37 Home Cool Color Schemes for Decorating Your Space

The color palette of a room supports the overall style, and also makes a difference in the overall mood, too. Colors are deeply intertwined with emotions, and because of this different rooms can influence how their occupants feel. Warmer shades are typically associated with warmth, coziness, and energy—but don't brush off cool colors just yet. Despite their names, they are not the sole culprits responsible for creating sterile, moody, and sullen places. Blue, green, and purple can be just as inviting and welcoming as their warmer counterparts—it's just a matter of how they're incorporated.

Understanding how to use soothing, cool hues in your space can instantly take a room from bland to wow. To help you confidently pick the best ones to use for your home, we rounded up our favorite home cool color schemes. All these colors are both soothing and relaxing making them an excellent choice for any room in your abode.

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Cool Down Cozy Spaces

NK Living

Deep shades of blue are great for areas where one wishes to unwind, like this living room in a modern farmhouse by NK Living out of the U.K. The navy shiplap feature wall sets the relaxing tone. The steel blue sofa and silver-gray carpeting add to the room's inviting vibe.

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Embrace the Power of Blue

Meriwether Inc Architecture & Design

Blue kitchens are a favorite decor trend with real staying power. This example by Meriwether Inc Architecture & Design makes it easy to understand why. The blue cabinetry pops against the crisp white walls. You can feast your eyes on more beautiful blue cooking spaces.

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Don't Shy Away From Royal Purple

Erica Burns Interiors

Cool shades of purple, green, and pink give this traditional living room by Erica Burns Interiors based in Bethesda, Maryland a vibrant twist.

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Add a Splash of Warmth

Domus Nova

Gorgeous jewel tones elevate this living room seen on Domus Nova. The purple wall and sofa lend a regal air. The shocking pink couch brings a jolt of room brightening color.

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Make a Splash With a Mermaid-Inspired Kitchen

Michelle Gage

Sure, white cooking spaces are brimming with enduring style. But if you are looking to up your kitchen game, consider this idea from Philadelphia based interior designer, Michelle Gage. Her mermaid-inspired backsplash was created using fish scale tiles in cooling shades of blue and green. The pretty hues look amazing against the bright, white cabinetry.

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Blend Multiple Tones in One Room

Entrance Makleri

Two-tone walls in shades of pale blue are what gives this black and brown kitchen edgy appeal. What we love best about this cooking space seen on Entrance Makleri is that chic paint job instantly refreshes the dated granite countertops.

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Create a Feature Wall

Jessica Helgerson Interior Designer

Jessica Helgerson Interior Designer out of Portland, Oregon created this stunning feature wall of an abstract seascape. It establishes the palette for the rest of the space. What makes the paint job notable is how she incorporated a mix of cooler shades of yellow and plum, which are traditionally warm hues with two standard cool colors: blue and green. Notice the cream ceiling and the pale gray walls? They have a hint of cool green.

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Choose Hues That Aren't as Common

Scheer, and Company

Cool and pale periwinkle walls set the stage for warm furnishings in this bungalow by the interior design firm, Scheer, and Company based in Austin, Texas. Pairing cool walls with dark wood and warm vintage-style furnishings keep the central living area from feeling cold and stark.

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Try Coastal Chic

Laurel and Wolf

A watery shade of ocean green lights up the walls in this beachfront condo seen on Laurel and Wolf, an online platform that connects licensed interior designers with residential customers. Covering the fireplace surround are glass subway tiles by Tilebar in a gorgeous shade called Loft Seafoam.

22 Beautiful Coastal Color Palettes for Beach Inspired Decor

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Lighten a Room With Sky Blue Walls

Heidi Walker Interior Designer

Walls painted a shade called Light Blue by Benjamin Moore gives this living room by Heidi Walker Interior Designer out of Charleston, South Carolina its open and airy feeling. The decorative pillows spotted on the sofa, and the stripes on the coffee table match the wall color.

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Infuse Pops of Color in Transitional Living Rooms

Zoë Feldman

Interior designer Zoë Feldman based in Washington, D.C., incorporated gorgeous cool jewel tones in shades of green, purple, and blue in this transitional living room. Though cool tones are rarely all paired together in one space, this gorgeous space makes a case for why it's worth trying.

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Experiment With a Monochromatic Color Scheme

Turek Design

If you are looking to make a dramatic statement, go with a cool monochromatic color scheme as seen in this small living room by Turek Design located in New York City. Beautiful accents in natural wood and brushed gold keep the space from feeling dark or dreary.

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Blend Unexpected Colors

The English Room

Show your true colors, like this quirky and modern living room by the interior designer behind The English Room based in the U.K. The jet black ceiling and white walls provide a neutral backdrop for an explosion of mostly cool colors, most notable, purple and green. While the shade on the floor is a neutral brown, the fawn-patterned carpet is anything but boring.

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Incorporate a Distinct Modern Edge

Zoe Feldman

A robust shade of cool teal makes an elegant first impression in this cozy den by interior designer Zoe Feldman based in Washington, D.C. The stone fireplace and dark furnishing bring a masculine edge. A bright rug and colorful decorative accents including the Breakfast at Tiffany's movie poster lend a splash a feminine charm.

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Add Cool-Toned Bohemian-Style Flair

Michelle Gage

A cool shade of pale pink and lively hues of green are the dominant colors illuminating this boho-inspired living room by Michelle Gage, an interior designer out of Pennsylvania. The gray and white walls have a blue undertone, which adds to the cooling mix of relaxing colors.

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Plaster on a Little More Texture

Amy Leferink at Interior Impressions

Wallpaper is an easy way to add a little oomph and texture to a bathroom. This space shows how calming blue can be, and how much more elevated it can feel with the right pattern. The countertops are beige, but tinged with a cool tint, which leads to a cohesive color palette.

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Opt for Earthy Green

Ashley Montgomery Design

The cupboards seen here are a gorgeous, grounding green, creating a calm cooking oasis. Though kitchens are typically a place of sensory overload, a soothing color palette can gently balance out all that happens here. Thanks to additional white space, it feels open and airy at the same time.

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Bring Out the Blue in Everything

Beauty Is Abundant

Bathrooms should be places of respite and rejuvenation, which means cool color palettes are often an exquisite fit. The deep blue tiles of the shower are reflected in the mirror and help to pull out the blue tones in the sink and on the wall. Dramatic colors like this are easy to get away with when they're well thought out and applied to smaller rooms.

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Play Up the Primary Bedroom

Brexton Cole Interiors / Instagram

Soothing doesn't have to equal boring, as this bedroom proves. Though an ethereal sky blue paint coats the walls, the rest of the space is enriched with tactile textures, and metallic finishes. It's a unique room as a whole but still maintains a sense of serenity.

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Try a Trio of Cool Colors

Britt Design Studio

Cool colors can still vary enormously in the types of atmospheres they encourage. The darker blue-green wall on the right feels a touch moody and sophisticated whereas the light blue door in the middle feels welcoming. Green is technically a cool color, too, but this particular bright green wallpaper is certainly energizing.

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Bring Blue to the Breakfast Nook

Charlie Coull Design

Grab a cup of coffee and settle in—a breakfast nook this pretty will make you want to extend the time you spend eating the first meal of the day. The blue tone plays nicely with the light gray. This corner could easily be seen in a bistro or cafe, and despite using cool colors it still feels inviting.

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Use Subtle Tones

Dominique Gebru / Instagram

Visually cooler rooms can be bright, but they can also be subtle. Pale sage green on the walls and a gray-blue sheet set instill tranquility into the space without wandering into primary color territory.

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Balance White With Cool Colors

Design: Emily Henderson Design / Photo: Ryan Liebe

Preventing all-white bathrooms from looking too sterile can be done with the help of blue and other crisp colors. Although warmer shades might be the first that come to mind to cozy up a space, chilly hues can both brighten and maintain a sense of peace.

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Mix Warm and Cool

Gray Space Interiors

Like all colors, purple can lean warm or cool. This calming lilac-colored bedroom balances the best of both worlds, using purple on the walls and complementing it with warmer pink, copper, and rust-toned accents. The blue stool at the foot of the bed helps add an additional splash of cool to the scheme.

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Pull the Atmosphere From the Seaside

House of Chais / Instagram

For many people, the beach is often associated with a feeling of calm and relaxation. This emotion can be transferred into your home through colors and decor that are reminiscent of this environment. The ocean is a cool color palette in itself, so it's very easy to add small nods to the sea or fully embrace a coastal look while still keeping the tones colder.

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Consider Where Cool Tones Are Placed

House Nine Design, Architecture + Management

It's easy to jump to paint or wallpaper as the best color solutions. Sometimes though, minimal white walls serve as an intentional blank canvas that can be boosted through accents. In this cool-toned room, a navy headboard steals the spotlight and creates a general sense of calm in the chicest way possible.

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Play Up Cool Palettes With Poppy Art

Marry Patton Design

Another way to infuse a cold color palette without relying solely on wall color is through artwork. In tandem with a rug reminiscent of a ray's back or night sky, the sculptural object on the table and patterned canvas set the atmosphere and give this dining area a cooler overtone. Beige chairs and a small section of warm wood flooring provide a nice balancing effect.

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Make Work Spaces Soothing, Too

Midcity Design Group

Spending hours a day at your desk calls for the surrounding room to serve as a conducive, calming work environment. Work can be stressful, therefore calming cool palettes are often a good choice. A dramatic tone, like this muted navy, envelopes the space and feels grounding.

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Explore Cool Palettes with a Warm Twist

Mocha Girl Place / Instagram

Green is technically a cool color, but this bathroom shows how it can still be energizing and exciting. Chartreuse on the walls, yellow towels, and gold hardware make this space feel lively and warmer, but the green holds it down and gives anyone in the bathroom the sense of being surrounded by nature.

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Choose Blue for a Whimsical Nursery

Stephanie Hoey Interiors

Nurseries are one room type that people often want to feel calming, tranquil, and peaceful. A barely-there blue can make that happen instantaneously, as exemplified by this whimsical bedroom. The blue and white are a heavenly combo that'll help any little one feel at ease.

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Match Paint and Wallpaper

Studio KT

Rather than painting the walls all one color, try a mix of wall coverings or incorporate an accent wall. The patterned wallpaper behind the headboard stands out ever-so-slightly from the opposing walls but not to the point where it feels busy or maximal. Pair this with gray and greige accents for a space that feels like a breath of fresh air each time you step inside.

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Feel Moved by Mauve

Rikki Snyder

Purple isn't as common as blue or green-tinged rooms, but it's worth considering. Similar to other cool colors, it can feel grounding and peaceful while also infusing extra saturation into a room. This mauve accent wall isn't flashy but it's a unique choice that stands out and settles into the room simultaneously.

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Pick a Pattern

Thomas Guy Interiors / Instagram

Patterns in cool tones still retain their tranquility, but there is a little something extra that's infused. This powder room is visually delightful and feels structured thanks to the wall's geometric pattern and surrounding sharp gold accents. That being said, it still feels soothing—all thanks to the deep and light blue mix.

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Nail Down the Tones

Tina Ramchandani Creative

Cool color palettes do not have to be obvious at first glance. When looking at this room, it provides the sense of calm cooler-toned rooms normally do—but it's tough to put your finger on exactly what those cold colors are. It has hints of blues and greens that come out in the gray paint and furniture. It's a great example of how mesmerizing subtlety can be.

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Add Just a Pinch of Blue

The Home Consultant

Anyone who adores all-white spaces but wants to point them in the direction of a calming cool palette can do so through a pop of color. As this bathroom depicts, a teal green or similar tone on cabinets is all it takes to set a color scheme without needing to go all out on the walls.

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Combine Cool Colors and Warm Wood

White Sands Design/Build

The blue cabinets and stone island are offset by the warmer wooden tones that are dotted around this kitchen. It's a perfect example of the warm and cold color worlds coming together in harmony. Striking a balance between the two gives spaces a warm coziness and sense of grounded tranquility alike.

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Place an Unexpected Pop of Color

Tyler Karu Design and Interiors

As mentioned previously, purple is probably the most unexpected of the cool color family. This means it translates well as a surprising pop of color in living spaces. A purple couch is not what many people would likely expect to see when entering a room, therefore it's the perfect pick for making homes feel more original.