Many of us keep a close eye on household budgets during the colder months, but the good news is there are simple ways to add cosiness without turning up the thermostat.
The right paint colour can influence what designers call ‘perceived temperature’ – the subtle psychological effect that makes one room feel cocooning and another airy, even if they’re the same size and heated to the same degree.
Bill Jarvis, director and paint specialist at Premium Paints explains why: “Warm colours visually advance, meaning they appear closer. That subtle closeness makes walls feel nearer, which we interpret as snug. Cool colours recede, so walls appear further away. The room feels airier.”
Paint colour myths busted
One of the biggest myths in interiors, Jarvis adds, is that darker automatically means warmer. “There’s a misconception that you need to go dark to feel cosy, but darkness and warmth are not the same thing. You can have a deep charcoal room that still feels chilly if it leans blue.”
What actually creates warmth is the undertone, he explains. Undertones – the subtle red, yellow, blue, or grey bases beneath a colour – determine how a shade behaves in different light. “Colours with red, yellow, or brown bases create a visual glow, even when they’re pale.” In practice, this means a creamy beige wall can feel warmer than a dark brown.
Simon Mayhew, founder and interior designer at TXTURED, adds further insight: “Warm hues like amber, terracotta, golden ochre and deep olive contain yellow and red – the colours our brains associate with fire and sunlight – and instinctively signal cosiness. Cool tones such as soft sage, chalky blue and pale stone with grey undertones read as calmer and airier.”
He stresses the importance of choosing the right paint for the desired effect: a matt or chalky finish absorbs light, making a warm tone feel more enveloping, while an eggshell finish reflects light, preventing even a deep shade from feeling oppressive.
Even something as simple as switching from a cool white to one with a gentle yellow undertone can dramatically soften a room, particularly in the evening. “It softens shadows and reduces that slightly clinical edge many modern homes accidentally create,” Jarvis adds.
The north vs south facing rule
Colour is one of the most powerful tools in the home, but, according to Mayhew, people often don’t use it correctly.
It’s about considering the light, the materials and how you want the room to feel at different times of year. “Most people [make the mistake of] choosing a paint shade in isolation.”
Considering your room’s natural light helps create a scheme that feels comfortable year-round. In the northern hemisphere, north-facing rooms are washed in cooler, bluer daylight, so they tend to benefit from warmer undertones to offset that chill. South-facing rooms, meanwhile, enjoy golden, sun-filled light and can carry fresher palettes without feeling stark.
The colours that genuinely warm a space
Whatever your room’s orientation, winter light tends to be blue and flat, meaning you need the right colours to compensate. Helen Shaw, marketing director of paint company Benjamin Moore, favours mustards, terracottas and rusts because “their warm undertones instantly create a sense of comfort and cosiness.”
Meanwhile, in winter, Mayhew looks to “warm, earthy, grounded tones: golden ochres, complex beige-browns, deep spiced reds and aged terracotta" and “nuanced, almost mineral colours that age beautifully.”
Cooling a room isn’t about choosing stark whites. Shaw notes that while crisp white is popular, it can feel clinical in bedrooms and living spaces. Instead, softer whites with subtle grey or green undertones reflect light evenly without glare, creating a fresher, more comfortable atmosphere.
Beyond neutrals, lighter blues and greens are summer favourites. “Lighter blues with green undertones offer a crisp, breezy look,” Shaw explains, “without the warmth of those that lean towards indigo.”
For a truly seasonal effect, Mayhew recommends taking a softer approach: “Chalky sage greens, washed-out dusty blues and pale stone tones with cool rather than warm undertones create a calm, airy feel that’s perfect for summer.”
Make way for colour drenching
A popular interiors trend seen on TikTok is ‘colour drenching’ your home – painting walls, ceilings and woodwork in exactly the same shade. This effect can dramatically intensify the perceived temperature of a room, whether warm or cool.
Using deep, earthy tones creates a cocooning atmosphere that’s perfect for winter bedrooms. With pale greens or chalky blues, drenching creates an enveloping, spa-like serenity that’s more suited to summer.
Add accent walls and try the ‘golden hour’ trick
Another quick way to transform a room is with an accent wall. A deep rust or aubergine behind a sofa, bed or fireplace can create a cocooning backdrop in winter, while swapping to eucalyptus green or sky blue in summer instantly lightens the mood – a simple change that can be done in just a few hours.
If you want to change a room without picking up a paint brush, try the ‘golden hour trick’ and hang sheer curtains in yellow or gold. When daylight filters through, they will bathe the room in a warm glow, mimicking the soft sunlight you get at the end of the day and giving the space a naturally cosier feel.
Create a room that changes with the seasons
Of course, not everyone has the time or budget to repaint every six months. If you want to shift the mood of a room with the seasons, think in layers instead.
Consider paint a baseline which sets the overall temperature of the space. “If you want flexibility, avoid extreme cool or extreme warmth on large surfaces. Instead, choose a balanced neutral with a gentle undertone,” says Jarvis.
From there, adjust the atmosphere with soft furnishings, which Mayhew calls “your seasonal lever,” adding: “This is the easiest, most affordable way to shift a room’s perceived temperature without redecorating.”
In winter, layer a room with chunky boucle throws, velvet cushions in amber or cognac and deep wool rugs. In summer, swap velvet for linen, wool for cotton, and move towards natural undyed fibres. “The same room can read completely differently between January and July with nothing more than a change of soft furnishings,” he says.
Furniture may be more permanent, but it still shapes the overall tone. If replacing large pieces isn’t realistic, introducing a slipcover or reupholstering a headboard in a seasonal shade can subtly switch up the feel of a room without a major investment.
Finally, don’t forget to add texture – it matters just as much as colour, as it sends visual cues of warmth or coolness to the brain. Wicker, velvet and wool absorb light and add depth, while creating a sense of cosiness. Glass, linen, marble and brushed metals reflect light, helping a space appear fresher and more open.
Light your home warmer
Lighting plays a crucial role in how colour reads. Cool bulbs combined with cool walls can cast a bluish evening tone that many interpret as cold, while warm bulbs paired with warm undertones enhance cosiness. “It’s one of the simplest adjustments people overlook,” says Jarvis.
For best results, switch to warm white bulbs (around 2700K) in winter to amplify warmth, and neutral white bulbs (around 4000K) in summer to keep spaces feeling fresh and airy.
Consider all elements
Creating a home that feels comfortable in every season doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, but it’s not just about colour. By thoughtfully layering paint, textiles, furniture, textures, and lighting, you can craft spaces that adapt naturally to both winter and summer.
As Mayhew concludes, it’s about ticking every box. “The most common mistake I see is choosing a warm paint colour and filling the room with cool, hard, reflective surfaces.”
He concludes: “Colour temperature is a whole-room conversation. It has to run through the paint, the materials, the textiles and the light together. Get those things working in harmony, and you will have a home that genuinely feels different to be in.”
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