Warm & Cool Colors
The colors on the right side of the wheel are considered warm colors. These hues include shades of red, yellow, and orange, and have the longest wavelengths on the color spectrum. Warm colors advance toward the eye, while cool colors recede. Cool colors on the left side of the circle, including green, blue and violet, have shorter wavelengths.
Psychological Effects of Warm and Cool Colors
Both warm and cool colors impact our visual perception of the objects that we see. For example, warm colors will feel inviting and comforting, and provide the illusion of heat and warmth. Since these colors advance toward the eye, they work well in large spaces in order to make them feel cozy and secure. Warm colors can also be stimulating. They often evoke strong emotions and promote activity, so these colors are ideal for gyms and living rooms. Advertisers often use warm colors to provide a sense of urgency, such as with red clearance signs, as well as optimism and cheerfulness.
Cool colors have nearly the opposite effects of warm colors. Receding from the eye, cool colors can make a space feel larger and more open. These hues work well in smaller rooms in order to increase the perceived size of the area. Additionally, cool colors provide a sense of calm and relaxation. They are ideal for small spaces that are intended to be tranquil, such as bathrooms and bedrooms. Cool colors also influence people by evoking a sense of health, tranquility and wisdom. Blue, purple and green are utilized in advertising to convey trustworthiness and respect.
Colors that can be both warm AND cool: yellow-green, red-violet, and neutrals (depending on the under-tone).
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