Make a Space Seem to be at a Particular Temperature

Warm colours and cool colours are actually appropriately named, surprisingly enough.  When we’re in a space where warm colours predominate, we feel a little warmer than the actual temperature, when we’re in a space featuring cool colours we feel a little cooler.

This effect should spur intentional use of warm or cool colours in home entry areas or spaces that are hard to heat or cool.  If you live in a generally warm climate, painting the entryway into your home a cool colour can make it seem to be a more pleasant temperature inside to people entering the house.  If the climate outside your home is more apt to be on the cool side throughout the year, it will be more comfortable to step into a warm coloured entryway than a cool coloured one.  If you have a room that’s difficult to keep warm enough to feel comfortable, maybe the area outside is heavily wooded, for instance, warm colours can work well there.  If you’ve got a room that always seems a little warm, maybe it’s the room farthest from the air conditioning unit, make sure most of the colours there are cool ones.