Color Theory: Warm and Cool Colors

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It is embedded into our minds since the beginning of time that blue is associated with cold and red is associated with hot. Perhaps this is simply because blue is the color of the ocean and red is the color of fire and in seeing these colors, we imagine those similar elements. We can physically turn pale when we are cold and pink when we are in anger. We can emotionally feel sad or happy or cold or warm depending on the different colors we see. Therefore, colors are not passive, they can effect how we feel and how we perceive our environment.

The choice of coloring is very important in interior design. The color of the surrounding walls of a room can provide an imaginary temperature to the room as well as the mood of the room. For example, a kitchen with green cabinets, white walls, and blue chairs definitely has a cooling effect on a hot summer day. As opposed to the kitchen with light yellow walls and red cabinets enhancing the heat of cooking on the stove. One can easily imagine drinking a cool glass of water in the green kitchen relieved to get away from the sun or eating a hot chicken potpie in the red kitchen during the winter season. Human beings tend to find emotional and physical comfort in colors and when it is provided, it is easy to sit in the room and just relax.