What Are the Best Colours for Bedrooms?

We spend about one-third of our lives sleeping – or at least trying to! Recent studies have found that 36% of adults in the UK struggle to drop off on a weekly basis, while almost one in five people don’t get enough sleep as they should. 

If bedtime for you is somewhat of a nightmare, don’t fret – there are countless steps you can take to better improve your quality of sleep. But did you know the colour you choose to paint your bedroom walls can have a massive impact too? Here, our sleep experts have dug deep into the world of colour psychology research to recommend some of the best colours for your bedroom.

What are the best colours for bedrooms?

Your bedroom needs to be a sanctuary for sleep, so the best bedroom colours are ones that promote calmness, relaxation and cosiness. Think warm pastel shades that help the mind to wind down as opposed to bold, vibrant tones that overstimulate and energise. Here are our top colour picks and bedroom paint ideas to help you get a better night’s rest.

Blues

Blue is one of the most highly recommended colours for the bedroom. Inspiring tranquillity and peace, blue is an endlessly versatile colour. For example, duck-egg and teal blues can add cool tones to soften rooms with lots of light and create a stress-relieving environment, while regal, navy and ink blues can promote a sense of sumptuous luxury that is irresistibly cosy. Sound dreamy? Check out our Blue Bedroom Ideas blog for more inspiration.

Greens

Green is a fantastic colour choice for the bedroom thanks to its mood-lifting qualities. With connotations of growth and wellness, shades of green have been shown to make us feel more relaxed as it brings the outside in and connects us to nature. Opt for rich forest greens and soft sages for a natural kiss of muted colour that will help your mind to slow down at the end of a busy day and get ready for a deep sleep.

Pinks

While Barbie pink is all the rage in the fashion world right now, it’s earthy, dusky pinks that work best in the bedroom. Pink is warming, romantic, nurturing, delicate without being overwhelming and oh-so-cosy, making it an ideal choice for your bedroom walls. Plus, if you’re looking to experiment with a few different colours, soft pinks pair effortlessly with other pastel colours (such as calming greens and blues) to create a space that oozes with soothing sophistication.

Neutrals

Timeless and ethereal, whites and neutral beiges make for brilliant paint colours for bedrooms that will never go out of style. Neutral shades – from caramel-toned beiges to off-whites with a hint of cooling grey – help to calm surroundings and add a sense of relaxed freshness to help create bedrooms that are shrouded in softness and incredibly inviting. If neutrals are your colours of choice, why not take a look at our blog on White Bedroom Inspiration for more ideas?

What benefits can different colours have in a bedroom?

There’s a reason brands spend so long agonising over colour choices for their marketing campaigns – colours have the power to influence our mood, emotions and behaviours. In actual fact, there’s even a colour psychology chart based upon the study of various hues and how they impact the human psyche! Here’s just a few examples to whet your interior design whistle:

Red: Power, danger, intensity, passion.
Orange: Confidence, success, energy, excitement.
Pink: Tenderness, warmth, sweetness, sophistication.
Blue: Peace, tranquillity, calm, luxury.
Green: Nature, healing, growth, freshness.

So, when designing a bedroom fit for restful sleep, it’s time to think like a marketing manager. Chances are you want to create a space that embodies relaxation and serenity, rather than a raucous room of stimulation and bright spectacles. By sticking to muted, calming tones that soothe, warm and cocoon, you can expect to receive some incredible wellbeing benefits that will have your sleep quality skyrocketing. 

What colours should you avoid in a bedroom?

There’s a clear theme to the list of best bedroom colours above – they are soft, relaxing, muted and calming. So, naturally, the worst bedroom colours are the exact opposite – loud, overstimulating, brash and energising. Our experts recommend staying away from invigorating reds that boost brain activity, gloomy browns that can make your space feel constricting, mood-dampening greys, energy-inspiring purples and attention-grabbing oranges. Save these colours for other rooms in your house where you want to create splashes of energy and creativity instead!

For more advice on how to get a better night’s sleep, check out our helpful Blog for the best tips and tricks in the bedtime business.