WHY MY YOGA STUDIO FELT COLD
For years I tried yoga on and off and couldn't quite work out what everyone was raving about.
Downward dog felt awkward and I almost fell over balanced on one leg. Then I found a type of yoga by accident that intrigued and challenged me – Kundalini. As my beautiful yoga teacher says to new students, “its very different”. And it is. There is chanting, lots of breath work and holding of somewhat strange poses that move energy. And I’m hooked.
But when I went to my yoga class one week, the room felt different. The orange and teal walls that normally cocooned my practise had been painted white. And I wasn’t the only one to notice. Other students also commented on the change. But not in a good way. Words like, “cold”, “different” and “stark” come to mind.
But how can a colour change the mood of a room so much? And why is it that white can make a room feel so cold? Here are some reasons why:
There are different types of white. They are typically described as true white, cool white, warm white and cream white. Warm whites are those that have a warmer undertone. They are mixed with colours such as yellow and red. And cool whites are typically mixed with blues and greens.
Not all whites will work in a room. And in fact, there are just some cases where white shouldn’t be used (gulp!).
The amount of natural light in a room will help determine whether white paint will work. Basically, if a room does not get much light or no light then white may not be a good choice. If a room does not get adequate natural light, then the room can feel cold and clinical.
Your choice of white will also depend upon what other colours are in your room. Look at things such as the floor, tiles, bench tops. If your floor is a brown wood colour, then consider using a paint with a warm undertone.
Try before you buy (or paint) and don’t just rely on a tiny paint swatch. Either use a large piece of cardboard with the colour painted on it or get a sample pot and paint a substantial part of your wall in that colour. And then have a look at the sample at different times of the day.
So getting back to my yoga studio, white paint was not the best choice. As the room does not get natural light, the white (which I‘m sure was a cool white), was not going to work. And the effect that it had in making the room feel cold rather than calm, inviting and quiet wasn’t aligned with the purpose of the studio. It just didn’t feel cocooning or warm, just like my classes did.
If you need help selecting the right white, please contact me at katie@katieriddell.com.au. To receive helpful tips and inspiration direct to your email inbox, please sign-up to receive my “All Things Interiors” newsletter.
