How colour can make you feel warmer on chilly autumn days

As you may already know, I come from the tropics and miss the warm weather terribly. Colour psychology is very important when trying to cope with cool weather. The side of the colour wheel that is comprised of reds, yellows, oranges and yellow-greens, along with their variations, are typically referred to as the warm colours. You might find it interesting to know that these colours have been known to increase adrenaline and breathing rate, raise blood pressure and body temperature, thus making you feel warmer. This is a major win in my book!

Ancestral memory

You may even feel safer or more secure when surrounded by these friendly colours. Warm colours make environments cosy and stimulating, but be aware, they can also make a room feel smaller.

Our brain works in mysterious ways. Even if you are not the outdoor type, or do not like spending time outside the city, your ancestral memory is always present. Warm colours remind us of the sunlight, sand, fire, and heat.

personality

Warm colours are known to add personality to a room. Just remember, it is always best to pair them with neutral colours.

Warm colours may appear to be aggressive, as though they come closer, or advance in a space. They are great if you want to make a big space feel cosier and more intimate. Another great place to use them is in north-facing or dark rooms as they can make them appear lighter and warmer.

Dominance

Since warm colours tend to be energizing, a great way to introduce them to a space is through soft furnishings (curtains or rugs) in muted warm tones. If you want to avoid stimulation in a room, if you are going to use them, it is best to do it in small quantities. It is also important to remember, if you have a more introverted personality warm colours are best used as accent colours and a cooler, softer colour as the dominant one in a space.

Balance

People often say, life is about finding your balance. This can also be applied to a colour pallete for your home. If your colour scheme leans heavily toward large amounts of warm colours, you can balance it by introducing cool colours. If they are opposites on the colour wheel, even better!

At the end of the day, how you feel in a space is what is important. Warm colours and warm lights as per my past blog post Light Temperature Guide play a major role in your wellbeing. The warmer a colour is, the warmer you will feel!

If you want to introduce warm tones to your home but don’t know where to start, contact me here for a design consultation.