The intense heat of the summer months can make our homes feel stuffy and uncomfortable. When designing a southwestern interior, choosing paint colors with cool undertones is key to beating the heat and creating a tranquil oasis indoors. The southwestern United States is known for its warm, reddish earth tones, but by thoughtfully selecting both warm and cool hues, we can develop a color palette that evokes the region’s natural beauty while combating its extreme temperatures.
From versatile neutrals to vivid accent colors, we’ll share inspiring ideas to give your home a fresh new look just in time for the summer season.
Popular Warm Earth Tones
While earthy southwest paint colors like terracotta and sand may seem counterintuitive for beating the heat, when used strategically alongside cool tones, they can create rich, welcoming spaces. Here are some of our favorite warm earth tone paint colors for southwestern interiors:
Terracotta
Named after the red-orange clay it resembles, terracotta makes a bold, dramatic statement. Use it to add a pop of color in your kitchen, highlight a dining room accent wall, or complement the warm wood tones of rustic furniture. Soften terracotta walls with accents of blue, green, or creamy white.
Sand
Think warm beiges, light taupes, or soft tans. Sand colors work beautifully as a neutral backdrop in living rooms and bedrooms. Complimentary colors include slate blue, sage green, and deep wood tones. Sand walls also allow southwestern patterns and textures to take center stage.
Sage Green
Earthy, tranquil, and calming–sage green is ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens seeking a relaxing feel. Accent sage walls with shades of brown, cream, turquoise, or reddish-orange terra cotta. Sage green pairs perfectly with natural materials like wood, clay, and stone.
Cool Neutral Tones
When used thoughtfully, cool neutral paint colors can provide the perfect soothing complement to the rich southwestern color palette. Here are some of our recommended neutral paint picks for beating the heat:
White
Clean, bright white is hands down the most cooling paint color for any home. Use white on ceilings, crown moldings, window trim, and doors to enhance natural light and make small spaces appear more open and airy. Crisp white walls also allow eclectic southwestern accents and textures to pop.
Greige
Also known as gray-beige, greige beautifully straddles the line between cool and warm. This versatile neutral works well as a soothing backdrop for any southwestern space. Compliment greige walls with shades of blue, green, terra cotta, or patterned textiles. Its flexibility allows you to switch up accessories and accents from season to season.
Light Gray
For a serene and relaxing effect perfect for bedrooms and baths, look for airy grays with the slightest blue undertones. Pair light gray walls with cool white trim, natural wood tones, and vivid pops of color and pattern. The peaceful vibes of light gray beautifully balance the saturated hues found in textiles, pottery, and art.
Vibrant Accent Colors
Vivid accent colors is where we can really have fun representing the striking hues of the southwestern landscape. Used strategically, bright colors enliven any space. Here are some accent paint color ideas guaranteed to up the cool factor:
Turquoise
A signature hue of the Southwest, turquoise makes an energetic statement wherever used. Add a burst of this lively blue-green to kitchen backsplashes, bathroom walls, or front doors. Turquoise beautifully complements whites, tans, taupes, and light wood tones.
Southwest Blue
From California indigo to New Mexican sky blue, these vibrant tones pay homage to big southwestern skies. Use SW blues as a statement front door color or to energize an accent wall. Southwest blues pop against warm neutrals like sand, cream, and terracotta.
Chartreuse
This vivid yellow-green brims with playful, invigorating energy. Use it sparingly on an accent wall or front door for a bold splash of summer color. Chartreuse pops when surrounded with neutral walls, white trim, and natural wood tones. A little goes a long way.
Design Ideas and Tips
By thoughtfully mixing warm and cool paint colors, we can develop southwestern color schemes that both combat heat and add visual interest. Here are some tips for designing your coolest color palette:
- Combine warm and cool versions of colors like blue-green vs green-blue
- Layer cool neutrals with warm, saturated accent colors
- Introduce natural textures and materials like wood, clay, stone
- Maximize natural light with large windows, skylights
- Use lighter colors to make small spaces feel more expansive
- Adjust your color scheme by season – cooler in summer, warmer in winter
Creating color palettes with heat-combating cool undertones can help you beat the intense summer temps in your southwestern home. By taking inspiration from the natural landscapes as well as cultural traditions of the American Southwest, we can develop sophisticated, livable schemes that allow us to enjoy the warmth and beauty of this iconic region in comfort year-round. With this guide to the coolest paint color options, you’re ready to give your home a fresh new look just in time to outsmart the summer heat.
