The Fundamentals of Using Cool Colors in Interior Design

Colors are everywhere, and they give color to our lives. For this reason, colors of various shades are applied everywhere, including at home, for interior design. However, choosing the right colors for interior design is often tricky because colors can affect temperature, and the look has to be consistent. With this in mind, there’s no better choice than cool colors.

As the name suggests, cool colors are colors that have a calming effect, making them perfect for interior design. Cool colors include blue, green, and purple. These colors are often used in bedrooms and living rooms because they create a relaxing atmosphere, though they can also be used in other areas of a house. Unfortunately, the problem with cool colors is that they can look dull when monotone, which may create the opposite effect. Few people know how to effectively implement cool colors for interior design, so we’ll discuss the details in this article.

The Color Wheel

Before we go into cool colors, it’s worth knowing about the color wheel first, which artists and designers use to create color schemes. It’s based on the color theory, which suggests that specific colors go well together.

The color wheel is made up of three primary colors, which are red, yellow, and blue. These colors cannot be made by mixing other colors. The secondary colors, orange, green, and purple, are made by mixing the primary colors. The tertiary colors, which are yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, and yellow-green, are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color.

The color wheel is helpful because it shows which colors go well together. For example, orange goes well with blue because they’re opposite each other on the color wheel. This is called a complementary color scheme.

Considerations When Using Cool Colors for Interior Design

If you’re planning to use cool colors for interior design, here are some things to consider:

Lighting

Cool colors can appear harsher than warm colors under certain lighting conditions. For example, fluorescent light tends to bring out the blue tones in cool colors, making them appear colder than they are. If you’re using cool colors in a room with fluorescent lighting, you may consider using a different light bulb, such as an incandescent bulb, to soften the effect.

Room Temperature

Cool colors can make a room feel cooler than it actually is. For this reason, it’s perfect for rooms with direct sunlight, which gets incredibly hot during the summer months.

Space

Cool colors can make a small room feel larger than it actually is. The reason being is that cool colors tend to recede, making the walls appear further away.

Furniture

To create a consistent look, your furniture must go well with the cool color of your choice. Ideally, you should stay within the same color family as the wall color. For example, if you have light blue walls, you could use navy blue or powder blue furniture.

The Best Cool Color Combinations

To help you with your decision, here are some of the best color combinations that use cool colors that you can apply on your walls:

Blue and Orange

Blue and orange are opposite colors on the color wheel and are the perfect combination to achieve a vibrant and energetic look. You can use either light blue or navy blue walls and add accents of orange in the form of paintings, cushions, and other accessories.

Purple and Yellow

Purple and yellow are also opposite colors, creating a striking contrast. While purple represents royalty, luxury, and sophistication, yellow adds a touch of cheerfulness and happiness to the room.

Monochrome Cool

Monochrome is a timeless combination that always looks stylish. You can create a cool monochrome color scheme by choosing a light blue or grey as your primary color and adding white as an accent.

Conclusion

Cool colors are perfect for interior design because they create a calm and relaxing atmosphere. Of course, this is only possible if you do it right and ensure your color scheme isn’t too overwhelming. All that matters is experimenting to find the best color scheme for your interior.

If you’re looking for a home decor tips blog, Blossom & Broom is for you! We offer various resources to help you improve your home and have resources for other subjects, such as permaculture and edible landscaping. Simply go to our website to get started!