Spring is finally here and it might be time to give your home a little refresh. There’s no better way to do this than with a fresh coat of paint. As the warmer months approach, you might want to consider cool paint colors that make your space feel a bit breezier (without dialing down the thermostat). This means avoiding warm hues like brown, red, and orange, and opting instead for cool paint colors that make a space feel fresh and airy. Here are the best cooling paint colors to consider, according to the design pros.
Color expert James Greenwood of Graham & Brown loves the color Thrace for cooling down the home. “Decorating your home to suit your climate is a design theory that’s been around for decades. Especially in warm climates, it’s important to consider colors that will psychologically cool the home. Look to the blue side of the spectrum on the color wheel when designing a cooler space,” he explains.
Greenwood also recommends gray shades with a blue undertone, such as Cool Britannia. “Teal and green are also good choices for a bolder statement; these colors reflect heat and create a cooler feeling than other hues.”
For those who prefer neutral hues, Greenwood says to avoid rich neutrals and stick to taupes with gray or blue undertones instead. “Create a sophisticated look paired with other neutrals, and if you want to introduce a stronger color into your scheme, stick to the 80/20 rule," or the idea of using neutrals for 80 percent of the space, and a bolder accent color for 20 percent of the decor. "Use that accent color sparingly!" he says. "Along with creating a cooler environment, these schemes have the ability to focus our thoughts and create a calming environment.”
“Hotter temperatures naturally make us seek out places to cool down, like the beach or a swimming pool. The seasonal changes that attract us to spots associated with refreshing waters and clear blue skies extend to our homes as well,” explains interior designer and HGTV star Shay Holland.
Holland is a fan of Rain by Sherwin-Williams, which she describes as “a tranquil, lighter-toned blue.” She suggests pairing it with cool-toned neutrals and natural materials.
The designer used this color on an episode of HGTV’s Unfinished Businessin a home located far from an ocean breeze. “The tranquil blue created a space reminiscent of ocean landscapes. Letting the color set the mood helped avoid any kitschy overtones. Sliding glass doors with full-length drapes in a gauzy material framed a view of the pool. So while this inland home was miles and miles from any shoreline, the final result was a space exuding sophisticated seaside relaxation.”
Burrow, by Portola
According to Jamie Davis, co-founder of Portola Paints, Burrow is a great color to make a space feel cool. “Our paint color should complement the color palette of the decor in your space. When the room contains cool-toned features, you should also embrace that throughout your paint selection. Burrow is a neutral light gray that is perfect for creating a cool space, with undertones of pink and purple.”
Cap Ferret, by frenchCALIFORNIA x Color Atelier
Guillaume Coutheillas, founder and creative director of frenchCALIFORNIA tells me that Cap Ferret, a color from the brand’s collaboration with Color Atelier, is an ideal shade for a cooling effect. “It is a silvery green with a subtle and soothing feel due to its lightened sage undertones. Blues and greens, among other cool colors, reflect heat and therefore create a cooling effect within a space."
“Teal and green are also good choices for a bolder statement; these colors reflect heat and create a cooler feeling than other hues.” For those who prefer neutral hues, Greenwood says to avoid rich neutrals and stick to taupes with gray or blue undertones instead.
Paints with more reflective particles will reflect more light, keeping the paint cooler. Lighter colors, including pale blues and greens, are typically cooler. But, the color white is one of the coolest paint colors to help cool a home.
1. Wear White. A white object is white because it reflects white light, and white light is a combination of all the visible colors. This means that a white shirt (or pants) will reflect most of the light and not get hot.
You can choose light and white shades of paint for the exterior of your home. These colors are good at reflecting the sun's heat from the home, which can help cool off your home. White paint can give you about 35 percent less heat than if you had black or other dark-colored walls.
White. It's no surprise white came up as the color that stayed the coolest from the results. Temperature readings showed the surfaces of the white shirts wavered around 86 degrees Fahrenheit, which is considerably low compared to the 122 degrees Fahrenheit of the dark green shirts.
Cool colors—green, blue and purple—evoke relaxation and calm. Neutrals like white and gray can also lean warmer or cooler depending on their undertones.
On average, homeowners in hot climates should consider repainting every 5-7 years for optimal protection. Best Exterior Paint for Sun Exposure: Acrylic-based paints with UV-resistant properties and light-reflective colors perform well under prolonged sun exposure.
Bright, warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) stimulate energy and happiness while cool, subdued colors (blues, greens, purples) are soothing and calming. Bright, warm colors are best in rooms for entertaining like dining rooms or kitchens, while cool colors work best in relaxing spaces like bedrooms or even bathrooms.
(WEHT) – During the hot Summer months, we often recommend wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing to help stay cool. The reason behind that is that lighter colors, for example white, will reflect most of the sun's wavelengths.
The colour blue, especially in light tones, can help the home interiors stay cooler. Light colours absorb less light from the sun whereas dark colours absorb more light from the sun, so shades of blissful blues like sky blue or cornflower blue can help keep the temperature cooler by a few degrees.
White, silver, and other light colors are coolest, reflecting about 60 percent of sunlight but there are dark "cool" colors that can also stay cooler than traditional dark colors.
In contrast, light-colored surfaces reflect the heat away from a home, keeping it cooler, says Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. If you're looking to reduce the amount of energy required to cool your home, painting your home a light color may be a good place to start.
The more reflective particles a paint contains, the cooler it can make a room. White is the most reflective, so it is your best option for reflecting light and keeping the room cooler. However, pale greens and pale blues are also great options.
Some of the best heat reflective paints are Cool Roof Coatings, Kool-Roof Elastomeric Coating, and Energy Guard Cool Roof Paint. Cool Roof Coatings reflect more sunlight and have higher solar reflectance than traditional roofing materials.
Dark colors are better absorbing heat whereas lighter colors reflect heat. This keeps the home cooler during the hot months of the year, lowering your cooling costs when you need it most. Any light-colored paint will do, but neutrals are often the way to go. This includes colors like white, beige, and light gray.
Just like with clothing, darker colors absorb more heat than lighter colors. This is true for all things, even paint. With good enough insulation and siding, the dark colors won't bring too much extra heat into your home. If you don't insulate your home well enough, though, it could raise the inside temperature.
While many paints absorb and trap heat, there's a revolutionary solution that stands apart—TexCote Coolwall. This advanced exterior paint isn't just a color choice; it's a smart investment that keeps your home cool and energy-efficient.
Introduction: My name is Gregorio Kreiger, I am a tender, brainy, enthusiastic, combative, agreeable, gentle, gentle person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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