It’s quite common to hear colours described as having temperatures. Warm whites vs. cool whites is a classic example. But what does it actually mean? And how can you use colour temperature in your interior design?
Time to pull out the colour wheel again – kind of!
Being a circle, it’s easy enough to divide it in half. On the warm side are the reds, oranges and yellows. On the cool side, blues, purples and greens. And there you have it – you can stop reading now. Oh, still not clear on how colour temperature actually relates to design? Read on, then…
The important thing to focus on is HOW colour temperature affects a space. In essence, warm colours draw the space in, making it feel cosier and more intimate. They often lend an air of vibrancy and liveliness to a room. There’s a reason 50 Shades of Grey had a red room rather than a blue one!
Cool colours, on the other hand, expand a space, making it feel as though the space is receding. They’re also generally calming, and give a relaxed feel. There’s a good reason why so much beachside interior design is predominantly bright whites and blues. You’re on holiday and want to relax!
So when you’re looking at a room and deciding on a colour scheme, think about how you want the space to feel. Remember, too, that using the wrong colour temperature can have a negative impact on the space. For example, a small space can become claustraphobic in warm colours, or a large one could start to feel like a stark hotel lobby if done in cool colours.
And while it’s easy to just chop the colour wheel in half and say you’re done, it’s really not that simple. Yes, green is generally considered a cool colour. But then you go and mix it with a warm tint or tone, and oops, suddenly it’s a warm green! Even the lighting can be warm or cool, and have an effect on the temperature of colours. Confused yet?
Don’t worry. Now that you understand the basics, choosing the right colour temperature for your interior is as simple as thinking about two things – do you want the room to feel cozy or spacious? And how do you want the room to make you feel? Once you know whether you want the room to feel warm or cool, then aim to keep all the colours in your palette at the same temperature.