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Using hot colors or pastels
Bright bold colors like red, yellow and orange are exciting and stand
out. They are called hot colors. Blues, violets and greens are cool
colors. They are relaxing and tend to fade. Bright, bold colors should be
used to draw attention. Cool colors should be used near places for
relaxing, like a hammock.
 More bright
colors are used in Colorado because the area's intense sunlight fades and
washes out colors. The natural surroundings have more earth tones to them,
with reddish rocks or sandstone and dry prairie grasses. Even the gray
concrete of urban settings is set off with brighter colors. In the east,
northwest and European areas, there are many more tree, green grasses and
shrubs, providing background for Gardens. Those shady, leafy forests are
better combined with pastels and light colors that highlight those dark
areas.
Our natural landscape gives us hints of types of architecture, color
and culture that fit with the area. Bright red, orange and yellow are more
visible in the full sun and blend with the local flavor. White, pale
yellow and pastel pink fade under Colorado's intense sunlight. In older
established neighborhoods, lighter colors work well where trees shade
streets and houses, on the north side of buildings, against lots of dark
green evergreens or large expanses of lawns.
For more information, see the following Colorado State Extension fact sheet(s).
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