The best paint colours for bedrooms
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then the bedroom is the parasympathetic nervous system. Not quite as catchy, we know, but arguably more important. It’s a place with a lot of emotion attached to it and it means that the bedroom paint colour you choose is really important. According to a 2021 study, around 1 in 3 Brits have trouble getting to sleep during the week, whilst 1 in 5 find it a nightly struggle. As our home and work life merges, 10% of the population admit to ‘working from bed’ whilst a massive 70% of people report sleeping with their phones next to their beds. All of this affects our sleep cycle and can lead to disrupted sleep patterns.
Whilst there are several steps you can take towards better ‘sleep hygiene’ in your bedroom, the colour you choose to paint your walls is a great place to start. So, with that in mind, we spoke to Tash Bradley, our Director of Interior Design, to recommend some of the best paint colours for your bedroom, according to colour psychology.
How do bedroom colours affect your mood?
Did you know that the colours of bedroom walls have a huge impact on your mood, mental wellbeing, and how well you sleep? According to the principles of colour psychology, certain colours have the ability to make us feel calm and rested, whilst others can leave us feeling stimulated and anxious. So, when we’re asking ‘How do you want your bedroom to feel’ we’re really asking ‘How do you want to feel’?
Warming, calming, relaxing, safe, and cocooning—these are the adjectives people choose to describe how they want their bedrooms to feel.\n
Tash Bradley, Director of Interior Design
What are the best bedroom colours for better sleep?
If you’ve got one of those brains that simply won’t stop the chatter as soon as your head hits the pillow, then a gentle blue bedroom paint might just be the answer. The most mentally calming colour, Tash loves a soft blue in the bedroom. According to her “the softer the blue, the more calming. Shades like Blue 01, Blue 02, and Blue 13 are perfect for a soothing bedroom and can help you sleep better”.
Darker shades tend to be more stimulating, so if you’re set on going dark she recommends Blue 17. This grounded, muted blue will help you feel relaxed and supported, without being overstimulating. Alternatively, Tash recommends teal paint for your bedroom walls, as a calming compromise for dark blue. Those green undertones of Teal 01 and Teal 02 add a soothing softness to a space, whilst still creating a deep and cocooning effect.
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What is the most relaxing colour in a bedroom?
Of all of the colours, green is the least demanding on the eye. Without getting too sciencey on you, it’s the easiest hue for those rods and cones located in your retina to process. “The colour of balance, green connects us to nature. It brings a little of the outdoors in and instantly makes you feel more relaxed,” says Tash. So, if you’re looking to create a restful feel in your bedroom, reach for those green bedroom paints.
The holy grail of greens, for its versatility in different light conditions, Green 02 is a great mid-tone to use in your bedroom, whilst Green 03 is an excellent choice for creating an air of tranquillity and quiet reflection. If you want to go for something lighter, consider Green 09, Green 11, or Green 14.
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What colours are the most calming and soothing for a bedroom?
“Whilst blues are mentally calming, pinks are physically calming,” explains Tash. Pink is the colour of cuddles. So, if you go to bed every night with your shoulders up by your earlobes and your back in knots, then a cosy, nurturing pink paint for your bedroom walls will work wonders for your sleep. Tash recommends opting for muted hues, like Pink 07 or Pink 08. These dusky pinks are straight from nature. They are earthy and grounding, and that heavy dose of black pigment makes them feel really grown up.
On the other end of things, if you’re looking for a light and bright, barely-there paint, go for Pink 01—a great alternative if you’re after something more neutral. Alternatively, if just the mention of pink makes you run a mile, Tash suggests “a fresh take on pink” Purple 05 or Purple 06.
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What neutral colours are best in a bedroom?
From whites to beiges and through to taupe and brown, we never met a neutral we didn’t like. Sometimes you just want a blank backdrop and nothing does this better than a neutral white bedroom paint. Oaty White 05 will brighten up even the darkest bedroom, or for a really smart and serene palette, White 04 has a linen-like texture to it and will bounce light around a south-east facing room.
If you want to add more depth and texture to your colour palette whilst still keeping it very relaxed, beautiful Beige 02, Beige 03 and Brown 02 will do just this. As Tash puts it, “these guys are there to make you feel safe. To create a sanctuary and a cosy, comforting environment”. Their yellow undertones inject warmth into a space—especially Beige 03 for a dark north-facing bedroom. Finally, Tash recommends earthy Taupe 03. Its red undertones give it a pink(ish) appearance yet the effect is really cosy and grown-up.
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And there you have it. The best paint colours for your bedroom according to colour psychology. If you’re looking for some more room-by-room interior inspo, take a look at our favourite kitchen paint colours or discover these perfect living room paints.