The most calming colours for your bedroom
We all know that sleep is important but how many of us are providing ourselves with the optimum environment to do so? There has been lots of information shared in recent years about the impact of your phone in your bedroom and how looking at it or any blue light before going to sleep can reduce your ability to switch off and sleep straight after. But aside from your putting your phone in a different room, there are lots of other things that you can can do to create a peaceful, calm environment to set yourself up for a good quality, restful night’s sleep. And we’re talking about your décor – the right colour palette in your bedroom can not only enhance relaxation, it can help to reduce stress and ultimately provide an atmosphere conducive to sleep. In this guide, we’ll look at the most calming bedroom colours.
The psychology of colour – what colours are the most calming?
Colours can evoke a whole range of emotions, and if you’re trying to create a restful environment, it makes sense to choose a bedroom colour which will emanate a feeling of calm, to help you unwind and have a restorative night’s sleep.
Bold colours such as red, bright pink and teal are all lovely in their own right and can work well in your interior but are usually kept out of the bedroom due to their intensity. Red is strong, almost urgent colour and is
Calm colours tend to be softer shades. In the psychology of colour, blue and green are believed to be the most calming. Both connecting you to nature, greens such as sage create a serene ambience, while blues can provide a feeling of tranquillity.
If you feel happy when you’re beside water, such as oceans, lakes or rivers, it’s stated you have a ‘blue mind’ (coined by marine biologist Wallace J Nichols), meaning that water calms you and promotes a sense of mindfulness. And you don’t have to even be by the water – just looking at something blue can evoke the same emotions.
Pastel pinks can evoke feelings of calm and peace, it’s a nurturing, inviting colour that isn’t harsh, it welcomes you into the space.
Neutral shades such as off whites and light greys also promote feelings of tranquility and relaxation, with their simplicity giving other elements of your room chance to shine.
Certain colours have even been shown to help you sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, blues, greens and whites are believed to be the best bedroom colours for sleep – particularly lighter, more subtle shades.
How to incorporate calming colours into your bedroom
There are lots of different ways to introduce a calmer palette into your bedroom – most of which can be relatively easy to implement.
Let’s start with your bedroom walls. A cost effective and simple way to transform your bedroom, painting your walls in a pastel green, blue, pink etc can immediately change the ambience of your space. If you’re not ready to paint all your walls, you can start with one wall and always do more at a later date. Before committing to a new colour, order some samples and paint them on pieces of paper which you can put against your wall before painting it on.
Furniture is also a fantastic way to introduce calming colours to your space. A sage green velvet accent or bedroom chair is a subtle and stylish way to bring this serene shade into your room, and what better than to use it to create a cosy reading nook?
It’s not just chairs. As the largest piece of furniture in your bedroom, your bed is a great way to create a sense of calm. A fabric headboard gives you plenty of options when it comes to colour and material – with a plethora of neutral shades to choose from, including greys, browns and creams, alongside greens and blues and pinks.
Furniture and walls can feel like a big step – if it’s too overwhelming, then accessories are the way to go. You can start with art – either through your picture frames or the art itself and consider other items, such as a rug, curtains, cushions and bedding.
What colours will complement your calm bedroom colours?
Once you’ve decided on your primary colour for your bedroom, the next job is to work our what colours will complement them.
As the overall ambition for the room is to create a calm, relaxing atmosphere, your secondary colours should reinforce that aesthetic. Pastels can work beautifully together, while white is known for its versatility and ability to complement all other colours on the wheel. Textures can play an important role too – wood provide a natural complement to blues, greens and pinks, soft neutral wools and linen throws again will work well with a whole range of colours.
Before making that first move, putting together a mood board of your primary bedroom colour, accessories, materials and secondary colours will help you to see if it all works together or anything jars, and will save you from making any costly mistakes.
Ultimately, colour really does make a difference to the mood and ambience in your room, and in your bedroom, that really does matter. Enjoy the process of pulling it all together, and most importantly, enjoy a good night’s sleep!
