Using paint to keep your cool or warm your cockles

Did you know that particular shades can trigger a physical response by changing the temperature of your environment?

Paint colours and temperature

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We all know that colour has the ability to change our mood – for better or worse – and impact how we feel about a particular space.

A bright, sunny yellow – such as Resene Turbo, for example – can increase our self-esteem, make us more creative and increase our levels of happiness.

Resene Pink Lace, on the other hand, will make you feel calm, collected and may even help you get in touch with your feminine side, according to UK company Colour Affects.

These are just psychological responses to colour, though. Did you know that particular shades can also trigger a physical response by changing the temperature of your environment?

In general, dark colours absorb light – and while they're doing this, they also take in heat. This can be problematic, especially during muggy summer months.

Many people therefore recommend that you avoid using dark colours on areas of your home such as roofs, as they can trap the sun and render your rooms unbearably warm.

We say 'in general', because there is a way you can have your cake and eat it too, so to speak. If you really have your heart set on a luscious, deep hue for your roof, you may want to opt for the Resene CoolColour range.

This unique technology enables your chosen shade to absorb light in the same way as an ordinary paint would, which means your desired colour looks like the normal colour.

Where it differs, however, is that it won't take in as much heat. As a result, it will remain cooler than the normal colour, which will keep your home cooler.

If you want to paint your roof white or another light colour, you won't have to fret about this problem. These shades reflect light, which means they shouldn't make your home any hotter.

In addition to this, you can trick yourself into feeling cooler or warmer by strategically choosing paint colours with which to decorate your home's interior.

According to Body and Soul Magazine, a study conducted in the US has proven this. It involved painting one room "icy blue-green" and another "fiery red-orange", keeping the temperature the same in both and asking participants how they felt, and revealed those in the former room felt cold straight away.

Those in the latter only started to get chilly after the thermostat dropped 4 degrees.

So, if you're looking to redecorate for the fast-approaching winter months, why not give your walls a splash of Resene Smitten or Resene Hot Chile and see how cosy it makes your favourite living spaces!

Colours mentioned in this blog...