Hi there (again)!
We are PorchLight Home Staging popping on to welcome you back to our blog. The way this blog thing works is that on the first Friday of every month, we will celebrate the much needed weekend by releasing our monthly blog. In these short but sweet articles, we will mesh the world of home staging (our forte) with current events and fashion trends. This month’s blog topic is all about the ways in which you can implement cool and warm tones in your home and style. For years, certain colors have been placed in two distinct categories, and it’s important to know why. Equally important, we want our readers to know how to use these colors to achieve the feeling and look they desire. We will also discuss what tones look best on you (even though you can probably rock anything).
“It’s not what you said… it’s your tone.”
In design, tones are distinguished by the how light or dark a color is and the feeling that color gives you. As seen above, cool tones consist of varying blues and grays, while warm tones highlight oranges and browns (earthy colors). Now, color temperatures can get super complicated when looking at a “warm red” versus a “cool red” for example, but don’t worry, we won’t get that in depth. Most would agree that paint is the quickest way to transform a room, but let’s explore how other elements of your house could bring in your desired tone as well.
“The Cool Girl”
Cool tones consist of blues (in all shades) and grays. Cool tones are a clean look for a house, as they provide a feeling of crisp sophistication. A common misconception with cool tones is that they make the room feel “cold.” It may sound silly, but cool and cold are very different! Cool tones are not over powering, so they can make a smaller space seem bigger and more open. Varying textures and patterns are common for cool toned spaces because the colors are easy to mix. designer and best-selling author, Emily Henderson, states that “For cool colors, you should sprinkle in wood tones, leather, and gold or brass accents so the room doesn't run the risk of being too cold.” Below, you can see the use of a light color pallet. Grayish/blue walls allow for an airy feeling to a room. Even darker shades of blue still give off the cool effect especially when backed by a pearly white marble backsplash. Lots of light neutrals really brighten up a room with big windows instead of dragging it down.
Images courtesy of Architectural Digest
Adding Some Warmth
As previously stated above, warm toned colors consist of oranges, browns, and sunny yellows. When I think of warm tones, I think of homey and cozy. The dark, rich tones of these colors really make someone feel relaxed and comfortable. Warm colors give your room a very saturated look, so it’s important to off-set the oranges and browns with some cooler tones. Adding greenery and florals to the space really give the “warm weather” vibe. A lot of people turn to warmer tones for a family room space to make it seem cozier and intimate. Pictured below are some ways you can incorporate warm tones into a room without being overwhelming. As you can see, white elements are very important for this type of design because it keeps the room from seeming too heavy. A lot of people assume that modern houses are only filled with cool tones, but as you can see the kitchen pictured below is pretty modern while still maintaining a sense of comfort with the brown cabinetry.
Images courtesy of Architectural Digest
Pick Your Poison
So now that we’ve been over how to design your home using these tones, let’s talk about how to style yourself based on which tone fits you best. Your perfect color combinations are all based on your skin’s undertone. Undertone is the hue underneath your skin that affects your overall appearance. Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you to check your veins to see if they are green or blue. We’ve all done that and I don’t know about you, but I can’t tell the difference one bit. For that reason (and many others), it’s probably best I am not going into the medical field. If you have warm undertones, your skin will lean peachy, yellow, or golden. If you have cool undertones, your skin will lean pink, red, or blue. I know you may be saying, how the heck do I find what my skin “leans” toward. Well, a quick tip that makeup artist Daniel Martin created for figuring out your undertone is to hold up a white shirt next to your face. She states that “if your skin looks pink or rosy by comparison, you're cool toned. If your face looks more yellow, your undertone is warm.” How your skin reacts to the sun is also very telling of what undertone you have…
Burn easily = cool undertone tan quickly = warm undertone burn then tan = neutral!
So, how should you style yourself once you know this information? That’s easy! Refer to the template above based on your skin’s undertone. For example, my skin is pretty neutral toned, but I have darker eyes, so I stick to warmer tones. Always remember that whatever you decide to wear is your choice, so wear it with confidence (thats the most important undertone)! Below are some ideas of how you can wear cool and warm tones out and about!
Images courtesy of: @reannlangas @allegreshaw @one33_social