What Paint Colours Are Best For a Bedroom?

Introduction

Choosing paint colours for a bedroom may seem simple, but the colours you select can have a major impact on the overall feel of the space. From influencing emotions to tricks that visually change room dimensions, paint colour is key to creating your ideal sleeping sanctuary.

Beyond just personal preferences, factors like room size, natural light, and desired atmosphere should all inform your bedroom colour choices. By understanding the psychology of colour and techniques that play with perception, you can curate the perfect colour scheme. 

Let's explore popular paint colours for bedrooms and how they shape the vibe of your space.

The Psychology of Colours in Bedrooms

Colour psychology suggests bedroom hues directly impact relaxation, sleep quality, and even intimacy levels. Certain shades are known to evoke calmness or energy, while others feel warm or cool. Consider the emotions you want to experience in your bedroom, and choose colours aligned to that mood.

Influencing Relaxation and Sleep

Cool, soft blues and greens have tranquil properties to promote deep sleep and relaxation. Warm yellows and oranges, on the other hand, are more energising so better suit morning people. For couples sharing a bedroom, compromise on tones acceptable to both parties.

Cultural and Personal Associations

Bedroom colours may have personal, cultural, or symbolic meaning. For example, white and blue are linked to purity in some cultures, while red can symbolise passion. Remember your colour associations are unique when selecting bedroom shades.

The psychology of colour is highly subjective. It's perfectly acceptable to simply choose tones you find beautiful or uplifting, regardless of broader meanings.

Paint Colours to Make a Small Bedroom Look Bigger

Strategic paint colours can visually expand a cramped bedroom. Here are hues that make small rooms feel more spacious:

Light Neutral Tones

Pale beige, off-white, and light greys reflect light to create an airy, expansive look. Avoid going too stark white, which can feel sterile. Warm off-whites like Almond Wisp or Swiss Coffee open up the space.

Soft Pastel Shades

Delicate pastel pinks, lavenders and muted blues subtly brighten a room. The lighter value and less saturation prevents closing in the space. Stick to pastel hues – vivid ones overwhelm a small room.



Cool Colour Tones

Light to mid-range blues, greens, and violets can recede, giving the illusion of added space. Deep jewel tones of the same colours will make walls seem nearer, though. Sage, sea foam, and robin's egg blue work well.

Painting the ceiling a lighter tone than walls also adds height to a low-ceilinged room.

Paint Colours to Make a Bedroom Look More Inviting

Certain shades inherently provide a welcoming, cosy appeal perfect for bedrooms. Some top options include:

Warm, Earthy Neutrals

Natural tones  like cream, camel, tan, and light brown have an organic feel. They remind us of sunlit sand, enveloping us in warmth. Accent walls in deeper camel or brown can anchor the space.

Burnt Oranges and Yellows

Burnt orange, ochre, amber – these shades bring to mind images of flickering candlelight or cozying up next to a fireplace. Coupled with textiles in earth tones, you get a welcoming nest.

Terracottas and Burnt Reds

For an elegant, vintage look, rich terracotta is perfect. Deep maroon and brick reds also provide plush, welcoming depth ideal for bedrooms. Just ensure adequate lighting, as these tones can get dark.

Paint Colours to Make a Bedroom Feel More Spacious

Don't have an expansive master suite? Certain paint techniques can make bedrooms visually larger:

Monochromatic Colour Schemes

Painting a bedroom in varying tones of a single colour – lighter on walls and darker on accents – creates depth that makes rooms feel bigger. Grey, blue and green lend themselves well to this technique.

Reflective and Gloss Finishes

Semi-gloss or high-gloss paint has a reflective, mirror-like quality that bounces light around. This makes walls seem further away. Use gloss finishes strategically – like only on an accent wall.



Neutral Ceilings and Trim

Painting ceilings and trim a bright white, while walls are a darker neutral shade, fools the eye by extending lines and boundaries. The contrast also adds dimension.

Paint Colours to Make a Bedroom Feel Airy

Some hues simply evoke feelings of openness, light, and fresh air. Try these airy paint colours in bedrooms:

Clean Whites and Off-whites

Stark bright white can feel harsh. Opt instead for soft off-whites like Alabaster, Vanilla Milkshake, or Whisper White to get an illuminated feel. Accent walls in deeper tones prevent too much whiteout.

Light Blue and Green Tones

Pale sky blue, mint, and seafoam conjure up imagery of water and open skies. These brisk, ethereal tones make small spaces feel expansive and free. Robin's egg blue is a popular choice.

Barely-There Neutrals

The slightest tint of colour in an otherwise neutral backdrop can make a room airy without overwhelming it. Barely Pink, Hint of Pale, and Wisp of Lime give a breathable quality.

Paint Colours to Make a Bedroom Feel Cozy

For a snug, enveloping ambiance perfect for sleeping, consider warm deep hues like:

Rich Blues and Greens

Deep shades like forest, emerald, or navy blue absorb light, creating an intimate cocooning effect. Accent walls in these mystic tones lend character. Just ensure adequate artificial lighting.

Plush Purples and Reds

Eggplant, burgundy, maroon – these lush shades wrap you in luxury. Their inherent depth provides a dramatic yet cosy tone. Don't overdo it on all walls – better on accents.

Chocolate Browns

Deep coffee, chocolate, and cocoa brown hues feel decadent and enveloping, like a comfy leather sofa. Brown's work well for masculine-themed bedrooms.

Paint Colours to Make a Bedroom Feel Modern

Contemporary bedrooms require paint shades that feel fresh and current. Some options:

Bold Accent Colours

Expressive accent walls in vibrant jewel tones, charcoal grey or near-black make a dramatic style statement. Favourites like Kelly green, crimson and sapphire blue pack visual punch.

Metallic Finishes

For a seriously modern edge, metallics like champagne gold, bronze and pewter provide depth with a hint of glam. Bronze works well with concrete grey and charcoal tones. Metallic paints add cost but impressive style.

Vivid Art Palette Colours

Drawing inspiration from modern art palettes, citrus brights, plum, parakeet green and canary yellow all make vibrant, energetic accents. Just use sparingly to avoid sensory overload.

Conclusion

The perfect bedroom paint ultimately comes down to the desired mood, room dimensions, and personal tastes. Warm hues make bedrooms more inviting, while cool tones feel relaxing and airy. 

Monochromatic schemes and reflective finishes expand small spaces.

No universal formula guarantees bedroom painting success. Focus on how you want the room to make you feel when selecting soothing, uplifting shades. 

Sample painted swatches on walls before fully committing. With some thoughtful colour psychology and experimentation, you can curate the ideal bedroom colour palette.