As the name indicates, they make you think of warm things like sunlight and heat.

They can calm and soothe.

Cool colors remind you of water and sky, even ice and snow.

Warm and cool color swatches

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Think of the vibrancy of a bright orange or the intensity of a deep, rich red.

Warm colors can be stimulating, making them a good choice for rooms with a lot of activity.

Cool colorsmake you feel calm, relaxed, and refreshed.

Warm paint colors

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Color can make you feel warmer or cooler just like it can make a room appear brighter or darker.

Likewise, if you want to feel warmer in your home or specific space, warm colors can help.

Lighter colors reflect more light than darker and deeper colors.

Cool paint colors

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As with all decorating elements, it’s important to have somecolor balance and contrast.

When mixing warm and cool colors, consider the 80/20 rule.

Use 80% warm colors and 20% cool colors or vice versa to strike the right look.

warm vs. cool colors

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Knowing the difference between warm and cool colors is the first step.

There are warm grays and cool grays, depending on thecolor undertone.

(An undertone is a subtle color mixed with the main color influencing the overall hue.)

A cool gray will have more blue undertones.

A warm gray will have more yellow or brown undertones.

Typicallygreige(gray and beige) will have a warmer feel.

Warm colors symbolize warmth, heat, and sunshine.

Warm colors can also evoke emotions, such as joy, passion, love, and even anger.

The most inviting color is a very subjective choice.

Typically, warmer-toned colors have red and yellow undertones while cooler-toned colors would have blue or purple undertones.