The Psychology Behind Color
While color preference is a deeply personal thing, research has shown that there are certain universal truths that seem to emerge when it comes to color and how it affects us. Warm colors provide feelings of safety, comfort, and even energy. While cooler hues provide feelings of peace, gentleness and a connection with the outdoors. As you're deciding on colors for your bedroom, it's important to consider how the colors make you and others feel.
Things to Consider When Choosing Bedroom Paint Colors
Colors come in three different tones that evoke different feelings psychologically.
- Warm Tones: Shades with warm red tones give off impressions of heat, comfort, passion and energy. Warm tones have long wavelengths on the color spectrum so they do a lot to stand out on the eyes.
- Cool Tones: Shades with cool blue tones relay emotions of cold, calm, healing and tranquility. Cooler tones have short wavelengths on the spectrum so they're not as busy on the eyes compared to warm tones.
- Neutral Tones: Colors with neither cool nor warm tones are considered neutral. These are very appealing colors as they blend in nicely with any secondary color you might consider. Depending on the color used, neutral tones can express either comforting or invigorating emotions.
While colors such as orange are considered warm, it's possible to have a warm, cool or even neutral orange. Warm orange leans closer to yellow on the spectrum while cool orange is closer to red — making it resemble a pink or coral color.
Searching for a specific paint color? No worries. Bring a picture or sample to your nearest Lowe's for free computerized paint matching and custom color mixing.
What's the Best Paint Color for Bedrooms?
Color is a subjective topic that comes down to personal taste. Though if you're looking for color ideas that are appropriate for a bedroom, its purpose is unique compared to other rooms of the home — such as the kitchen. You want to feel energized when waking up in the morning and later want to relax into a restful sleep at night, meaning you'd like both feelings of calmness and energy, but at different times of the day.
Neutral shades of blue, brown, tan or gray make for nice dominant colors in bedrooms as they come with both cool and warm traits. From there, you can add accent colors to complement your first color choice. One or two accent colors will give your bedroom personality without clashing with the main color.
What Colors Are Best for Sleeping?
If sleeping is your most important factor, make your bedroom blue. This color is scientifically proven to be the most relaxing choice for bedrooms. When eyes see blue it sends signals to the brain to make sleepers feel more at ease and restful.
What Colors Are Best for Happiness?
Your paint colors can also encourage is happiness or optimism. Waking up to a soft yellow will certainly start you off in the right mood and help you prepare for the day ahead.
Clever Bedroom Paint Color Ideas for Inspiration
Neutral Tones
Neutral tones throughout the room equal warmth and coziness. Accentuate the warmth with an earth-tone color palette throughout for a touch of romantic splendor. Walls: Valspar® Tempered Grey (# 4004-1A).
Blush Boho Chic
Warm pink walls bring understated softness to the room, while the window framed in a cool gray with taupe undertones lends an earthy feel. Wall: HGTV Home® by Sherwin-Williams Charming Pink (HGSW2047); right wall: Valspar Greek Villa (HGSW4030); bay window: HGTV Home® by Sherwin-Williams Adaptive Shade.
Urban Industrial Orange
Gray walls and a subdued ceiling come together with a burnt orange hue, giving this bedroom a modern yet casual urban feel. Left wall: HGTV Home® by Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray (HGSW3477); right wall: HGTV Home® by Sherwin-Williams Armagnac (HGSW2103); ceiling: HGTV Home® by Sherwin-Williams Aesthetic White (HGSW4011).
Green Dreams
The clean, light lines of the wainscoting grab attention and contrast with the warmth of the mossy green wall. Upper wall: HGTV Home® by Sherwin-Williams Kale Green (HGSW6460); lower wall: Valspar Dover White (7002-7).
Industrial Revelation
Calming grays add a sophisticated touch to this minimalist master suite. Dark-stained pine planks on the ceiling flow into a gray faux concrete wall crafted of tinted joint compound. Floor: Valspar® Light Gray Satin Porch and Floor Paint (# 65735).
For more on how the accent wall was created, watch The Weekender: "The Industrial Revelation.”