For instance, you can use soft hues that create a relaxed look for private spaces like bedrooms, then turn to deeper, more formal colors for areas in which you entertain. It depends on what other hues a color contains. Cool whites have the slightest bluish or purplish cast, while warm whites might carry a tinge of pink, yellow, red, or orange. These little differences in quantity can make a big difference in the way a color is perceived in a room. For instance, warm whites appear to advance, while cool whites seem to recede.
Many people seem to favor warm whites for their living spaces, but cool whites also have a place.
While a warm white might be welcome in a room that gets little sun, a cool one can be appreciated in a space consumed with warmth.