Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t just about what you eat before bed or how luxurious your sheets feel — your bedroom’s color palette can play a surprisingly powerful role in overall sleep quality. Color has a well-documented psychological impact on mood and relaxation, and the hues surrounding you at night can either soothe your senses or subtly keep your mind alert. In this post, we’ll explore seven bedroom colors and explain how each one can help create a calmer, more sleep-friendly space.
Powder Blue
Blue is often said to be the most calming color. While there are many different types of blue that you can choose from, many decor experts recommend powder blue – it’s the color of a clear sky and studies show that blue can help lower blood pressure.
Sage Green
We tend to associate greens with nature and growth. Sage green can bring the peace of a forest stroll to your bedroom. It’s an excellent color choice for urban dwellers who may want to contrast their grey outside environment with something that feels more rural and lush.
Greige
Not quite gray, not quite beige – ‘greige’ is the ultimate chill pill. It absorbs light softly to create a neutral backdrop that doesn’t overwhelm the senses. You can paint your walls this color or add greige through accessories like window drapes and curtains.
White
Some people see white as boring, but in some ways this is what makes it so effective as a bedroom color. It’s a blank slate that doesn’t stir up any strong emotions, helping you to clear your mind before bed. Too much white could make your bedroom feel like a dentist’s office, so try to contrast it with some other colours such as greige or blue for a more tranquil feel.
Lavender
The scent of lavender is renowned for helping people to feel sleepy. However, the color lavender can also be soothing – it’s a pastel color, which gives it a muted feel. While some people see it as a feminine color, it’s become more a unisex tone in recent years. It can look particularly sophisticated when blended with grays.
Deep Purple
Deep purple is a color often associated with luxury, having once been a prime choice for royalty. It’s quite a dark color, which can help to block out light at night. Too much deep purple might give you room a Willy Wonka feel, so try to contrast it with whites or grays.
Blush Pink
Blush pink can provide a floral warmth without too much heat. It’s a nurturing color that is slightly deeper than baby pink while still providing that nursery-like sense of soothingness. If you don’t want to paint your walls pink, instead consider using it for bedding and curtains, using gray or white to contrast it.
Which Colors Should You Avoid?
While you’re free to choose any color in your bedroom, you should be careful of hot vibrant colors like coral, sunny yellow and hot pink – these may energize you rather than making you feel sleepy. Cooler colors and pastel colors tend to be best suited for the bedroom.