The bedroom is the one room designed for rest. Its color should help you wind down at night and wake up gently. That usually means softer, less saturated colors than you would use in a living room, but there is room for personality.
Colors that feel calm
- Soft blues and blue-grays: often chosen for bedrooms because they feel cool and restful.
- Muted greens: sage, eucalyptus and olive bring a natural calm.
- Warm neutrals: creamy whites, greige and soft taupe create a cocooning backdrop.
- Dusty pinks and lavender: gentle and warm when they are grayed down rather than bright.
- Deep, dark colors: navy, charcoal or forest green can feel enveloping and cozy, especially behind the bed, if the room has enough light during the day.
Very bright, saturated reds and yellows are energizing, which is the opposite of what most people want before sleep.
Consider the light
North-facing bedrooms look cooler and grayer, so choose warmer versions of your color. South-facing rooms handle cooler tones well. Look at samples under the lamps you use at night, because bedrooms are often seen in artificial light.
Small bedrooms
Light colors reflect more light, which can make a small room feel more open. Paint the walls and trim in the same light color to blur edges. But a small room painted entirely in a dark color can also feel intentional and cozy; what makes a small room feel cramped is usually clutter, not the paint. More tricks are in how to make a small room feel more spacious.
Children’s rooms
Choose a calm base color for the walls and bring brighter colors through bedding, rugs and art, which are easy to change as children grow. Use washable paint. One accent wall or a painted shape is a fun compromise.
Don’t forget the ceiling
A ceiling in a very light tint of the wall color, rather than pure white, makes the room feel more finished. A darker ceiling can make a large, tall room feel more intimate.
Test before committing
Paint large samples on two walls and look at them in the morning and at night for a few days. Adjust one shade lighter or darker if needed.
Which finish?
Matte or eggshell is soft and hides imperfections; choose a scrubbable formula in kids’ rooms. Finishes are compared in which paint finish to use. The rest of the room is covered in how to create a cozy and inviting bedroom.
