Color: Choosing Warm Tones or Cool Tones for Your Home
Do you like the warm comfort of earth tones and sunsets? Or are you more into the cool, serene peace of a muted grey sky meeting the distant blue sea? A little of both? Most people like having a little of both in their homes, but will definitely lean one way or the other. And of course trends come and go. In the 90s everything was about Tuscan warmth and beige. Then there was the red accent wall everyone regretted. For the past 10 years we’ve had the grey on white on grey trend that seems terrified of color. Somehow, the home interior industry has managed to make shiplap appear barren and icy. Surely, the paint-all-the-wood-white thing will die soon and everyone will be kicking themselves for that one.
Sometimes, you can mix warm and cool together in contrast.
So which are you? A cool tone or warm tone?
The thing is, you do have to choose to a certain extent or all of your coloring will just look…….off. It is all about the undertone.
Deciding which direction to go is as much about your personality as it is about what works in your home.
Look at what you already have.
First order is looking at your woodwork. Is that a cool walnut finish or a warm maple? This can make the decision for you since refinishing all of your baseboards, floors, and trims is laborious and expensive. A cool blue won’t work with orange stained oak unless it has a very specific undertone.
How do you dress?
Do you decorate yourself in warm reds and browns, or cool blues and greys? The colors you wear look a certain way with your skin tone. If beige or yellow clothing makes you feel ugly, you pro ably don’t want to decorate your house in those to as either.
Houseplants?
The greenery of plants is usually considered a neutral these days. However, they can certainly create different vibes depending on the type of plant and how you pot it. Terracotta is simple and rustic. It is also very cozy and inviting. White pots work for any room. Minimal concrete pots work in a more stark look. Also, cacti will seem more austere and modern in white pots, yet inviting in glazed clay.
Art
What type of art are you drawn to? This offers a big clue into where your real preferences lie. You can claim to like trendy gray, but your love of vibrant desert landscapes will tell on you.
Beloved furniture?
Do you have heirloom furniture that will never change and isn’t going anywhere? Well Then, you’ll be decorating around that regardless of the style. It is a consideration.
Collections?
Do you collect anything? Have you inherited a collection? Do you display it? If it is important enough to display, then it is important enough to influence color tones.
What climate are you in?
Warmer climates can get away with just about anything. But as a person in a cold climate, I’m telling you those all white and gray homes take on a glaring appearance when the white snow is reflecting through all the windows. It just makes everything feel colder unless you did a really good job with textiles in the space.
Lastly, what are you always drawn to?
Terracotta? Vibrant rugs? Smooth marble? Minimalist art?
A stark room in warm tones will still usually feel homier than a cool toned room, no matter how minimalist you decorate it. Minimalism doesn’t have to be cold. On the other side, cool tones do not have to mean stark décor. You can still create a comfortable feel with textures and fabrics. Just like homes packed with knickknacks can also be calm feeling. Presentation is everything. It takes practice with layering and grouping.
At the end of the day, what really matters is that you are happy with your space.
Pingback: How to Choose Art for Your Home – Lake and River Studio