The color wheel is very useful when it comes to interior design. It is the foundation on which many interior designs are built. Without proper knowledge of art or interior design, adding color to a room can be overwhelming. With that being said, there are simple principles to keep in mind as you design your home or business. Warm colors vs cool colors are one of these principles. It helps to have a basic understanding of color, including the coordinating between warm colors vs cool colors. Here, Merge Home discusses the color wheel and interior design tips to help make your space beautiful and inviting.
Warm Colors vs Cool Colors: What’s the Difference?
It can be confusing when thinking about colors and what the difference is between warm colors and cool colors. Warm colors are vibrant and playful while cool colors are tranquil, calming, and refreshing. When designing a home or business, it’s important to think of the purpose of the room. Warm colors are perfect for social areas, like kitchens and dining rooms. Cool colors are great in spaces for relaxation, such as bedrooms and bathrooms. Here is a simple breakdown of the warm and cool colors.
- Warm colors: Red, yellow, orange, gold, beige, creamy neutrals, brown, tan.
- Cool colors: Blue, dark green, gray, slate, deep purple.
What About Black Or White?
So what about black and white? Both are highly popular in interior decorating. Both black and white can play key roles in helping you achieve warmth or coolness in a room. Each can balance out a room with other colors. With that being said though, if black or white is overused it can turn into a non-cozy atmosphere.
Using Warm Colors vs Cool Colors
Here are some quick tips for making both colors spectrums work in your home.
- Balance – The most important thing to keep in mind is a balance of color. Balancing warm colors vs cool colors doesn’t mean combining the two together half and half. Instead, use various shades, tints, and textures within either a warm or cool palette to add variation. Using neutral colors can also give you a balance.
- The 80/20 Rule – The general rule of thumb when it comes to using color in your home is to use color as an accent. A good rule of thumb is the 80/20 rule. This basically states that 80% of a room is composed of neutral colors while 20% is composed of warm or cool colors. Using this rule helps ensure that you don’t overdo the room and keeps a good balance.
- Things You Can’t Change – It’s important to pay attention to the features that are already in a room and aren’t going anywhere, such as flooring. If you have bright tile in the master bathroom, for example, you’re going to want to stick with warm colors, while cool carpeting in the dining room means you should stick with cool colors. If, you are doing a complete renovation then you can rethink the entire room. Be conscious of what you can and cannot change.
- Primary Focal Points – The primary focal points of the room should remain within the same color palette. It’s okay to use warm colors and cool colors in a room as long as the alternating palette is used for accents. Always think big picture when you are choosing colors for a room.
- Room Size & More – Warm colors tend to be used in larger rooms, while cool colors are often used in smaller ones. When choosing between warm colors vs cool colors in your home, always remember to think first and foremost about the purpose of the room and how color and size play off of each other.
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As a top Interior Design Company in Atlanta, Merge Home has tackled 100’s of design projects. From a local house in the suburbs to multi-million dollar indoor facilities & businesses across the nation. The founder Marty Mason has been published in many national publications and has appeared on HGTV. Our brand new store has everything you need to gift that special someone a long-lasting gift. The best way to see what we have is to stop by our new three-story location. Give us a call today and we look forward to seeing you in our store soon!