How to Select Bedroom Colors That Promote Better Sleep

Your bedroom’s color scheme can play a significant role in improving your sleep quality. Colors can influence mood and stress levels, which ultimately affects how well you rest. By choosing the right tones, you can create a soothing environment conducive to relaxation. Here’s how to select bedroom colors that foster better sleep:

1. Consider the Temperature of Colors

• Warm Colors: These colors—like red, orange, and bright yellows—tend to be stimulating and energizing. They can increase alertness and potentially disrupt sleep.
• Cool Colors: Blue, green, violet, and gray tones tend to have a calming effect. They’re often the go-to for a serene bedroom environment as they help create a tranquil and restful atmosphere.

If cool tones don’t suit your taste, softer and lighter warm hues—such as soft yellow, peach, or pale pink—can also be soothing without being overly stimulating.

2. Stick to Darker, Richer Hues

• For a romantic or relaxing ambiance, darker colors like deep navy, charcoal, olive, or violet can enhance the calming vibe of the room. Interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn recommends muted colors like blue-gray or celery tones for tranquility.
• Dark colors tend to recede, adding depth to the room while promoting a sense of coziness and intimacy.

Example Palettes:

• Cyberspace (Sherwin-Williams)

• Rich Navy (Glidden Premium)

• Krypton (Sherwin-Williams)

3. Opt for Serene and Muted Tones

• Kimberly Ayres, interior designer, advocates for soft color combinations like duck-egg blue and champagne to evoke serenity and happiness. These colors are calming yet joyful, promoting restfulness. When choosing any color, ensure it’s a muted version of the hue to avoid overwhelming your senses.
• Adding layers through textures like velvet, faux fur, or wool, and accent pieces such as throw pillows or area rugs, can further create a restful environment.

Example Palettes:

• Simply White (Benjamin Moore)

• Bird’s Egg (Benjamin Moore)

• Champagne (Sherwin-Williams)

4. Keep it Timeless

• Grant K. Gibson, interior designer, suggests going for neutral colors in the bedroom for a timeless, classic look. Neutral tones are versatile and avoid the risk of following fleeting trends. Keeping the walls simple allows you to introduce fun colors and textures through bedding, throw pillows, and decorative items. A neutral foundation also helps keep the room calm and relaxed.

Example Palettes:

• Cotton Ball (Behr Home Decorators Collection)

• Creamy (Sherwin-Williams)

Final Tip:

While the color of your bedroom walls is important, the overall atmosphere should feel relaxing. By choosing soothing, muted tones or dark, calming hues, you can design a bedroom that enhances sleep quality and promotes a peaceful rest.