Just like a sunshine-filled day begs you to be out and about, or a rainy day calls you for curling up, the colors that fill our home have the same effect on our emotions. If you’re looking to get more intentional with how you connect to a room, channel the energy you’re envisioning by using the right tone – will it be warm, cool, or a balance of both?
Looking to Neutrals
Neutrals are having a moment that isn’t exclusive to a gray-and-white spectrum. We’ve watched them take on tinges of color, both subtle and bold, to create a collection of new neutrals that can lean warm or cool. These no-fuss hues can easily be played up or fade into the background, which brings a liberating look of versatility to your layout.
While the difference between warm neutrals and cool neutrals can often be subtle, it’s the little effects they carry that can make or break the way you’re connecting in a space.
Warming Up
Some places in the home are suitable for rest and relaxation, but warm colors are ready to be the life of the party. Whether it’s a golden brown like Shiitake or Stone Lion, these casual tones are stimulating, which makes them the perfect choice for social spaces. Painting areas like dining and family rooms in a warm hue can encourage your space to wake up and get the conversation flowing as you connect with the people.
Cooling Down
Looking for time to unwind is an ideal way to end a busy day. When you’re creating that restorative place, cool colors are the perfect way to find refuge. Because cool hues like Proper Gray are best suited for personal areas, you can explore using them in quieter spaces like bedrooms and reading rooms. The ultimate goal is to create a sanctuary where your troubles and worries can fade away.
Balancing Between the Two
How can you tie a warm and cool look together? While these two tones each have benefits of their own, they can also pair up to create a space that feels fresh and relaxing all in the same breath. Keep the 80/20 rule in mind by using one color as your dominant tone and reserving the other as more of an accent color to your room.
The rooms above give the feeling of elegance and richness. At the same time they are calming and relaxing.
Is the fireplace wall painted with the Proper Gray?
The fireplace wall is painted our 2021 Color of the Year, Urbane Bronze 7048.
The walls in my home are all Linen White, the woodwork and trim are a walnut color. Do you have any suggestions for color for the woodwork and trim to make it blend better.
Hello Barbara, are you looking to paint your woodwork and trim? Are you looking to paint just the woodwork and trim or are you interested in painting the walls too? Let us know when you get a minute. Thank you.
What color is the ceiling in the room with the urbane bronze fireplace?
Hello there, Ceiling Bright White SW 7007. Let us know if you need anything else. Thank you.
I have painted my walls (paneling) silver strand SW 7057, the room has a vaulted ceiling with a wood beam down the center. I want to have the ceiling a dark or darker color (not white) what color would you suggest?
Hi Clarissa, We love the idea of painting your ceiling – your 5th wall. Check out Unusual Gray SW 7059, Illusive Green SW 9164 or Taiga SW 9654.
I would like to use urban bronze on an accent wall. My other walls are site white and a very tiny nook is olympics white. My home is all white , light gray and tiny pops of black
Hi Andrea, Urbane Bronze SW 7048 would be the perfect accent wall color for your project!
My dry wall is 65 years old, looks it. Am on strict budget, time to paint, looking for, off white, with silver mist foyer, and connecting dining room, below chair rail accent walls.
Hi Mary! Can you confirm if you are looking for a color for your dining room or foyer or both?
I’m building a new home and my great room has Kitchen cabinets painted Dovetail SW7018. The flooring is a medium dark wood(greys, blacks, browns). What color should I paint the walls?
Hi Dennis, consider using a lighter greige (grey+beige) to complement your flooring. Look at either Skyline Steel SW 1015 or Modern SW 7632.
I am updating my victorian living room. I added light blue and gray/silver victorian damask wallpaper as an accent wall, and I am looking for a paint color for the remaining walls. I have a whitewashed stone fireplace with light gray grout and warm orange/red hardwood floors. I know that adding a cool color on the wall like blue (in the wallpaper) works well with the warmth of the orange and red in the hardwoods. I have thick victorian trim all over the place in this space. It is a south-facing room that also gets some western exposure. so lots of natural warm light during the day, but the room can get dark at night. Also, I have no overhead lighting in this room. I am not a huge fan of a totally blue space so I am leaning more towards blue-gray for the walls that won’t turn green with the warm yellow rays of the sun. Can you Help? Diane
By the way. The thick white victorian trim is all white. I have selected so many colors and samples, that I am now dazed and confused. I would like to select a color that I could use or its relatives in other rooms of the house. I appreciate any insight that you have and welcome any and all recommendations. Thank you, Diane
Hi Diane! We’d like to get a better sense of the space before making a recommendation. Click the following link to sign up for a free Virtual Color Consultation. https://homeowner.sherwin-williams.com/colorconsult/
Can you recommend a soft grey that isn’t too green or blue?
Hello Judy, sounds like you are looking for a soft Griege (grey+beige). Take a look at Egret White SW 7570, Toque White SW 7003 or Drift of Mist SW 9166. These will never turn blue or green in any space.
Hello. I painted the exterior of my house Roman Column because I wanted a creamy white. I am looking for color suggestions for my front door. I was thinking something green but it would have to be light because my door is under my patio roof and would look dark from the street if it was a dark color. In some daylight, the Roman Column color looks slightly yellow. I am open to any color combination.
Hello Christina, check out these two pretty greens, they are both warm, welcoming colors. Look at Softened Green SW 6177 and Clary Sage SW 6168 for a beautiful complement to the Roman Column on the rest of your exterior.
Hello,
I live in a condo and I am using alabaster in the main area (living/dining/kitchen). I am trying to decide if I need to use alabaster for trim or a brighter white. What white trim complements alabaster and urbane bronze? I am using urbane bronze (4 walls) in the master bedroom. Since I don’t want to use urbane bronze for the master bath, how light should I go? Hardwoods are medium brown/bathroom flooring is light tan. Thanks for your help!
Hello Alexis, look at a crisp, clean white like Pure White SW 7005 or Extra White SW 7006 for your trim. A cleaner, brighter white will really let your Alabaster & Urbane Bronze “pop”.
The entire interior of my new home was painted by the builder, Essential Gray. It was sprayed on and I cannot touch up the grand child’s hand prints in the stairways and match up the finish.The home is on 4 levels and this color works well, while with my light tends to look a little lavender. I want to have the stairway walls painted with the Emerald pint so I can wash off the hand prints. I want to go a little lighter I have the chance. I was thinking Snowfall SW6000. What do you think?
Hello there, yes, Snowfall SW 6000 is two steps away from Essential Gray SW 6003 so that color combo would look great. The Essential Gray family does indeed have a purple undertone which makes the color a little warmer and more welcoming.
I would like to paint a large rock faced fireplace. The rock was installed in 1974, tough edges and lots of rusty brown tones. The room is a converted barn – the walls and beams are original timber, no paint or stain and faded to gray. It has plenty of light. The east wall is floor to ceiling windows facing trees The adjacent hall and kitchen are Agreeable Gray and Eider white. Thanks for any suggestions!
Hi Cheri, consider painting the rock fireplace in the same faded gray as your walls. Without a visual it’s hard for me to give you color names but consider going 2-3 shades darker than the gray on your wall.