The Best Calming Bedroom Colors

Your bedroom should be a sanctuary where you can relax and switch off at the end of a hard day, but when there’s a lot going on during a home renovation, the master bedroom can become an afterthought with other areas of your home taking priority. Well, let’s put an end to that. Today I am going to be talking about the best calming bedroom colors, so that you can create the perfect soothing space to retreat to at the end of the day.

The great thing about using color to decorate your bedroom is that it can make a big difference to the way your room feels, without the need to spend much money. Using the right colors in the right tones can have a massive impact on the way you feel when you are in the room, reducing your stress levels and helping you relax.

Before we look at the best colors for bedrooms, let’s just take a quick look at the Psychology behind each color, so you can decide what sort of feeling you want your bedroom to have.

Color Psychology – What Different Colors Mean

Different colors have the ability to impact the way that you feel, and whether they are used in wall colours, art, accessories or furniture, it’s worth thinking about the impact each color you use will have on your mood, and how they will work together. As well as considering the color you will use, you should also think about the tone and shade of the color, as it can make a huge difference to the way a color makes you feel.

Red

Red is a very stimulating color, so I don’t usually recommend it for bedrooms, since it can make it difficult to switch off after a hard day, and can even evoke feelings of anger and frustration. It’s not all bad though, Red can also promote feelings of lust, love, and excitement, it just needs to be used in the right place at the right time.

Yellow

Yellow is well known for being a ‘Happy’ color, but you need to make sure you get the shade right. If a yellow is too bright and bold it can feel aggressive and overwhelming, so if you are choosing the color yellow for a bedroom, go for a softer paler shade. The perfect shade of yellow can make you feel positive, happy, and energetic.

Green

The color Green has a strong connection to nature, so as humans we naturally feel more relaxed around this color. Green is also associated with safety, positivity and good luck, making soft shades of green ideal colors for a bedroom.

Blue 

Blue is without a doubt one of the most relaxing colors. It is often found in nature, (the sea and the sky, for example), and it evokes feelings of calmness and serenity, as well as coolness. Soft shades of blue with a hint of green are perfect for making a relaxing bedroom environment, whereas you may want to stay away from the cooler gray/blue hues, which may make the room feel dull and cold.

Pink

Depending on the shade of pink you decide to use, pink can make you feel passionate and energetic, or calm, nurturing and loving. Pink is feminine, caring, and romantic, so it’s an ideal color to use in a bedroom. 

Purple/Violet

Purple feels luxurious, magical, powerful, and creative, and is often associated with royalty. The right shades can be very calming and relaxing, making it a great choice of color for a master bedroom.

Brown

Brown is a very natural color, and is seen a lot in surrounding nature. It can be seen as very reliable and dependable, but it needs to be used carefully as large quantities can evoke feelings of isolation and emptiness. Lighter shades of brown such as beige can be more ideal for decorating as it work well with other colors.

Black

Black is a tricky one when it comes to decorating. On one hand it can feel luxurious and expensive, but if it’s not used in the right way it can lead to feelings of grief and fear, as it is frequently associated with death and mourning. In Feng Shui, Black can have a grounding effect and can bring on feelings of calmness, power, and creativity.

White

White signifies purity, innocence, sincerity, and happiness, making it the ideal colour for a calming bedroom. It can also be seen as cold and sterile, so if you’re using a lot of white in a bedroom be sure to make use of texture to add depth, and add in touches of another color/s you love.

The Best Calming Bedroom Colors for a Master Bedroom

1. White

White really is one of the most calming bedroom colors, and there are lots of beautiful shades of white to choose from, depending on the look you are going for. This white bedroom featured in Anthropologie looks so calm and serene, and the green from the plants break up the color adding interest to the space as well as providing another soothing accent color.

2. Mint Green

This muted minty green is the perfect relaxing color for bedroom walls, and it works so well against white giving a fresh breezy feel to the room.

** I have had a lot of messages asking what this colour is, I’m not 100% sure but I *think* it’s Soft Fauna 4 by Dulux. Here’s a link- hope it helps: https://www.dulux.co.uk/en/products/dulux-paint-mixing-matt/cccId_1187144*

3. Soft Pink

This Pink bedroom featured on MyDomaine is such a joyful space! Not only is the soft pink hue one of the most relaxing and calming bedroom colors, but the rust-orange bedding, wicker pendant light and woven run add warmth and depth to the space without making it feel cluttered.

4. Pale Blue

Shades of pale blue are perfect for creating a calming and serene master bedroom. This design by Erin @theheartandhaven uses a very pale blue with a hint of lilac which works well with the natural colors in the materials she has used to accessorize the room.

This design by Lily Bunn Interiors uses a soft blue with a hint of grey, which reminds me of an ocean breeze. This is a very soothing space with hints of creme and gold giving it a luxurious feel. I also used light blue for my own bedroom design, which you can see in my Desenio review.

5. Lilac

This Lilac bedroom designed by Larritt Evans is the perfect example of how the right shade of lilac in a bedroom can look modern and sophisticated. This soothing hue works so well in this simple design to create a memorable space without being childish or overbearing. It also works well if you’re looking to create a luxury bedroom design, and it matches the carpet beautifully! Carpet is one of the best bedroom flooring ideas if you want to create a luxe look.

Well there you have it, the top 5 calming bedroom colors for your master bedroom. Which one is your favorite?

Pssst… Need some more design inspiration? Check out my article on the best interior design books for beginners!

You also might enjoy my article on two-colour combinations for bedroom walls.

Emily Brookes
Emily Brookes

Emily Brookes is an Interior Designer based in the UK. Since graduating from the National Design Academy with a Bachelors Degree in Interior Design, Emily started her successful blog, Emily May Designs, which shares ideas and inspiration on how to create a beautiful home.

37 Comments

  1. annie
    February 6, 2020 / 12:28 am

    Great post, Emily and at the perfect time! My husband and I will be semi-renovating and refreshing our master suite at the end of this month. We’ve chosen fabrics but haven’t been able to decide on a wall color. As soon as I saw the muted mint against the other white walls, I knew I’d found the perfect color combination. When I showed the picture to him, he studied it for a moment and said, “that’s it!”. Thank you for helping to make what had been a tough decision easy for us. I’m so excited!

    • emily
      Author
      February 6, 2020 / 10:04 am

      That’s great! I’m so glad it helped you find the perfect colour! I would love to see pictures when it’s all finished! xx

  2. Reanne M
    September 8, 2020 / 3:16 am

    Hi there! Amazing post 🙂 Do you have any idea what the paint colour in the muted mint green and white room could be? The link doesn’t lead me to anything definitive and I’ve been having difficulty pinpointing a shade that would be similar and look as good against the white.

  3. Laura
    November 16, 2020 / 12:11 am

    I find lilacs and soft pink calming

  4. ashleigh allan
    November 16, 2020 / 8:40 am

    These all look great for calming I like them all

  5. Wayne Lee
    November 16, 2020 / 10:17 am

    Colours which are not too bright or strong as will attack the eyes

  6. justine meyer
    November 16, 2020 / 1:51 pm

    White is my calming colour if I could have everywhere white I would be very happy

  7. Linda Jones
    November 16, 2020 / 2:27 pm

    White is best, you can add colour with decorations

  8. Charlotte isobelle
    November 16, 2020 / 3:52 pm

    I love pastel colours, I think they are always calming even if you go for something out there.

  9. Annabel Greaves
    November 16, 2020 / 5:14 pm

    I find pastel colours relaxing

  10. Ellen Stafford
    November 16, 2020 / 6:11 pm

    I love a light yellow or light blue!

  11. Tracy Hanley
    November 16, 2020 / 7:49 pm

    I find shades purple very carming for me

  12. Helen Arlow
    November 16, 2020 / 8:01 pm

    I find white and turquoise are very relaxing colours x

  13. Andrea Fletcher
    November 16, 2020 / 8:11 pm

    I find pale pink or pale blue calming.

  14. Susie Wilkinson
    November 16, 2020 / 8:34 pm

    I love purples and greys, I find them really calming

  15. Sandra Bald
    November 16, 2020 / 8:36 pm

    I find Greens, blues, pinks, soft oranges and neutrals calming

  16. Heather Crowe
    November 16, 2020 / 9:58 pm

    Great post! I am in the process of trying to decide a bedroom color. I love blue tones with green, so calming but not sure about it in my bedroom, i’m so indecisive. x

  17. Sheena Batey
    November 16, 2020 / 10:06 pm

    Lilacs and blues but I also love a yellow it lifts my mood

  18. Jade
    November 17, 2020 / 4:07 am

    My calming colours are green and blue

  19. Leila Benhamida
    November 17, 2020 / 9:09 am

    Pale blue is very calming and a gorgeous colour.

  20. Ursula Hunt
    November 17, 2020 / 10:20 am

    I like a soft grey and pale green

  21. November 17, 2020 / 1:26 pm

    I just love white walls in a bedroom, with all the cosy throws and textures and greens from plants. It’s so calming!

  22. Amanda Murray
    November 17, 2020 / 1:54 pm

    Green/grey is a colour I always find calming.

  23. Denise Dunn
    November 17, 2020 / 6:13 pm

    Soft pale pinks and greens are my calming colours

  24. Stephanie Keill
    November 17, 2020 / 6:42 pm

    Soft blues are really calming for me.

  25. Jessica Jacob
    November 17, 2020 / 7:30 pm

    I find warm colours calming, like a warm white light or a pale dark teal…

  26. Lydia Joy
    November 17, 2020 / 8:43 pm

    All of the colours in the pictures are lovely. Our bedroom is a bluey-grey and I love it. I find it a very peaceful room to be in

  27. Nolene O'neill
    November 17, 2020 / 10:03 pm

    I’ve always found green to by my calming colour

  28. sherri Hough
    November 18, 2020 / 2:14 am

    greens and lemon colours

  29. Julia Linsley
    November 18, 2020 / 8:47 am

    I love light blues and greys which I find calming

  30. Emma Walton
    November 18, 2020 / 10:49 am

    I find pastel colours the most calming, pale green, violet, palest pink and pale blue.

  31. maria
    November 18, 2020 / 11:02 am

    I love blue turquoisey colours quite calming

  32. Melanie
    November 18, 2020 / 2:46 pm

    Love yellow brighter colour downstairs but much paler in the bedroom, always lifts my mood when I get home. So much yellow my Grandaughter used to call it the yellow house.

  33. Pete
    November 18, 2020 / 3:39 pm

    I find pale green soothing

  34. Maddy
    November 18, 2020 / 4:16 pm

    Primrose yellow / custard hues I find calming

  35. Maya Russell
    November 19, 2020 / 6:35 am

    I find greens of plants and browns, yellows and pale oranges of autumn calming.