These Colors Can Make Your Space Look and Feel Cooler
Colors do more than liven up a home. There are combos that soothe the senses, whet the appetite and even make one feel more energized. “Paint choice can [also] affect your home’s temperature. Light colors will reflect heat while darker shades absorb it. This means that it will be easier to cool a room with white walls rather than one with black walls. Lighter shades will make your space feel cooler and easier to cool,” says interior designer Vera Villarosa-Orila.
When it comes to choosing colors for your space, Vera highlights the importance of understanding the psychology of color and how your chosen shades contribute to your home’s overall feel. “Generally, there are cool options like blues and greens, warm picks like reds, oranges, and yellows, and neutral colors like whites, beiges, and grays. Blues give you a relaxed and laid-back feel while greens are very refreshing. Warmer shades of red create a welcoming interior and stimulate the appetite while yellow is a very cheerful and energetic color. In between, violet us lush and sophisticated while pink is fresh and feminine,” she explains.
To help you achieve a cool and inviting space that’s a must given our climate, Vera shares these tips:
- “Choosing paint colors shouldn’t just be about paint. Take into consideration other finishes like metal, wood, glass, fabric, and other patterns as well. With these in mind, you can come up with a color scheme,” the designer shares.
- Vera suggests following a 60-30-10 ratio when pairing general, accent, and complementary colors. As much as possible, limit the number of colors to three or four.
- “When picking a shade, it’s best to put a swatch against a bare white wall so that you could imagine how it would look when painted as a whole,” says Vera. Don’t forget to study your options. Check colors that are lighter and darker so you can pick the right shade for your space.
Ready to visit the hardware store to review swatches? Take note of these color picks:
Swatches from Boysen (L-R): Lemon Stick, Egg Blue, Shell Tint, Pale Taupe, Bluegrass Suite, Bridgewater Bay
1. For a serene and relaxing atmosphere, picky an icy blue color. “With its gray and green undertones, this color helps cool things down and is best used in bedrooms and bathrooms,” shares Vera.
2. Feel like you're living in a beachside cottage with eggshell blue, a warmer shade of blue. “This color has a similar calming effect. It’s an option you can use in common areas like the living room and other areas meant for social activity,” explains the designer.
3. Tie the look of your home's exterior and interior with mints and greens.
4. Sprucing up the bedroom? Consider using powder yellow on the walls. It has a comforting and soothing effect that will surely help you achieve a restful slumber.
5. Cool your home and create an illusion of a bigger space with whites and off-whites.
6. Tired of the usual beiges and grays? Give taupe a try. "Gray with a bit of beige, it gives the interior a more reserved feel. It's also elegant, classy, and has a timeless appeal," says Vera.
Interior designer Vera Villarosa-Orila is an alumna of the University of the Philippines and is one of the go-to designers for the Real Living Makeovers. You can get in touch with her through e-mail: vera.villarosa[at]gmail.com.
