6 Warm Color Ideas That Are Almost Too Hot to Handle

Imagine your favorite things about summer. Savoring fresh pineapple. Watching kaleidoscopic sunsets. Seeing a thousand colorful beach towels lining the shore.

Now, imagine that you can bring these summery elements right into your own home. Whether your happy place is a desert scene punctuated by pink hues or a red-and-orange sunset cresting the ocean, warm colors can help you hang onto that feeling, all year long.

Color theory tells us that when a color wheel is divided in half, one half is considered “warm”— red, orange, yellow — and the other half is thought of as “cool” — green, blue, violet. When woven into a palette, these shades can visually warm-up or cool down any room.

Scroll on for six warm color ideas that’ll turn up the heat before those chilly temperatures hit.

1. Create a tropical vibe.

Warm colors naturally lend themselves to tropical interiors, and they look even more island-ready when they’re paired with beachy decor. For example, in this boho bedroom belonging to Erika Carlock, warm orange and pink bedding are paired with a woven bamboo pendant light, pampas grass, and greenery, setting a vacation-inspired tone throughout the entire space.

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Get the Look: Throw Pillows, Pillow Shams, Rectangular Pillows, Duvet Covers, Comforters, Throw Blankets, Blackout Curtains.

2. Color block it up.

As you search for color ideas, you may have come across several color-blocked spaces, and for good reason — they are very on-trend right now. We recommend trying the look with warm colors to really punch up a room. Brittany of The House That Lars Built color-blocked her guest room in pinks and yellows, resulting in a space that’s guaranteed to lift your spirits.

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Get the look: Rugs, Floor Pillows, Throw Pillows, Rectangular Pillows, Side Tables, Coffee Tables, Blackout Curtains, Throw Blankets, Coffee Mugs, Coasters, Serving Trays, Wall Hangings.

3. Tone it down — slightly.

Guess what? You can still achieve a warm palette without bringing in bright, saturated colors. Just tone it down a tad as this bedroom spotted on Urban Outfitters flaunting a rust-colored quilt and vivid wall hanging in subtle shades.

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Get the Look: Throw Pillows, Pillow Shams, Rectangular Pillows, Duvet Covers, Comforters, Throw Blankets, Blackout Curtains.

4. Weave in neutrals.

To offset all those warm colors, you can always anchor them with a few neutrals here and there. For example, in this living room styled by Joy of Oh Joy!, the orange-and-pink walls and blush sofa pair quite nicely with a cream area rug and wood-finish furniture.

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Get the Look: Sun Shades, Outdoor Floor Cushions, Sling Chairs, Folding Stools, Picnic Blankets, Welcome Mats, Can Coolers, Yoga Mat, Beach Towels.

5. Pair two shades together.

The convenient thing about warm colors is that they automatically go together. We particularly enjoy orange and yellow as a pair, and clearly we’re not the only ones. Dabito of Old Brand New crafted an eye-pleasing living room with the help of orange-and-yellow throw pillows and an abstract painting that matches perfectly.

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Get the look: Rugs, Floor Pillows, Throw Pillows, Rectangular Pillows, Side Tables, Coffee Tables, Blackout Curtains, Throw Blankets, Coffee Mugs, Coasters, Serving Trays, Wall Hangings.

6. Focus on artwork.

If you want to incorporate warm colors but don’t want to embrace it top-to-bottom, simply hang a piece of artwork that showcases the palette you’re craving. The color theory would surely approve of this Anewall tapestry, popping alongside rattan furniture and boho decor.

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Get the look: Mini Art Prints, Framed Mini Art Prints, Art Prints, Framed Prints, Canvas Prints, Metal Prints, Wood Wall, Art Posters, Wall Hangings, Wall Tapestries.