Warm Color Scheme

The sun-drenched shades of red, yellow, and orange are warm, cheery, and intimate. Because warm colors seem to advance, they make small rooms appear smaller and large rooms more cozy.

This living room with coral-colored walls invites you to snuggle in with your favorite novel. Layering on neutral shades -- such as those found in the sofa fabric, the white-washed table, and the iron lamp -- helps balance and calm the intensity or brightness of the wall.

Note how the warm coral shade blends the tabletop accessories as a unit by softening their outlines, rather than defining each one separately.

Click below to see the same setting using a cool color scheme.

 

Cool Color Scheme

Nature's fresh, spring shades of blue, green, and purple are known as cool colors. These serene hues calm and soothe and appear to recede, making a room seem larger. Of all hues, green is considered the most neutral color in terms of temperature.

Because these tones can make a room feel colder, these colors make sense for a sunny room where the brightness needs to be held in check. Against the green backdrop, the tabletop accessories stand out as individual elements because cool colors reinforce their outlines.

What Hue Are You?