What are the best bedroom colours for sleep?

Have you ever found that you feel noticeably more comfortable when you step into certain rooms? This can be because of the calming atmosphere that some colours can emit. In fact, a few colours can help you relax and help you fall asleep. 

Spring is often the time of year when we think about refreshing and redecorating, so if you are planning a new look for your bedroom, it’s a good idea to plan your colour scheme, especially your bedroom walls, around calming colours. So, which are the best bedroom colours for sleep? 

Blue

This colour is associated with calm and relaxation. Our brain is naturally responsive to this colour due to ganglion cells. These cells pick up all the information from your surroundings and send chemical signals to the hypothalamus – the part of our brain responsible for producing melatonin, the ‘sleep hormone’.

Yellow

Softer shades of yellow can create a soothing atmosphere and help eliminate any stress to promote a good night’s rest. Bright yellow is associated with energy, so go for lighter shades that are more relaxing.  

Green

Like the blue, the colour green induces a sense of calm and tranquillity due to its non-stimulating quality. However, opting for greens with a blue undertone rather than a brighter yellow is important as the latter can make you feel active and energetic. 

Silver

If you want something out-of-the-box yet soothing, then silver is one of the best bedroom paint colours. It can soothe your mind and make you feel calmer – but opt for a matte silver colour rather than a shiny one. 

White

One of the best colours for sleep is white. It is neutral and comes with no frills attached. This doesn’t distract you and can help you calm your mind, which is essential for a good night’s rest. This is one of the reasons why most hotels and resorts opt for white as it is the calming best bedroom colour for sleep. There are many shades of white, just-off whites and pale ivories to choose from but make sure you opt for matte rather than glossy whites.

Beige

Like white, this is a distraction-free and neutral colour that is calming for the mind. It seamlessly blends with any decor style and creates a great space for relaxation.

Orange (Pale)/Light Brown

Soft oranges or tan browns creates a beachy or earthy vibe, restful for those who want to envisage chilling out on their favourite beach or woodlands. Choose soft oranges with brown undertones, such as terracotta, instead of something bright. Gentle earthy colours that are not too dark makes you feel peaceful and so are perfect for sleep.

Pink

Pink is very much a ‘marmite’ colour – some love it and others avoid it! However, before you cross it off your list, we are mentioning it because soft pinks can be restful and yet lift your spirits (without feeling energetic).  

What colours are best avoided if you want a chilled bedroom vibe?

Red

Red is a vibrant colour that can instantly fill you with energy. A study carried out in recent years showed that red elevates brain activity and boosts alertness. So red can be a great colour for your workspace at home or in your office but not if you want more restful nights.

Dark Purple

This colour comes with red undertones and so can have a similar effect as the colour red. While purple, can look luxurious, with all its associations with royalty, it is best kept for living rooms or studies, and left out of the bedroom.

Dark Brown

Whilst tan or light brown walls can help create a relaxing space for sleep, dark brown can be a rather gloomy colour. It can also create a restless environment where your spirits are not feeling very lifted.

Black

Whilst considered striking in some rooms, black can create an absence of any atmosphere in a bedroom and research has shown it can make you feel restless and glum.

Orange (Bright)

As mentioned earlier in this blog, a soft pale orange can help to induce relaxation and sleep. However, that is not the case with bright orange walls as they have red undertones and can therefore have a similar effect as red.

The Science Behind Colour

To define colour according to physics, every colour is linked to certain electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength visible to the naked eye. There are three primary colours, and when mixed with each other they produce vibrant, beautiful hues. Combining balanced amounts of red, green and blue light also produces pure white. Colours are said to influence your psychology and there is a branch of the study of colour known as ‘Colour Science’.

The human eye and brain work together to translate light into colour. Light receptors at the back of the eye transmit messages to the brain, which produces a unique signal for each colour. Sir Isaac Newton observed that colour is not inherent in objects. Instead, the surface of an object reflects some colours and absorbs the others. We can perceive the reflected colours only. Black absorbs all colours equally and reflects none, so it looks black to us. 

New Bedroom...Treat yourself to new bedding

If you are planning a bedroom refresh, then it’s also a good time to think about new bedding. The type of bedding you choose can also impact on the quality of your sleep. At Devon Duvets, we’ve been individually handcrafting natural and sustainable luxurious 100% British wool bedding in our Devon workshops for over 16 years. Temperature regulating, dust mite resistant and created with just the right drape, our duvets offer the perfect combination of cosiness and comfort to ease you into blissful slumber. 

Bliss for Bedrooms...

For that extra special pre bedtime chill out time, take a look at our beautiful range of Cherish Nature candles, wax melts and air parfums – all chemical-free and individually hand blended in Devon, using pure essential oils. Discover more about Cherish Nature, the sister company to Devon Duvets - and read our bedtime story The Enchanted Dream Box.

Refs: Sleep Foundation, National Library of Medicine, Britannica.