The Importance of Understanding Color Undertones

Choosing the right color palette can completely transform a room, yet it’s one of the most common areas where homeowners feel stuck or overwhelmed. As an interior designer, I’ve seen beautifully furnished spaces fall flat simply because the colors don’t harmonize. The secret? Understanding color undertones.

When you master undertones, you unlock the ability to create cohesive, inviting, and visually balanced rooms that feel professionally designed.

I’ll help you understand a bit more about them, as I know that not all of us have a trained eye for color.

My husband looks at me as if I’m crazy when I ask him which white he prefers 🤣 so I get it, believe me, so let’s dig in to understanding undertones.

What Are Color Undertones?

While the “mass tone” is the color you see at first glance, the undertone is the subtle hue underneath the surface.

Two whites may look identical in the paint store, but one may have a blue undertone and the other a yellow, or worse, a pink!!! and that small shift can make or break your entire design.

Undertones are usually:

• Warm (yellow, orange, red)

• Cool (blue, green, violet)

• Neutral (balanced or muted warm/cool)

These subtle variations determine how colors interact with lighting, furniture, flooring, and each other.

Why Undertones Matter in Interior Design

Undertones influence how a color behaves in real life.

A “neutral gray” on a swatch might suddenly look purple next to warm cabinets. A beige wall can appear peach when paired with cool white trim. Without understanding undertones, you risk creating tension rather than harmony.

Here’s why undertones are essential:

1. They Help You Avoid Costly Mistakes

Paint is one of the cheapest ways to transform a room…but repainting, fixing clashing finishes, or replacing décor because the colors feel “off” is not. Knowing undertones prevents mismatches before they happen.

2. They Create Flow and Cohesion

Homes with a tight, consistent palette feel more intentional and luxurious. When your colors share compatible undertones, every room feels connected and thoughtfully designed.

3. They Affect Mood and Lighting

Warm undertones make spaces feel inviting and cozy. Cool undertones feel clean and modern. In natural light, some undertones intensify; in artificial light, they may soften. Understanding this lets you use undertones to shape the energy of each room.

4. They Bring Out the Beauty of Your Materials

Your flooring, countertops, cabinets, and fabrics all carry undertones. When your palette complements these elements, the entire space feels elevated and professionally designed.

How to Identify Undertones Like a Designer 🧑‍🎨

As a trained professional, and trained artist, I’m an expert in color, and want to share some trick to be able to draw those undertones easier.

Here are simple steps you can use at home:

1. Compare Colors Side-by-Side

Undertones often reveal themselves only when compared to other colors. Place swatches next to a true white sheet of paper or hold multiple whites together to see the differences.

2. Look at the Surroundings

Check your flooring (warm oak? cool gray tile?), countertops, and existing furnishings. Your palette should support,not fight,these undertones.

3. Test Large Samples on the Wall

Never rely solely on a tiny paint chip. Test samples in different areas of the room and observe them during morning, afternoon, and evening light.

4. Use the 60-30-10 Rule Wisely

Apply undertones consistently across your dominant color (60%), secondary color (30%), and accent color (10%) to maintain harmony.

I’ll try to dig deeper into what undertones combine with which materials and how to blend all together on my next post!

Thanks for reading me and, until next Design Edit post 🫶🏼 Enjoy life and its beauty.

Daniella Acuna M.

Interior designer