigment, this colour is another one that has an extraordinary response to light, feeling bright and dramatic in the morning but cosy when the sun goes down. It's a surprisingly versatile colour, and in north-facing rooms, it pairs well with other whites and blacks. When used as the colour of choice for a dining table base, it creates a visually striking contrast with a dark oak tabletop and gives off a mid-century modern vibe.
Embrace The Cooler Tones
Another strategy is to embrace the cooler tones within a north facing room. When properly done, these colours create cosy spaces with a cocooning effect.
Railings - A Soft Black
The blue undertones of this more-blue-than-black colour transform spaces into dramatic and enveloping interiors. When used on a dining table base, it creates a sophisticated yet relaxed aesthetic. A table painted in this colour embraces the cool light of north-facing rooms, creating an intimate and moody atmosphere that feels magical.
Pictured: Warminster Free Standing Kitchen Station With Bar Stools
Pitch Black - Far From Dark And Dreary
Far from dark and dreary, Pitch Black is one of the blackest blacks we offer. Black painted furniture helps create intimate, inviting, and thoroughly sophisticated spaces. A true black, it has unsurpassable depth and an almost velvet-like quality.
When used on dining table legs and bases, it creates a dramatic statement piece that anchors the room while maintaining an air of sophistication. This bold choice works particularly well in north-facing rooms as it creates depth and contrast, making the space feel more intentional and designed. The rich, velvety finish of Pitch Black adds a layer of luxury that elevates the overall dining experience.
Handmade Dining Tables
Our collection of handmade dining tables is expertly crafted in our Somerset workshops, England. Celebrating British artistry and craftsmanship even further, we offer a range of nature-inspired Farrow & Ball colours to hand-paint each of our dining tables. We use a variety of sustainable wood materials to craft our dining tables, such as European oak and pine that's FSC and PEFC certified. The colours that were hand-picked in this post are available on any one of our designs, so do be sure to take a look at our bespoke collection here.
Why Do We Use Farrow And Ball?
Farrow & Ball aligns with our commitment to sustainability and integrity. As the original luxury paint makers, they have a reputation for using the finest ingredients, refined recipes, and meticulous methods. Their commitment to the environment, diversity in the workplace, and transparency matches our own values. Like us, they prioritise quality and craftsmanship over mass production, ensuring each product meets exacting standards. Their eco-friendly, water-based paints also complement our sustainable furniture-making practices perfectly.
Farrow and Ball are also a B-corp meaning they meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. This certification aligns perfectly with our own commitment to sustainable practices and ethical business operations. Their dedication to reducing environmental impact while maintaining premium quality makes them an ideal partner for our furniture finishing needs.