Choosing colour: why we insist on samples in your natural light
22 January 2026 · Materials
North-facing rooms cool everything down; warm white bulbs at night skew green-grey paints toward khaki. We loan larger boards when possible and photograph them beside fixed finishes under daylight.
When to lock the colour
After worktop and splashback direction is set, door colour should be chosen with those materials physically present, not from a screen. The signed sample becomes the batch reference for spraying.
Evening and artificial light
LED strips under wall cabinets change how cabinet colours read at night. We look at samples under your actual globe temperature, not only daylight, so greige does not flip to green when the pendants go on.
Strong contrast between island and perimeter colours can look striking in photos and busy in person. We test pairings at large scale before you commit to a two-tone scheme across a long run.
Exterior views
Garden greens and brick tones reflect through glass and tint neutrals. Standing the sample board where you will actually cook, not only in the middle of the floor, often changes the decision entirely.
Planning a project?
Book a design visit to talk through layout, materials, and timeline with our team.
Related reading
- Worktop joints, sinks, and hobs: what the stone or timber order depends onOverhangs, cut-outs, and support for undermount sinks must align with the cabinet below. A checklist before templates are taken.
- Handles, knobs, or push-to-open: choosing hardware you will touch every dayFinish, finger marks, and the way a door feels when it closes all trace back to hardware. A practical comparison for kitchens and wardrobes.
- Spray-painted vs hand-painted kitchen cabinets: which lasts longer?Ask whether to spray-paint or hand-paint kitchen cabinets and most firms push their own method. We only spray-finish - here is why that lasts longer, and what happens when a mark appears.