Warm vs. Cool Colours

Warm Vs. Cool

When thinking of warm and cool colours, your mind may jump to the typical blues and reds. However, in the bigger picture, warm and cool colours can become a lot more nuanced. An example of this would be when choosing between two stains for your cabinets. One may have more grey or blue undertones, while another could have an orange or brown hue. Deciding between the two can be a tricky process. It’s a matter of understanding how warm and cool colours interact with a space, and how you want the finished space to feel when all is said and done. To help you along your warm/cool journey, we’ve created a guide to help you to understand the nuance in colours, and decide what may look best for your next project.

Understanding Colours

Before diving straight into which colours would be best for your home, we should first explore what makes a colour warm or cold. When looking at a colour wheel, something to note is that warm and cold colours tend to slice the colour wheel in half. Typically, combinations of red, orange and yellow are on the warm side of the spectrum. On the cool side, you’ll find blues and greens. Purples, depending on the tone, can sit on either end of the colour wheel.

Warm

When the sun pours in on a cold December day and illuminates the room in an even and cozy hue, or when the fire is lit and everything around it begins to glow and enhance a space - This is warm tones at work. When used correctly, warm tones can enact a sense of comfort, and a snug feel to a space. The way warm colours interact with light is one of the key reasons to choose to go warm in your home.

Choosing a warm colour palette can come in many different forms. From picking out a throw pillow with a hint of orange, to choosing the type and stain of your hardwood floors. You can make big and small decisions to your home that can add up to a nice, warm feeling.

Cool

An ocean-washed piece of driftwood floating up to the beach with tones of grey and blue, surrounded by white foam. The sun enters a room, being caught and enhanced to make a space feel bright and airy. Cool colour tones are able to make a space feel fresh and brighten up a home on gloomy days. They can also make a space feel larger and more open compared to warmer counterparts.

Much like warm tones, choosing to go with a cooler colour palette can be done in numerous ways. For example, furniture pieces, tile choices, and paint colours can all significantly alter the way a space looks and feels.

Combination

If you’re torn between either of these, perhaps considering a way to combine both could help to ease the decision-making process. Although integrating both colour palettes can be tricky, the results can be rewarding. If done properly, you would be getting the best of both worlds; a cozy feel while maintaining a bright space. Keep in mind that being able to do this takes some skill and a bit more testing than just picking one or the other. If you’re willing to put in the time, putting samples and colours side by side to see what works in different lighting, and planning in advance will allow you to get a good idea of how the tones will interact with each other.

Integration

Integrating warm and cool tones into your home can come in many different forms. If you’re in the process of a remodel, for example, you have the ability to implement your preferred colour palette on many different levels to make your space cohesive. From the wood you choose, to the tiles and paint colours, all the way down to a small accent on a blanket your colours can become harmonious. If you’re looking to make smaller changes more gradually, there are still steps you can take to sway your home one direction or the other in terms of colour. Consider looking at what your home’s general palette is currently and playing off of it to create your desired effect.

Living Edge Design prides itself on being able to create tones and ambiance through the nuances in wood. If changing to a warm or cool palette through your wood accents is your preferred route, consider working with us to make your home cohesive.