7 Shades to Warm Up Your World

The plaid, the tea, the hot chocolate, and the hot water bottle do not always have a reason for the cold of the winter. With the heater on, you’ll have to wait until spring for a little warm sunshine! What if colors could also warm you up a bit?

Dark brown: for a touch of authenticity

It’s the color of the beams of the old frames, the old varnished wood. Some take it as a symbol of the Earth, trees, and strength by extension. This gives it a maternal, protective and reassuring side.

This neutral color can be combined with many other shades.

Shades of dark brown range from bald brown to chocolate brown, auburn, and brick brown with red undertones.

It will give a homey feel but should not be applied to a ceiling or the entire walls of a room, or it will make it feel stuffy!

Note: you can combine it with beige, red, or yellow palettes to warm up the atmosphere.

Taupe: the ultimate neutral color

A mix of brown and gray, taupe keeps the warmth of brown while being even more neutral. This is one of the reasons why this color is all the rage in our homes! It blends with all colors and leaves great possibilities for decoration.

In paint or wallpaper, it adapts to each room.

The sofa, plaid, cushions, or furniture does not clash with any decor.

For woodwork, it will make the lightless cold (or at least, you will have the impression!)

Dark khaki: handle with care

Dark khaki is more like brown than yellow and green. Both neutral and soft, it energizes a room if used sparingly:

It tends to diminish the volumes, and, even if it allows to feel “like in a nest”, a room saturated with khaki will look rather dull and oppressive.

It goes well with woodwork and antique furniture but is tricky to combine with more modern decor.

Note: Khaki oscillates between brown, yellow, and green. This explains why some shades appear warmer than others.

Dark red: for a cozy corner

An energetic and warm hue par excellence, shades of red will energize your rooms. Stop shivering in your living room; choose one of the many shades of red for a cozier winter!

Vermilion, crayfish, and poppy reds will brighten up an overly wintery interior but are not as warm as darker shades.

Darker reds like burgundy, carmine, or blood shades make the atmosphere more intimate and cozy. Perfect for a book or a hot chocolate by the fire!

This color is not recommended for bedrooms because it is known to irritate and make the sleep agitated.

Matte pink: a Proust’s madeleine

Pink has many shades, including mixtures of red and white and those incorporating the brighter magenta.

Overcome your prejudices; pink is no longer the color of girls or flowers. It is more generally that of youth, honesty, and sweetness.

It is also the color of sweet delicacies, optimism, and happiness.

Shades that are too bright are relatively intense and quite tiring for the eyes. Instead, choose a pink dragée, salmon, peach, or “thigh of nymph” (if it exists!).

Good to know: to make any color pastel, add white!

Beige: for a cozy nest

For a comfortable interior and a cocooning atmosphere, beige is ideal. This color soothes and cozies up tight spaces that can easily feel cramped with darker colors.

However, it would help to combine this beige with slightly brighter shades to avoid risking a too neutral decor.

Dirty, if you have children or pets, it is recommended to opt for touches of beige but avoid carpets and sofas in this shade!

It is good to know that beige is not a very tonic color either; it is still relatively neutral. It does not break the effect of warm colors by the coldness of white.

Orange: the warmth of an ethnic color

With yellow, orange is ideal for a little more modern interior while energizing the space.

Apricot, carrot, pumpkin, coral, and russet oranges are perfect for warming up the winter atmosphere.

Amber, Venetian, saffron, mustard, and ochre yellows will complete the decoration in the previous warm tones. They are bright and remind us of a sun that is too little present in winter!

Good to know: as good in painting as in the plate, the orange also brings you vitamin C to counter the small blows of cold.