What Color Should I Paint My Bedroom?

Did you just get a new home and are wondering what color would best suit your bedroom? Or perhaps you’ve gotten tired of the old paint in your bedroom and want to repaint? Whatever the case may be, the question “what color should I paint my bedroom?” is one that we often get. And so, in this article, we’re going to answer that question. 

What Color Should I Paint My Bedroom
Photo by Rune Enstad on Unsplash

Now, for you to be able to pick the best paint colors for your bedroom, you have to answer some questions for yourself.

The answer you give to these questions would help narrow down your paint colors. This would make it easier for you to pick one. 

Questions To Ask Yourself First — What Color Should I Paint My Bedroom

What Mood Are You Going For?

There is a boatload to talk about when it comes to the psychology of colors and we’re going to go into them later on in this article.

However, before we get there, you first need to understand what mood you want to create in your bedroom, what you want to feel.

Do you want your bedroom to reek of elegance and poise? Or would you prefer something that’s more warm, soothing, and has a warm feel? Do you want something that’s really vibrant and playful? Or something that’s dull and only reminds you of sleep?

Once you’ve found this out, write it down somewhere or make a mental note of it. Later on in this article, we’ll look at the psychology of colors. This would help you pick a color based on the mood you’ve just decided. 

Will You Be Staying Alone In That Bedroom?

Another question you need to ask yourself is whether you’re the only person that’s going to be living in that room.

If you’re not the only one who is going to be living in that bedroom, perhaps you have a partner or a roommate, then you need to ask them what they want. 

Yes, it’s possible for you to split the bedroom into two different colors. However, asking them beforehand will ensure that you both do not pick two colors that do not complement each other. 

What Time Of The Day Are You Mostly In The Room?

This is an important question to answer as colors do not appear the same way in the morning and at night.

So, while a certain color such as red might be too stimulating in the morning, its muted and dulled appearance in the night is definitely a good choice for many people. 

The Psychology Of Colors — What Color Should I Paint My Bedroom

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

Before we look at individual colors, here’s a brief overview of how colors affect us psychologically. Lighter colors bring a feeling of expansion and airiness. They make your room seem brighter and larger than it actually is. 

On the other hand, the darker colors in the bedroom are much more related to sophistication and a warm feel. Even when used in a large room, dark colors can create an intimate feeling and bring a certain smallness to the bedroom. 

With that said, let’s have a quick look at some individual colors and how they affect us. But before we go into that, it is important that we mention that this is only an umbrella. Human beings are very different and as such, these things would vary slightly from person to person. 

So, the best thing for you to do is to browse through colors whether online or with magazines. Look closely at the colors and note how each color affects you, what emotions and feelings they spring up and which ones you preferred over the other. That should help you decide what paint colors are best for your bedroom.

However, if you do not have the time, the brief overview we’ll be bringing you should suffice.

Red

Red is a very bright and vibrant color and so when used in a room, it helps to raise the energy level of the room. Red is the most intense color you can find out there. Because of this, it fires up adrenaline more than any other color. 

This is why red is used as a sign of danger and for the lights of emergency vehicles. It helps to spike adrenaline levels, evoking a sense of urgency and heightened activity. In fact, scientifically, red has been proven to increase the speed of respiration, heightened blood pressure, and spike heart rates. 

Because of this, red is usually avoided in the bedroom. This is because it is usually too stimulating for somewhere that should be considered a place of rest and relaxation. 

However, as we mentioned earlier, if you’re going to only see the color at night, then it is totally fine. Red would appear dull and muted at night which is not so stimulating. In fact, at this time, the red color will, in fact, appear very elegant and sophisticated. 

Yellow

“I’m walking on sunshine, oh, oh” Lol, yes. Yellow definitely connotes sunshine which in turn gives off happy vibes. Is there anything that can cause more happiness than the bright yellow sun on your skin on a beach in the summer? Exactly!

Bright yellow is an excellent choice for the home. Places like dining rooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms can benefit from this color. This is because it’s uplifting and energizing, fun color.

However, much like red, it is quite too stimulating to be the main color of your bedroom. In fact, research has shown that you are more likely to lose your temper in a room with a yellow interior. Babies have also been known to cry more when placed in yellow rooms. 

Blue

Blue is kind of like the opposite of red in this sense. It slows down respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure. It’s considered more relaxing, calming, and serene. This is why it is highly recommended for bedrooms. 

Don’t be scared when you look at the color on a paint chart because it can definitely come off as chilly. However, when used on the walls of a room that receives sunlight,  light/bright blue tones can help balance out the warmness of the surrounding. 

However, if you want something even more relaxing, then go for a warmer blue shade, periwinkle or turquoise. Ensure that you don’t use dark as they make you feel sad.

Green 

Just like the sight of trees give us a feeling of tranquility, peace, and stillness, so does the color green. In fact, green is known as the most “restful color”. Green can be used in any room of the home to provide that restful and peaceful state. 

Because of their calming effects, combining blue and green is a great idea. In fact, some people believe that the color green helps fertility, although it’s not scientifically proven. But however, that shows great promise in the bedroom because you know what *wink*.

Purple

Dark shades of purple exude sophistication and wealth. It is usually known as the color of royalty and in colors, it’s no different. However, it’s best used as an accent color, or secondary color to give more life to the primary colors (blue and green). 

On the other hand, lighter shades of purple such as lilac and lavender, have their characteristics much closer to that of blue. They provide that restful nature and warmness without you ever giving you chilly vibes. 

Orange

Orange is made by a combination of yellow and red. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise to us that this bright color is way too energetic and fun to be used as a primary color in the bedroom.

Orange is best for children’s fun rooms, exercise rooms, and other areas where a lot of activity takes place, no bedrooms. 

Neutrals

Rust-Oleum 285141 Ultra Matte Interior Chalked Paint 30 oz,  Country Gray

The neutral colors we’re looking at in this case are: white, black, grey, and brown. Now all these colors are used in bedrooms at your own discretion.

On one extreme, white creates a feeling of openness and airiness. It’ll make your room look sterile and numb. However, most minimalists tend to go for white, black, and other monochrome colors.

On the other extreme, going full black should only be accepted if your bedroom is the bat cave. Everything else in the middle is absolutely fine and you’ll have to determine what works best for you individually. 

Conclusion — What Color Should I Paint My Bedroom

If you’re a newbie when it comes to painting bedrooms, check out our article on How To Paint A Bedroom. It contains all the essential tips you’ll need to paint your bedroom and home by yourself, as a complete novice.