Great Bedroom Paint Colors
The Best Color to Paint Your Bedroom for Better Sleep, According to Sleep and Design Experts
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Choosing a paint color is about so much more than just aesthetics. When you're flipping through paint swatches, it's also important to consider how you want to feel in that room. Take your bedroom, for example. While your personal space is a great opportunity to showcase your unique personality, it's just as important that your design choices — including paint colors — should be functional, too. Especially when your goal is to create a sanctuary for rest and relaxation.
Sue Peacock, a UK-based psychologist who specializes in sleep, says how a room looks can directly impact how you feel. "Colors may affect you psychologically, including your ability to sleep," she says. "Some colors may evoke relaxation, while others stimulate your mind and make you more awake."
While certain colors may align with psychological principles for inducing rest, not everyone experiences colors the same way. For example, Tamra Fuscaldo, the director of interior design at M+A Architects, says neurodiverse individuals may process harsher hues more intensely, in a way that stimulates the autonomic nervous system. Your body and mind are unique, and the goal is to choose colors that feel soothing to you individually. "It's important to think of bedrooms as a 'sanctuary space,' where we feel safe and protected," Fuscaldo says.
A Fail-Safe Color for Rest: Blue
While your personal preference certainly plays a role in what'll help you relax before bed, there's one color that stands out above the rest if your goal is a good night's sleep: blue. "Not only is it more muted, but blue tones also tend to have more calming effects on the brain," Peacock says. For example, blue has been shown in research to reduce respiration and heart rate, which is great for drifting off to sleep. While all shades of blue can evoke a tranquil atmosphere, Peacock suggests sticking with lighter shades on your bedroom walls for the best sleep-inducing effect.
Sleep psychologist and sleep coach Katherine Hall, who works with Somnus Therapy, agrees. Light blue, she says, is scientifically associated with creating feelings of calmness and serenity. "Studies have also shown that households with blue bedrooms sleep the best compared to any other color!" she notes.
While blue is the number one choice for cultivating a relaxing environment, another color isn't too far off: Because green can be reminiscent of nature, Peacock says it may put you in a relaxing mood. Opt for soft and natural sage green tones to lull you to sleep, or choose a blue-green option to combine that ocean-like tranquility with those natural vibes.
The Best Blues and Greens for Your Space
Not all blues and greens will have the same psychological effect, so it's important to choose paint colors that actually look and feel peaceful. Alice Chiu, a San Francisco-based interior designer and principal at Miss Alice Designs, calls out Sherwin-Williams' Hazel 6471, a beautiful shade of blue-green, as one that is perfect for the bedroom. Not only will the color's soothing tones help you unwind for bedtime; it can also help your bedroom feel larger because it naturally brightens up the space with its vibrancy.
Not totally ready to shift gears from a neutral to a color? Aim for a neutral with bluish tones. As an alternative, Chiu suggests Benjamin Moore's Gray Owl OC-52, a clean and refreshing gray that can display a blue or green undertone depending on the natural light in your bedroom and the surrounding furniture and materials. "It's the perfect gray that works with any style from traditional to modern, creating a relaxing and calm look and feel," she says.
Are there any colors interior experts would avoid using in the bedroom?
As a rule of thumb, experts believe it's best to avoid overly vibrant colors in bedrooms, including loud reds and oranges. (Mr. Big's bedroom wall in the original "Sex and the City"? We're looking at you.) Hall says the brain associates red tones with intensity, passion, war, and danger, which aren't exactly conducive to sleep. "Research suggests that red can increase your fight-or-flight instinct, making you more alert and aware of your surroundings," Peacock adds.
Similarly, Peacock says bright or neon pinks and purples may also be too stimulating when you're winding down for sleep. And while dark grays and browns might feel earthy at first, Peacock says they can evoke feelings of uncertainty that may make sleep difficult. Listen to your body's cues — if you're set on creating a jewel-box space in your bedroom, you can always paint it over if you find that it doesn't work.
Ashley Abramson
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Ashley Abramson is a writer-mom hybrid in Minneapolis, MN. Her work, mostly focused on health, psychology, and parenting, has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, Allure, and more. She lives in the Minneapolis suburbs with her husband and two young sons.
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Source: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/best-bedroom-paint-colors-36956260
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