Bedroom Colors

Choosing colors for bedroom walls, bedding, furniture, window treatments and accessories is a very personal matter.

When selecting your bedroom colors, you may first want to consider the mood you want the decor to produce.

The effect of color on the mind is quite an interesting subject and the psychology of color has been widely researched and the results show that color has a profound effect on our thoughts, perceptions and interactions.

It seems that in China, for example, red tends to elicit a feeling of calm, while in America red is a color associated with aggression.

For most people, the bedroom is a place for privacy, harmony and relaxation. And, of course, you want master bedroom colors that feel cozy and romantic!

Also, it is important to consider the tone and shade of colors, as well as the use of texture and patterns, which can have more impact on the mood your bedroom evokes than just the colors themselves.

Finally, you have the final say! No matter what experts or research indicates about color psychology, you are the person whose mind will be most affected by the colors you choose for your bedroom and only you can truly know and understand the feelings different colors evoke for yourself.

Matching Your Bedroom Colors and Decor

While psychology and picking feng shui bedroom colors should factor into your decisions, it is also important to think about the overall decor of your bedroom.

If you have the luxury of starting with a blank slate, then you can choose a bedroom set and accessorize to match your color choices.

But most of the time you might be remodeling or moving into a new home and already have existing bedroom furniture and other decor items to consider. Selling or donating old furniture and replacing it may be another option to consider if you want a fresh look.

If you try to force bright colors to work in a French country decor, for example, you are just asking for trouble.

On the other hand, if your bedroom decor is distinctly tropical or Hawaiian, then using a color scheme that is too neutral could also be problematic.

Neutral Tones

The growing trend in bedroom wall colors is toward neutral tones; tans and medium to rich browns are very popular, evoking an “earthier” image than brighter hues.

Neutral colors are a very good primary color choice for the bedroom since they can always be mixed with green, blue, gold or red accent colors. By using these accent colors for bedding and accessory items, you will be able to switch accent colors and alter the mood of your bedroom seasonally or whenever you want a fresh new look.

Gray is a shade you might want to avoid since it can evoke feelings of sadness, depression or a battleship; probably not the mood or images you want in your bedroom!

Cool Tones

Using cool paint colors for bedroom will help make the room seem slightly bigger and give your bedroom an airier feeling.

Colors like green, blue, green or lavender work well in many bedrooms. Blues and greens, which are associated with the sea and sky, can help evoke a sense of serenity and tranquility in the bedroom.

Pastel pinks, lavenders and purples can also work for bedroom walls, especially if you are decorating a little girl’s room. Use these colors if you want a more feminine room decor.

Warm Tones

Vibrant reds, yellows and oranges can energize a bedroom, helping revitalize you in the morning when you wake from bed and are surrounded by bright color.

These brighter colors also work well when painting a boy’s bedroom walls. If you want to infuse a more youthful touch to your bedroom, warmer, brighter colors may be the way to go.

Warm hues can also create a calm and relaxed mood, if the right tones and shades are selected.

Consider warm hues like peach, burnt orange or buttercup gold, using lighter or pastel shades rather than deeper or brighter shades.

Tips on How to Choose Bedroom Colors

• Use sample colors, painting swatches of each on your walls before making final selection. Give yourself a couple of days to consider the color swatches in different lighting conditions and times of day to see how they affect your mood and fit in with your bedroom design.
• Be careful with the intensity of your color choices. If you want to use bolder shades, try using them as accent colors rather than your primary bedroom wall color.
• Be sure you and your partner are in agreement; while he might have first choice on the colors he wants for the den or game room and she might pick the kitchen color palette, the bedroom is one place where both partner should definitely be in agreement.
• Use accessories like plants, throws, and chairs to continue your color scheme throughout the room.
• Mixing colors will bring a more natural feeling to your room. Use pale or pastel colors on your walls, ceiling and carpet, and brighter colors with dark trim for curtains and upholstery.
• If budget is tight, you can always to with white on white, which can create an airy and ethereal look that many people find calming. Pastel window blinds, throws and pillows can add a splash of color.
• Use more vivid colors in a child’s bedroom. For more ideas on decorating kids’ rooms, read our stories on Boys Room Decorating Ideas and Decorating a Girl’s Bedroom.