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December 12, 2018Winter Paint Colors
The most crucial part of designing any space is deciding on how to color the walls. Warm colors and cool colors are on different ends of the color wheel, but they can both create impact in any space (see our accent wall rules article). Paint color choices range from subtle to dramatic or bright to muted and can impact how someone feels when they enter the room. These days, the most versatile and more commonly used color palette are the winter paint colors or cool colors.
Cool Colors & Warm Colors
Cool colors are usually shades of gray, blue, green, purple and black. Typically, these colors tend to create a calm and tranquil feeling and a peaceful environment. These cool colors are always great for small rooms, small bedroom or any space that you wish to visually enlarge. Their receding effect can even make you meditative, as though you are losing yourself in an endless blue sky. That’s why cool hues are natural for bedrooms and baths, places where we go to unwind and relax.
Warmer colors tend to be associated with feelings of joy and playfulness. Warm colors are great for rooms where there’s always a lot of activity. When you have a large space with hardwood floors and more contemporary furnishings, warmer colors usually work best. Colors feel different in varying climates. In a climate that’s hot most of the year, choosing cool colors may actually make you feel cooler. In a colder climate, warmer colors tend to make you feel warmer.
Measure Natural Light
It’s crucial to consider exactly how natural light impacts your room during the day. Depending on the direction your room faces, and the amount of sunlight it gets, you may need to adjust the color palette a little bit. If you want a brighten a space that’s short on the sun or artificial light, choose light-reflecting colors. To tone down a room that gets a lot of light, or to add contrast to the brightness, look to darker colors.
Most spaces do not have enough natural light, so it may be wise to choose a lighter hue of the winter paint color you choose. The effect that color has on visible light may be even more important than temperature. The perception that a room is brighter has more to do with the lightness of color hue than whether it’s a warm or cool color. Lighter color hues reflect more light than darker and deeper colors.
In rooms with natural light, winter mid tones work really well. Mid tones are in the middle of extreme light and dark colors. These hues are deep enough to let you see the actual color both in daylight and in the evening, but not so deep as to make the room feel dark. Mid tones would help your space feel warmer during the winter months.
No space should have just one color – it’s important to combine warm and cool colors so that there’s balance. For example, to create a cozy room, use mainly warm colors with a few cool color elements for contrast.
When you’re ready to embrace winter paint colors, contact our color experts at Canabe to talk about your next paint project. We can help you achieve the room design of your dreams!
