Understanding Warm Colors and Cool Colors

Whether you're redecorating a space or just making small upgrades, like new bedding or couch pillows, understanding color is key. Choosing a warm or cool color can make all the difference in the mood and feel of a space, but how do you know which colors are best for which rooms? You can use cool and warm colors exclusively in similar palettes or mix them, you'll want to do so in a way that makes the space feel cohesive. That's why we created this simple guide to help you gain an understanding of warm and cool colors. Choosing colors for your new home decor will be a breeze.

Warm Colors

Warm colors consist of orange, red, yellow, and combinations of these and similar colors. As the name indicates, they make you think of warm things like sunlight and heat. Visually, warm colors look as though they come closer, or advance (as do dark colors), which is why they're often used to make large rooms seem cozier. If you have a huge bedroom that you want to look more intimate, try painting it a warm color such as terra-cotta or brown to make it feel cozier.

Warm Color Examples

• Brown 
• Gold
• Orange
• Peach
• Red (such as scarlet)
• Rose pink 
• Tan/beige
• Taupe 
• Terra-cotta
• Yellow

Cool Colors

Cool colors are typified by blue, green, and purple and their hybrids. They can calm and soothe. Cool colors remind you of water and sky, even ice and snow. Unlike warm colors, cool colors look as though they recede, making them great for small rooms that you want to appear larger. If you have a tiny bedroom or powder room that you want to enlarge visually, try painting a color such as light blue to make it seem more spacious.

Cool Color Examples

• Blue
• Burgundy (a purple-based red)
• Cyan
• Emerald
• Fuchsia
  
• Green
• Indigo
• Magenta (a red with blue undertones)
• Mint green
• Purple

Color Emotion

Warm colors are associated with heightened emotions such as passion, joy, and playfulness. Think of the vibrancy of a bright orange or the intensity of a deep, rich red. Warm colors can be stimulating, making them a good choice for rooms with a lot of activity. Cool colors make you feel calm, relaxed, and refreshed. Their receding effect can even make you meditative, as though you are losing yourself in an endless blue sky. That's why cool hues are natural for bedrooms, baths, and other places you seek out to unwind and relax.

Color Temperature

Color temperature is the way to describe the light appearance provided by a color. Color can make you feel warmer or cooler just like it can make a room appear brighter or darker. If you live in a hot climate most of the year, you might prefer a decorating scheme that's dominated by cool colors. Likewise, if you want to feel warmer in your home or specific space, warm colors can help.

Lighter colors reflect more light than darker and deeper colors. If you want to brighten a space that's short on the sun or artificial light, choose light-reflecting colors. To tone down a room that gets a lot of light, or to add contrast to the brightness, select dark colors, whether warm or cool.

How to Decorate With Warm and Cool Colors

An important thing to remember when dealing with warm and cool colors is that no room should have just one. If you want your room to be cozy, use warm colors for the dominant scheme and add a few elements incorporating cool colors (and vice versa). As with all decorating elements, it's important to have some color balance and contrast. Use these tips:

• Use a cool color scheme of deep blues, including navy blue, in a room where you want to unwind, such as a living room or family room, and add warm gold or yellow accents.
• Create a feature wall with a mural or pattern incorporating warm and cool colors.
• Add cool blue, green, and purple jewel-toned accessories, such as toss pillows, an upholstered chair, or a small area rug in an otherwise all-neutral room.
• Choose a monochromatic color scheme. An example would include a monochromatic scheme of warm colors such as pink, red, and maroon with just a note of a complementary cool color such as blue-green teal, aquamarine, or seafoam.
  

When choosing colors for your home decor projects, think about the mood you want to create and whether you want it to feel light and airy or cozy and intimate. Knowing the difference between warm and cool colors is the first step.