Understanding Color Part 1: Warm vs. Cool Colors

For most of us, color is simply a matter of taste. You may be drawn to reds, blues, greens, or browns without questioning why. When you start decorating, it pays to consider colors a bit more deeply. Some colors almost seem to approach you in a space, drawing you toward them. Others appear to be calm, receding. One reason for this is that warm colors seem to stand out and approach you while cool colors have a more distant feel.

You may not have heard about warm or cool colors since art class in grade school. Here’s a quick catch-up. Warm colors are yellows, oranges, and related colors such as orange-reds, yellow-greens, and browns. These colors are termed warm because they seem like the colors of a sunny day. Cool colors, such as blues, purples, turquoises and some reds and pinks with a blue undertone, match the color palette of a rainy or foggy day.

As the “approachable” colors, warm hues draw the eye, and tend to seem inviting and invigorating. High energy rooms such as dining and family rooms can benefit from a warm color scheme. Cool colors are more calming, and invite quiet and reflection. Bedrooms work well with a cool color scheme, calming you down and possibly even helping you to sleep. This is one reason why yellow is not recommended for an infant’s room. The color is too distracting and energizing.

For most rooms, a combination of warm and cool tones works best. Warm colors can be overwhelming without a bit of cool color to reduce the color noise. However, a room containing only cool colors may appear to be unfriendly. Adding only a few warm colors can change a cool room immediately, because warm colors have a stronger visual impact than cooler ones.

When you’re ready to change the colors in a room, first determine whether you want it to be lively or peaceful, and choose your colors accordingly. Does the balance of warm and cool colors work right now? If so, stay on the same side of the color wheel when you make your adjustments. If the colors of a room aren’t working, consider the balance of cool vs. warm colors. Do you need to cool it down or warm it up? Make a few color experiments with fabrics and accessories you already have at home, to help you decide the changes you need to make.

Stay tuned from Part 2 and Part 3 coming soon!