Learn the basics about warm and cool paint colours, see some of our favourites, and learn how your choice of warm or cool colour influences your home’s style.
Every colour can be categorized as either a warm colour, or a cool colour. Discover the notes and nuances of both, and use their distinct characteristics to get the look you want.
Warm colours — yellow, orange, red and combinations therein — breathe energy, positivity and a sense of sunshine into any room. Cool colours — green, blue and purple — evoke relaxation and calm.
Neutrals like white and grey can also lean warmer or cooler depending on their undertones.
Check out these gorgeous examples of warm paint colours we get asked about the most.
We recommend these paint colours for homeowners looking for cool interior hues.
Warm Colours
Warm colours are typically used to create cozy and intimate spaces.
Brighter warm colours like Million Dollar Red 2003-10, Orange Burst 2015-20, and Sundance 2022-50 are often associated with energy, playfulness and happiness.
Warm paint colours are popular in kitchens and living rooms.
Warmer hues make larger spaces feel more inviting.
Cool Colours
Cool colours contribute to a sleek, yet soothing vibe.
Calm, relaxation and freshness are all attributes of cooler shades like Ocean Air 2123-50, Winter Lake 2129-50, and Evening Dove 2128-30.
Cool paint colours are popular in bathrooms and bedrooms.
Cooler hues make smaller spaces feel more expansive.
Combining Warm and Cool Paint Colours
Many homeowners use both warm and cool colours in the same room. The dominant colour — whether it is warm or cool — is the one that influences the room's personality the most.
Both natural and artificial lighting can affect how the undertones of a paint colour cast, causing them to lean more warm or cool. For rooms that receive a lot of natural lighting, the direction towards which the room faces should be taken into consideration.
In rooms that do not receive a lot of natural light, artificial lighting will play a role in how the paint colour casts. Be sure to check your lightbulb temperature: Lightbulbs with a temperature over 3500K tend to cast cooler. The lower the temperature, the warmer and cozier the light it emits.
Brushing on a paint sample and observing it in every lighting condition is the best way to ensure a “no surprises” paint colour choice.
A bedroom in warm Mellow Pink 2094-70 beckons with a delicate softness. The same bedroom, in cool Instinct AF-575, is calming, yet revitalizing.
Mellow Pink 2094-70
Instinct AF-575
Identifying warm and cool white, grey and neutral paint colours is notoriously challenging. One easy trick when evaluating these hues is to always compare, rather than looking at any one colour in isolation.
For example, when you place a white paint colour with a yellow undertone next to a white one with a blue undertone, the difference between warm and cool becomes instantly, and strikingly, evident!
Here, the soft back wall is painted in warm Ballet White OC-9, while the front wall ins painted in cool Paper White OC-55.
White-painted trim is always classic and dependable. If you choose to paint your walls in a cool colour, Decorator’s White OC-149 offers a clean, bright look that pairs beautifully with blues, greens and purples.
For warm-painted walls, White Dove OC-17 offers less contrast and a slightly more muted approach to white; it also pairs elegantly with reds, yellows and oranges.
If you have a mix of both warm and cool colours in a room, Chantilly Lace OC-65 (shown here), is a great neutral white paint choice for trim.
Two colours opposite one another on the colour wheel are considered complementary colours. In simplest terms, they are red and green, purple and yellow, and blue and orange.
The bold contrast found in complementary colour schemes differentiates any room. Here, the muted green of Sharkskin 2139-30 on the wall creates design interest when paired with red chairs and a red-striped pillow.
Other complementary colour schemes include a deep purple wall in Shadow 2117-30, set off by soft, pale yellow curtain. Or a playful bright wall in Autumn Cover 2170-30, grounded by comfy chairs upholstered in a navy blue fabric.
Ready to play with complementary colour schemes? First, discern whether your wall’s paint colour is warm or cool. Then use the colour wheel on this page to see what its complementary colour is…and have fun!
Sharkskin 2139-30
If you need help in choosing your colour, come by any of our stores today to see all our colours on display. Our colour experts will also be glad to assist you in choosing the shade that truly suits your space. Also, you get to bring home complimentary swatches which are true to colour for your consideration.
