How to Create a Vibe With Warm and Cool Colors
Nothing affects the mood of a room more than the colors in it. Understanding the difference between warm and cool colors and how they impact ambiance is essential to creating your desired vibe. Our Benjamin Moore color experts decode the differences and offer suggestions on using both types of colors.
Lift Your Spirit with Warm Colors
Warm colors are found in the red, orange, and yellow families, adding energy to a space. You can also give a room a feeling of coziness and positivity with colors from the warm side of the spectrum. Warm hues can make large areas feel more cozy and are popular for living rooms and kitchens. Benjamin Moore Hawthorne Yellow HC-4 and Italianate AF-215 are two best-selling warm colors for interior use.
Kick Back with Cool Colors
Cool shades are great for spaces where you want to promote feelings of calm and relaxation. This is why many people use cool colors in bedrooms and bathrooms. Cool tones can also make smaller spaces feel more open and airy. Try using the deep Benjamin Moore Hale Navy HC-154 or modern Metropolitan AF-690 to bring a cool aesthetic to your home.
Pairing The Two
Can’t decide between warm and cool colors? That’s no problem. You can use both! Interior designers use the 80/20 rule when combining colors. Use warm or cool colors on 80% of the room and the other temperature on the remaining 20% for ideal balance. An easy way to master the 80/20 rule is to use the same temperature colors on walls and large furnishings and work the opposite in as accents. Combining warm and cool shades creates depth and perfect contrast in any area of your home.
Deciphering Undertones
How exactly do you determine if the undertones of a color are light or cool? First, you must understand that mass tones, or the primary colors you immediately see, are all made of red, blue, and yellow. It’s the ratio of these colors that gives you undertones. An easy way to find undertones is by holding a color next to its mass tone. For example, place a swatch with a shade of blue next to primary blue, and you’ll see the undertones appear as if by magic.
What About Neutrals?
Neutrals can be warm or cool depending on the color’s undertones. There are even neutrals that are, well, neutral and look great in warm or cool color schemes. If you want a versatile neutral in any temperature space, try Benjamin Moore Tapestry Beige OC-32 or Revere Pewter HC-172. We love Benjamin Moore Muslin OC-12, Balboa Mist OC-27 for warm neutrals, Gray Owl OC-52, and Coastal Fog 976 for cool neutral options.
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